Student Experience Manager

ABDO College is looking for a proactive, confident and experienced Student Experience Manager to lead the development and delivery of outstanding student experience for our diverse range of students and apprentices. This will enable our students to thrive, succeed and progress in their blended programmes.  

We are ABDO College, a successful specialist HE College and a sector leader in delivering blended learning education which combines work and study. Our mission is to advance the optical profession through the provision of high quality, innovative education and training. Our vision is to deliver sector-leading education as the specialist training provider of choice for all aspects of dispensing optical education. Our approach combines primarily online delivery with short blocks of in-person teaching. We teach large numbers of apprentices, falling under the Ofsted framework as well as PSRB regulatory oversight via the General Optical Council. 

Our values of respect, collaboration and commitment to our learners, our colleagues and our stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do. We are externally recognised as a centre of educational excellence and have raised the standards in dispensing optical education across the whole profession. Our in-person teaching primarily takes place at our first-class training facility in Kent. The College lies within 1,000 acres of beautiful Kent countryside situated between Ashford and Canterbury. Find out more about us at www.abdocollege.org.uk 

About the role

Working closely with education and professional services staff, you will be responsible for designing and delivering processes and opportunities that strengthen student engagement and enable our community of blended learners to thrive.  You will be passionate about creating outstanding student experience and improving student outcomes. You will have demonstrable experience of supporting apprentices, students who combine work and study, and of supporting students with diverse needs. Ideally, you would have experience of working within an Ofsted regulated environment (FE/HE).

Key responsibilities include: 

1. Developing and delivering high-quality frontline support to students, online and in person, including students who have identified markers of need and/or disadvantage.
2. Ensuring that students are aware of and have access to the range of welfare services, wellbeing initiatives, and community-building activities available to them.
3. Developing effective channels for capturing the student voice and championing opportunities for co-creation, enrichment, and extracurricular involvement. 
4. Collaborating with programme leads to develop and implement a co-curricular programme of enrichment to enhance the overall student experience.  

Note this role requires a full DBS check. 

What we offer

• Hybrid working (typically 3 days on campus)
• A competitive salary package
• 30 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays
• A generous pension scheme (10% employer contribution and 5% employee)
• Access to subsidised staff accommodation on site if required
• 5 days per year allocated to CPD training and regular staff training
• Free onsite parking
• Free ABDO membership and associated benefits
• Support with GOC fees if applicable 

Working Pattern

This is a full-time, hybrid post. You will be primarily based at our Godmersham site for 3 days per week, with 2 days based at home, subject to role requirements and event delivery. There is some UK travel in this role. 

Application: 

Via application form and accompanying CV. which can be downloaded from the College website via the 'Apply' button above. 

For more information, please contact hr@abdo.org.uk. (Please note CV’s cannot be accepted unless they are accompanied by an application form). 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

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