Make Happen Outreach Officer

The Department

The Communications, Advancement and Stakeholder Engagement section is led by Liam Preston (Director of Communications, Advancement and Stakeholder Engagement).

The core focus of the section is to connect the University of Essex with the communities we serve — locally, nationally, and globally. From building lasting relationships with alumni and donors, to championing access to education for underrepresented groups, to telling powerful stories about our research and people — we are the bridge between the University and the wider world. We promote Essex’s values and impact through strategic engagement with key stakeholders, innovative communications, and an inclusive approach to inspiring young people. Together, we work to amplify our voice, strengthen our reputation, and grow a connected community that supports and sustains the University’s mission.

Duties of the role

The role focuses on developing, organizing, and delivering widening participation outreach projects for students in years 9–13 and their teachers. Key responsibilities include building relationships with local schools and colleges, coordinating activities aligned with the Make Happen programme, and presenting to a range of audiences in both large and small group settings, including virtually.

The postholder will collaborate with partner institutions and agencies in Essex, create tailored resources for students, parents, and teachers, and ensure all outreach activity is well-targeted, tracked, and evaluated. They will manage the outreach activity budget, embed evaluation into all projects to ensure evidence-based delivery, and represent Make Happen and its partner HEIs at external events and forums.

Additional duties include managing events with responsibility for safeguarding in line with University of Essex policies, conducting risk assessments, line managing an Outreach Assistant (if applicable), and carrying out other tasks as assigned by the Director or their nominee.

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates interested in working from our Docklands office

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.

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