Student Advisor - Careers in Dunstable

Location: Central Bedfordshire College – Dunstable Kingsway Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £27,717 and £32,515 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave (Pro-Rata) plus Bank holidays, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 22.5 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Part Time

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role

We are currently seeking a Student Advisor (Careers) to join our Student Services department at The Bedford College Group.

As a Student Advisor, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Careers Guidance & Programme Delivery – Support the Student Adviser Team Leader in designing and delivering a cross‑college careers programme, offering impartial IAG to students and applicants through 1:1, group sessions and tutorial‑based activities.
• Pastoral, Welfare & Financial Support – Provide personalised support or referral for pastoral, welfare and financial needs, including bursaries, transport, benefits advice and HE funding guidance, ensuring the student experience remains central.
• Progression, HE & Data Management – Assist with UCAS applications, research progression routes, produce reports and statistical returns, update HE guides and contribute to strategies that raise aspirations and promote progression into HE, work or training.
• Safeguarding, Compliance & Customer Service – Maintain accurate safeguarding records, ensure information shared with students is up to date, uphold College policies, support quality processes and deliver excellent customer service across all touchpoints.
• Collaboration, Events & College Wide Support – Work closely with internal teams and external agencies, support enrolment, open days and events, contribute to staff development, represent the College externally and provide flexible cover within Student Services.

About you

• Qualifications & Career Development – L2 English and maths, Level 3 subject qualification, and Level 6 Careers/IAG qualification (or willingness to work towards), plus Youth Mental Health First Aid certification.
• Experience with Learners & Diverse Groups – Successful experience supporting young people and adults 1:1 and in groups, with a strong track record of working effectively in diverse, customer‑focused environments.
• Communication, Administration & IT Skills – Strong administrative ability, attention to detail, confident written and verbal communication (including letters and professional phone manner), and competent use of Word, spreadsheets and databases.
• Teamwork, Leadership & Problem Solving – Ability to motivate others, use initiative, solve problems, organise events and activities, meet deadlines, and contribute positively as part of a whole‑college team.
• Professionalism, Flexibility & Reliability – Friendly, outgoing and flexible approach, able to travel across sites, with good attendance and timekeeping records and a practical, organised working style.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: TBC

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students – The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.