At a Glance
- Tasks: Support students and alumni in their career journeys through guidance and community building.
- Company: GBS, a leading higher education provider with a focus on employability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, flexible benefits, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for networking and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of graduates and help shape future professionals.
- Qualifications: Higher education qualifications and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 33000 € per year.
Department: Graduate Employment and Entrepreneurship
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands (On-site)
Type of Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time - 40hrs Per Week
Salary: £29,000pa
GBS is a higher education provider offering a range of sector-relevant courses across ten campuses in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Working in partnership with several of the UK's leading higher education providers, we deliver vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in finance, accounting, business, construction, tourism, healthcare, and more.
Our Vision: Changing lives through education.
What We Do: The Employability and Entrepreneurship Department at GBS is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers and business ventures. It offers tailored one-to-one guidance, a dynamic online Careers Hub via Handshake, and a structured Employability Award that builds critical job-seeking skills through Bronze to Platinum levels. Students gain practical experience in CV building, networking, and real job applications, including tools like ChatGPT.
The role: If you are passionate about careers guidance and want to enable the next generation of career professionals, your work will see you supporting students and graduates as they prepare for life beyond university. Your work will enable them to create actionable career plans, get high quality support and guidance, and help them to identify and develop their interview skills. It's a great opportunity for you to be part of helping to shape confident, capable, and informed future professionals.
The Alumni Relations Officer will develop and maintain the relationship between GBS and our growing number of alumni. Your key task is to build up our Alumni programme and to manage the relationship between GBS and its graduates, including informing them about the Graduate Outcome Survey. This will be done through communication with the alumni community by newsletters, events, online events, in-person events and other resources.
You will work closely with the Graduate Employment and Entrepreneurship Team in tracking our graduates as they move into future employment and explore opportunities for our internship and volunteering programme. Where alumni have not secured graduate level progression, you will signpost them to the Careers Consultants for support. You will work closely with the Marketing Department in creating and distributing communications for our alumni. You will also help build a community of external stakeholders to support our alumni, including local employers, public bodies and third sector organisations.
What The Role Involves: This role is largely about communication and support. You will keep alumni connected to each other and GBS, to encourage and promote the professional development of alumni on an individual basis, including helping them to secure graduate level outcomes where necessary, and to keep the alumni community aware of the institutions' developments, including work placement opportunities and achievements.
Duties:
- To communicate with our alumni and external stakeholder communities.
- To populate and maintain the alumni database.
- To work with marketing to distribute an alumni magazine/newsletter.
- To provide content for the alumni publication.
- To arrange networking events, reunions and other events, both in person and online, for alumni members and external stakeholders.
- To encourage engagement from alumni and external stakeholders to support extra-curricular events, GBS development and promotion, and volunteering and placement opportunities.
- To promote the alumni community to current students and external stakeholders.
- To contribute to strategic planning for the direction of the alumni office.
- To help maintain the alumni website, Careers and Placement platform, and online community.
- To source discounts, benefits and services for alumni members and raise awareness of those.
- To communicate with local businesses and organisations to arrange benefits packages for alumni members.
- To keep alumni informed about the Graduate Outcomes Survey and ensure that they feel prepared for it.
- To track the employment status of alumni and refer them to the Careers team if they have not achieved graduate level outcomes in the period up to the Graduate Outcome Survey.
- To promote any notable alumni success stories.
- To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required, including administrative and evaluation duties appropriate to the role.
Essential Experience/Skills:
- Hold Further or Higher Education level qualifications.
- Achieved a minimum of GCSEs grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent).
- Good project management skills are required in this role.
- You will be expected to work to deadlines and prioritise workloads.
- Demonstrate highly developed interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to influence, collaborate and interact effectively with a range of stakeholders.
- Understanding of and passion for both higher education and for working with a diverse student body, especially mature students from a widening participation background.
- Flexibility with time and travel is required as you will occasionally be required to work outside of regular working pattern over weekends and evenings, and travel to our various campuses.
- Good IT skills working on all Microsoft packages.
Desirable:
- Qualified to degree level.
- Professional qualifications in the areas of administration and marketing are desirable.
- Experience of university administration or marketing duties.
- Willing to work occasional weekends and evenings, and to travel to our various campuses.
- Experience of working with a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
What We Offer:
- 25 days annual leave, plus 8 public holidays.
- 1-day extra leave per year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days.
- Workplace pension scheme.
- Tuition reimbursement for career development courses.
- Flexible Benefits: Cycle to Work, Workplace Nursery, Techscheme and much more discounts platform, wellbeing centre and much more.
- Reward and recognition programme.
- £500 award employee referral scheme.
- Discretionary annual performance bonus.
GBS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. We take our core values seriously and work hard to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed.
Alumni Relations Officer in Birmingham employer: GBS
At GBS, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that fosters professional growth and development. Located in Birmingham, our Alumni Relations Officer role provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of graduates while enjoying a comprehensive benefits package, including generous annual leave, flexible working options, and a commitment to employee well-being. Join us in our mission to change lives through education and be part of a dynamic team dedicated to empowering the next generation of professionals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Alumni Relations Officer in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Networking is key! Get out there and connect with alumni and industry professionals. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Before any interview, do a mock session with a friend or use our resources to refine your answers. Focus on showcasing your skills and experiences that align with the Alumni Relations Officer role. Confidence is everything!
✨Tip Number 3
Stay organised! Keep track of all your applications, interviews, and follow-ups. Use a spreadsheet or an app to manage deadlines and notes. This will help you stay on top of things and show potential employers that you’re proactive.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find loads of resources to help you along the way. Let’s get you that job!
We think you need these skills to ace Alumni Relations Officer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Alumni Relations Officer role. Highlight your relevant experience in communication and project management, and show us how your passion for higher education aligns with our vision.
Showcase Your Skills:We want to see your interpersonal and communication skills shine through! Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've effectively engaged with diverse stakeholders and managed projects.
Be Authentic:Let your personality come through in your application. We value authenticity, so don’t be afraid to share your unique perspective on supporting alumni and enhancing their professional development.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it reaches the right people in our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at GBS
✨Know Your Alumni
Before the interview, take some time to research GBS and its alumni community. Familiarise yourself with notable alumni success stories and the types of events they host. This will show your genuine interest in the role and help you connect with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As an Alumni Relations Officer, strong communication is key. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with diverse groups in the past. Whether it's through newsletters, events, or one-on-one interactions, be ready to discuss your approach and successes.
✨Demonstrate Project Management Prowess
This role requires good project management skills. Think of specific projects you've managed, detailing how you planned, executed, and evaluated them. Highlight your ability to meet deadlines and prioritise workloads, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with the Graduate Employment Team
Since you'll be working closely with the Graduate Employment and Entrepreneurship Team, express your enthusiasm for collaboration. Share ideas on how you could enhance the alumni programme and support graduates in securing employment, showing that you're proactive and forward-thinking.
