Access and Participation Impact Manager (Projects)

We are looking for an experienced and passionate professional to join our Impact Team at the University of Bath as the Access and Participation Impact Manager (Projects).

About the role

In this pivotal role, you will lead the design, delivery, and management of research and evaluation projects across the student lifecycle – helping to ensure that students from all backgrounds can access higher education, succeed in their studies, and progress into meaningful employment. Your work will play a vital part in delivering the commitments set out in our Access and Participation Plan (APP), delivering research-based evaluation projects that create recommendations to improve student outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape strategy and collaborate with academic and professional services colleagues to drive positive, research-driven impact across the University.

In this role, you will:

• Lead key evaluation projects aligned with our Access and Participation Plan, using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies while upholding high ethical standards.
• Apply advanced data analysis to assess the impact of our widening participation initiatives, analysing complex datasets and generating actionable insights for continuous improvement.
• Translate findings into action by developing clear, strategic recommendations and disseminating results through high-quality reports, presentations, and sector publications.
• Collaborate across the University working closely with academic departments, student support services, and external partners – to foster a culture of evidence-based practice and stay at the forefront of sector developments.
• Provide line management, line-managing an Access and Participation Impact Officer (Projects) and supporting colleagues’ professional development as part of our commitment to excellence in this field.

About us

You’ll join the Impact Team, led by our Head of Impact, which is at the forefront of ensuring high-quality evaluation and impact monitoring across the University. This dynamic group not only excels at data collection but is also renowned for its data analysis prowess. If you enjoy working in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment with colleagues who are as passionate about robust research as they are about a good cup of tea, you’re in the right place.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Education & expertise – Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience), with in-depth knowledge of access, participation and student success issues in higher education.
• Research & evaluation experience – Proven experience designing and delivering robust research or evaluation projects, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Analytical skills – Strong ability to analyse large and complex data sets, using evidence to identify trends and inform strategic decisions.
• Communication skills – Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and present impactful findings to both expert and non-expert audiences.
• Stakeholder engagement – Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels, both within the University and externally.
• Project management – Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads, manage multiple projects/deadlines, and take a proactive, solution-focused approach to challenges.

Experience in an educational environment or familiarity with sector bodies (such as TASO) would be an added advantage, but most importantly you will be enthusiastic about driving positive change and ensuring our access and participation efforts are backed by rigorous evidence.

Further information

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Andrew Ross, Head of Widening Participation at ajr55@bath.ac.uk.

An enhanced DBS check is required for this role. 

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