Widening Access and Participation Manager

The Role - What will you be doing?

The Widening Access and Participation Manager will be responsible for delivering University widening participation strategies and fulfilling the relevant requirements of the University’s existing and future Access and Participation Plans. They will manage access and participation initiatives, such as projects to support admissions pathways to the University and work with schools and colleges to support recruitment from under-represented backgrounds. This currently includes management of projects such as Supported Progression, the Sutton Trust Summer School Programme, the STEP programme, Insight2Uni, DU Cares, work with Schools and other initiatives such as the Universities partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation. The post holder will be expected to work with senior managers to effect a smooth transition between the current a! nd future deliverables of the University’s Access and Participation Plan and associated strategies, including ensuring that projects within their portfolio continue to evolve accordingly.

The Widening Access and Participation Manager will manage the Access Team within Recruitment and Admissions in the first instance. This is currently a team of five staff and the post holder will have two or more direct reports. They will report to the Senior Manager, Access and Engagement.

The post holder will work collaboratively with colleagues across Recruitment and Admissions and will work closely with internal stakeholders such as academic departments, professional support services, colleges, wider student experience teams, Durham Student Union, Colleges JCR members and current students working as Durham Student Ambassadors, to ensure projects deliver a holistic representation of the University to participants.

The Widening Access and Participation Manager will maintain an up-to-date knowledge of sector wide good practice and developments; using this to continuously develop service provision and improve outcomes, specifically, conversion rates. They will also monitor and evaluate delivery, with a focus on increasing the impact of activity in relation to rates of progression to Higher Education and to Durham University specifically.

The Department and our Team

Access and Engagement is part of the broader Student Recruitment and Admissions Department. Access and Engagement works to inspire, educate, motivate and support the choices of young people traditionally under-represented at university, and Durham University in particular. We are ambitious, passionate about our work and committed to making a positive difference. Widening Participation is a key target in the University’s Education Strategy.

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