About Birmingham City University 

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff. 

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities. 

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands.  This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential. 

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond. 

Role Summary 

As part of the Student, Money, Housing and Childcare Advice (SMH&CA) team, the post holder will provide operational leadership to the Funding Co-Ordinators and be responsible for managing and administrating the University hardship and emergency funding schemes, as well as creating and maintaining a supportive approach to the student experience and application process. They will provide a point of escalation for complex or urgent cases and work with specialist teams as well as Funding Coordinators to support timely decision making in line with institutional policies and external regulations. The role requires both empathy and accuracy, balancing student support with compliance requirements, as well as excellent decision making and the ability to effectively lead a team.

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership and oversight for the Funding Team, including the supervision and support of Funding Coordinators, ensuring a high-quality, student-focused service is delivered consistently and demonstrating excellent decision making,
• Act as the lead escalation point for complex, sensitive, or urgent student funding cases, providing guidance, specialist advice, and decision-making support where required.
• Manage and coordinate team workloads across funding streams, ensuring applications and casework are prioritised appropriately and completed within agreed service standards and timescales.
• Maintain accurate records of all applications and outcomes in accordance with data protection regulations.
• Oversee the administration and allocation of multiple student support funds, ensuring decisions are fair, transparent, consistent, and aligned with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor funding budgets, expenditure, application trends, and demand levels, producing regular reports and management information to support planning, compliance, and service improvement.
• Work collaboratively with internal departments and student support services to ensure a coordinated approach to supporting students experiencing financial hardship or vulnerability.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of funding policies, procedures, guidance, and communications to support continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Support University events and activities, including enrolment, graduation, open days, applicant events, and clearing, as required.

Essential Requirements 

• Experience of administering student funding, hardship funding, financial support or related services within Higher Education or a comparable environment.
• Experience of supervising, coordinating, or providing operational leadership within a team.
• Experience of managing complex, sensitive or high-risk casework, exercising sound judgement within established policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of analysing data, producing reports and monitoring budgets or expenditure.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, oversee workloads and meet service deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and students.
• Commitment to fairness, equity, excellent customer service, and supporting student wellbeing.

Desirable Requirements 

• Experience of working directly with students or young adults in a support or advisory capacity.
• Knowledge of Higher Education hardship funding schemes or related financial support policies.
• Experience of working within a regulated, compliance-driven, or audit-sensitive environment.

Further Information 

If you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the Student Advice and Community team, we would love to hear from you. 

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jackie Bryant, Student Advice and Guidance Manager at Jackie.Bryant@bcu.ac.uk 

Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University

The appointed candidate will normally be employed through our subsidiary company, BCU Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Birmingham City University. Appointees with prior LGPS membership who wish to re-enter the scheme may do so and will be employed directly by the University. 

Why work for us 

• Work–life balance – Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent). 
• Career development – Opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career. 
• Reward and wellbeing – Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits. 
• Inclusive culture – A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs. 

Visa Sponsorship  

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant criteria. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa 

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion 

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential. 

Disability Confident Employer 

Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.