Programmes Assistant: University Access & Digital

The Sutton Trust delivers a suite of high-impact programmes in partnership with top universities and employers, supporting over 15,000 young people to access competitive courses, apprenticeships, and careers in the UK’s leading professions. The University Access and Digital (UAD) Programmes Assistant will provide core operational support to the UAD team. The role will support programme set-up, student applications, digital content, events, data processes and student communications across Sutton Trust Online, UK Summer Schools, Teacher Champions and other programme activity.

The postholder will support the smooth running of core programme processes, maintain accurate records, support clear communication with students and partners, and provide reliable administrative support to the wider team. The role will suit someone who is highly organised, confident working with data and systems and able to work across several programme areas at once. The role sits in the University Access and Digital team within the wider Programmes team. The postholder will be line managed by the Senior Programmes Manager: University Access and will work closely with colleagues across University Access and Digital.

• Events and programme delivery: Assisting in the delivery of online and in person events for students, parents/guardians, and teachers across UAD programmes. This will include organising logistics, providing technical support, tracking attendance, supporting follow up activity and encouraging student engagement.
• Supporting Programme Managers to coordinate logistics and student communications for programmes, activities and events delivered online and in person.
• Supporting UK Summer Schools delivery, including student communications, partner liaison, logistical planning, student data, safeguarding administration and in-person or residential delivery where required.
• Providing cross-programme support where agreed with the line manager and aligned to University Access and Digital priorities.

• Managing student facing inboxes and responding to routine queries from applicants, programme participants, parents/guardians, and teachers.
• Triaging more complex queries and escalating safeguarding, complaints or welfare related cases in line with internal processes.
• Creating, uploading, updating and quality assuring content on Sutton Trust Online, including checking copy, links, forms and student facing pages.
• Supporting the Communications Team to update and develop content on the Trust’s website, marketing materials and newsletters.
• Liaising with external stakeholders to support logistical and administrative elements of programme delivery.

• Supporting applications to programmes and activities including using central data systems, checking applicant information, preparing student lists, supporting eligibility checks and sharing accurate information with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintaining accurate application, programme, engagement and communications data on Salesforce and other relevant systems.
• Supporting onboarding for new student cohorts including student lists, welcome communications, platform access and follow up with students who have not completed key steps.
• Supporting data quality checks, exports, feedback surveys and routine analysis for programme delivery, reporting and evaluation.
• Assisting in the design and delivery of administrative processes to support high-quality programme delivery throughout the student lifecycle.
• Helping to improve repeatable administrative processes by identifying recurring issues, documenting processes and suggesting practical fixes.
• Providing administrative support for internal and external meetings and training days including travel and room booking, taking minutes and logistics.

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Has enthusiasm for and experience of working with young people from diverse backgrounds.
• Has a high degree of initiative and the ability to take responsibility for projects with support.
• Is organised and efficient with the ability to prioritise when working across multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Is adaptable and a quick learner.
• Understands the importance of accurate record keeping and processes.
• Working within or an understanding of the not-for-profit sector.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and strong analytical skills.
• High attention to detail and confidence working with data, spreadsheets and CRM or database systems.
• Ability to follow processes accurately while also spotting where processes could be improved.

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Has knowledge and experience of the higher education and/or education sectors.
• Has first-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust in a range of settings.
• Is sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage.
• Personable, flexible and discreet; able to fit into a small team.
• Able to create engaging content in a variety of forms.
• Is eligible to work in the UK.

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent.
• Salary: £30,800-£31,500.
• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.
• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP.
• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.
• A DBS check may be required.

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment. We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust.