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SPA Admissions Support and Development Manager (two positions available)

Cheltenham (located at the SPA offices with a degree of flexibility)

Full-time, fixed-term contract until 31 July 2015

Salary: circa £44,000 plus benefits (dependent upon experience)

Overview:

SPA promotes fair admissions and access to higher education by developing and leading on good practice in the recruitment and selection of students. The independent SPA Steering Group advises SPA in its plans and activities and SPA is the expert shared resource for the UK HE sector. Our independent good practice is definitive and authoritative, setting a standard that enables HE providers to devise and evaluate their admissions policies and practices.

SPA acts as a trusted broker in UK HE admissions, between makers and implementers of policy across key stakeholders. This gives us a unique strategic position which supports and guides individual HE providers in responding to new initiatives in admissions. SPA provides advice and acts as a sounding board on how policy and new processes may impact on admissions within higher education institutions.

SPA staff are UCAS employees. UCAS has primary responsibility for providing shared admissions services for UK higher education institutions, UCAS has recently developed an ambitious five year strategy aimed at streamlining and enhancing its services to the sector at a time of unprecedented change. Employing over 400 staff, UCAS provides a range of services to complement the core admissions role as well as completing research, consultancy and advisory work for universities and colleges, applicants, schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

As the SPA Admissions Support and Development Manager you will provide strategic and practical advice and support to senior staff, admissions practitioners and others in universities, colleges and stakeholders throughout the UK. This new role is an excellent opportunity to work at a national level promoting and encouraging the implementing fair admissions. You will be responsible for the planning, implementation, management and delivery of internal and external projects, research and activities. Working individually and as part of the team, you will develop national good practice and professionalism within a framework devised by SPA for use by the HE sector. You will need to demonstrate commitment to SPA's mission, vision and values.

SPA is located in the UCAS offices in Cheltenham, and SPA staff are UCAS employees, working with UCAS is mutually beneficial. SPA staff work to plans drawn up by SPA and agreed by SPA's independent Steering Group, which includes SPA's funders: HEFCE, UCAS, Universities UK and DELNI.

Role requirements:

  • An understanding of SPA's aims and strategic goals of fair admissions, professionalism and good practice, and capable of representing SPA.
  • Specialist knowledge and direct experience of working in HE admissions in the UK, and an insight and understanding of the policy and practice challenges that are impacting admissions within an institutional context, as well as an appreciation of institutions' autonomy.
  • Analysis and interpretation of information and data. Skills sufficient to identify evidence and issues and build capacity to enhance what SPA can offer to universities and colleges.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and integrate into a small, well established team to contribute quickly, effectively and develop good relationships with staff.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate professionally, persuasively and confidently by phone, email, in written reports and face-to-face.
  • A high standard of written English, ability to produce good quality documents quickly and succinctly, with meticulous accuracy and attention to detail. Proficiency in MS Word and MS PowerPoint is essential.
  • Excellent task management skills, and the ability to plan and manage discrete research and analysis of evidence to support the achievement of SPA objectives; flexibility and resourcefulness to work proactively and think effectively in a fast-paced, demanding environment. Track record of managing own high performance to tight deadlines.
  • Integrity and a professional, service-oriented manner, outward looking, able to develop trusted relationships as an objective and independent voice.

The closing date for applications will be Wednesday 17 April 2013. Any interviews / assessments will take place on or around the week commencing Monday 22 April 2013.

How to apply:

Should you wish to apply for this role please complete an application form which can be downloaded here, and send together with a CV and covering letter, outlining your reasons for applying for the role to Jobs@UCAS.ac.uk.

If you would like any further information regarding this post the role profile can be downloaded here, or please do not hesitate to speak to Janet Graham, the Hiring Manager on 01242 544 919 or email j.graham@spa.ac.uk

UCAS values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity

UCAS does not discriminate on grounds of age, nationality, race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability