AFPVC for Graduate Success in Aberystwyth

The Role

Reports to: Faculty Pro vice Chancellors with a dotted line to PVC Student Education and Experience.

Key Relationships

• Head of Careers and Employability
• Assistant Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellors (Education and Student Experience)
• Heads of Schools and Academic Units & Heads of Professional Services
• Undeb Aber
• Employers, Professional Bodies and External Partners

Purpose of the Role

The AFPVC for Graduate Success will work closely with the Head of Careers and Employability and PVC Student Education and Experience to support Faculties and Schools in embedding employability, career readiness and graduate attributes throughout the student learning experience. The role will work in partnership with Assistant Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellors (Education and Student Experience) and sit on the relevant Faculty Executives ensuring that the employability and graduate attributes framework are effectively integrated across curriculum design, educational enhancement activities and faculty-level student experience initiatives.

A key focus of the role will be championing and leading graduate outcomes at both Faculty and School level, particularly increasing the proportion of graduates progressing into positive and highly skilled employment.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Bev Herring at bch@aber.ac.uk.

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check(DBS)check.

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

• Work closely with the PVC (Education and Student Experience), Head of Careers and Employability, and AFPVCs (Education and Student Experience) to deliver on institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with colleagues to provide academic leadership for employability, graduate attributes, and graduate success, influencing curriculum development and educational enhancement across Faculties.
• Champion employability and graduate success as core educational outcomes.
• Lead Faculty-level implementation and enhancement of the University’s Student Employability Framework and Graduate Attributes.
• Lead Schools in embedding graduate attributes within programme design, review and revalidation.
• Work with students to recognise, evidence and articulate their skills, achievements and development.
• Champion a university culture where graduate attributes are integral to the student learning experience.
• Use data on institutional graduate outcomes to inform targeted interventions.
• Support students to reflect on and record their achievements in the context of their personal and professional development.
• Monitor key performance indicators relating to employability, graduate success and student engagement and report into EAG committee.
• Provide academic leadership to support enterprise and innovation activity within the curriculum.
• Champion inclusive approaches to employability across all disciplines.

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

Experience

1. Educated to doctoral level (PhD or equivalent).
2. Leadership experience within higher education
3. Understanding of educational strategy and organisational change.
4. Experience of curriculum enhancement, student success or educational development initiatives.
5. Experience of using data and evidence to drive improvement.

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Strong understanding of graduate employability, graduate success and student outcomes.
2. Knowledge of curriculum enhancement and quality assurance processes.
3. Knowledge of graduate outcomes, labour market trends and the student success agenda.
4. Understanding of inclusive educational practice and widening participation.

Skills

1. Ability to provide credible academic leadership and influence across disciplines.
2. Strong relationship building and stakeholder engagement skills.
3. Ability to lead and inspire change within a complex environment.
4. Good working knowledge of Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and associated systems administration processes
5. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A0. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.

Desirable

1. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Please keep reading

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.