Associate Director Insight & Development

Grade 9, Salary range £59,139 - £68,529 (Incremental progression) 

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation of the Careers and Employability Service at Keele University.

This is a new role, and the successful candidate will provide leadership to the service and play a pivotal role in the Student Futures team, which includes Careers and Employability, Global Opportunities and Placements and Projects team, and is overseen by the Director of Student Futures. 

Student Futures is part of the Directorate of Student Services and Success and supports the development of our students though learning and experiential opportunities, working across the University to implement strategy and provide opportunities for the continuous improvement of our services, to support student success. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for the transformation of the service, using data informed approaches and utilising digital services to ensure we provide maximum reach across our student body and student lifecycle, including post-graduation. They will build and maintain relationships with employers to gain market insights and develop strong talent pipelines for future markets.    

The role holder will have the ability to co-develop University-wide strategy, with a key focus on working with academic colleagues, Keele Students’ Unions, Keele Institute for Innovation and Teaching Excellence, and Directorate of Research Innovation and Engagement.

They will need to lead as part of the management team, develop & understand all aspects of employability, student journey lifecycles, employer and academic needs and their relationships with graduate skills, the wider metrics, making recommendations to fashion policy and operational developments.

Progress on development, engagement, impact will need to be reported on and used to inform changes.

With the overarching purpose to advance the graduate prospects of our students, supporting their success taking the approach that by building a one Service approach across Student Futures we are best placed to achieve this.

Our vision is to help develop capable students from a diverse range of backgrounds into graduates who demonstrate drive, curiosity and experience with an excellent academic foundation. Making our graduates highly employable thanks to a mindset developed through interactions with work integrated learning/experiences through working with business, the professions, guided by a focus on their success throughout their student journey. 

The Benefits

The University recognises that its success depends upon the contribution and dedication of its talented staff. In return, we have a competitive benefits package available, including:  

• Competitive rate of pay with annual increments within the grade (Keele Spine)
• Generous annual leave entitlement with opportunities to purchase additional leave  
• Excellent staff pension scheme   
• Access to continued personal, professional and career development   
• On site ‘outstanding’ nursery    
• Discounted health & fitness facilities on site  
• Cycle to work scheme (subject to eligibility)

Please note that the starting salary will typically be at the bottom of the pay scale shown above.

The University is committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible. 

The University

Keele University is renowned for its exciting approach to higher education, innovative research, beautiful campus, strong community spirit and excellent student experience. With a turnover in excess of £170 million, over 12,500 students and a total staff of approximately 2000, the University provides high quality teaching across a wide range of academic and vocational subjects and promotes world-class research. Further information can be found at https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/

Keele University values equality and diversity across our workforce and to ensuring our staff community is reflective of the diversity of our student population. In support of these commitments the University welcomes applications from individuals of Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds for all roles.

How to Apply

To apply online for this vacancy and for full post details and copies of job descriptions, please click on the 'Apply' button above. 

Keele University employees wishing to apply should login to Employee Self Service and click on the 'View current vacancies' link. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Kulvinder Birring, k.s.birring@keele.ac.uk. Applications to this address will not be accepted. 

Closing Date: 6^th April 2025

Interviews will be held on: Week commencing 28^th April 2025