Student Success and Inclusion Adviser in Sheffield

Join our new Student Success and Inclusion Team at the University of Sheffield as a Student Success and Inclusion Adviser. As part of Education Development Services, you will join a highly skilled and impactful team committed to supporting and enhancing the delivery of education at the University. As a Student Success and Inclusion Adviser you will take the lead on specific elements of the Student Success and Inclusion Team's work, developing and implementing bespoke support programmes and interventions which contribute to student success and inclusive education in the academic environment, and have an attributable impact on student outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering interventions which benefit all students, and particularly those from widening participation and underrepresented backgrounds. This role directly contributes to the University's Access and Participation Plan (APP) commitments, as well as our wider student‑centred and inclusive education agenda.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead on the development and delivery of student success and inclusion initiatives, projects, or portfolios of work, as directed by the Student Success and Inclusion Manager.
• Develop and deliver interventions which contribute to student academic success, and evaluate their impact on student outcomes.
• Work with academic staff to ensure their curricula and teaching practice is inclusive, student‑centred and in line with institutional expectations.
• In line with APP commitments, provide intervention‑based support to cohorts of students from widening participation and underrepresented backgrounds, addressing their academic development needs.
• Develop and facilitate workshops, events, and resources designed to enhance student success and inclusive educational practice.
• Work collaboratively with Advisers elsewhere in Education Development Services and beyond, to ensure success activities are sufficiently resourced and harness a broad range of expertise.
• Maintain accurate records of student interactions and outcomes, contributing to monitoring and reporting for APP and related purposes.
• Liaise with academic and professional service colleagues to ensure effective signposting and integrated support for students.
• Contribute to the evaluation and continuous improvement of student success activities.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential Criteria

• A good understanding of the wider context of the Higher Education (HE) sector, particularly issues relating to access and participation.
• Experience of delivering impactful interventions that respond to student needs, and which are in line with the overall strategy and objectives of the department.
• Experience of working with academic members of staff, and advising them on adapting their teaching practice and curricula.
• Experience of providing development for cohorts of students and staff from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, both face‑to‑face and online.
• Ability to provide advice, guidance and signposting to students on matters impacting their academic progress.
• Ability to communicate information in a professional manner, through written reports, presentations, workshops and toolkits, adapting communication style to suit a variety of audiences and delivery modes.
• Excellent organisational skills, with a proven ability to use initiative and judgement to work effectively during busy periods of the academic year.
• Ability to undertake analysis and interpretation of information and data in order to draw well‑thought‑out conclusions.
• Ability to form and maintain good relationships and to facilitate collaboration with internal and external partners and stakeholders, demonstrating consideration for the thoughts and feelings of others.
• Ability to work on several projects and/or pieces of work simultaneously, meeting agreed deadlines and quality standards.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience delivering impactful interventions that respond to student needs and are in line with the overall strategy and objectives of the department.
• Experience working with academic members of staff, and advising them on adapting their teaching practice and curricula.
• Experience providing development for cohorts of students and staff from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, both face‑to‑face and online.

Further Information

• Grade: 7
• Salary: £38,784-£47,389
• Work arrangement: Full‑time
• Line manager: Student Success and Inclusion Manager
• Direct reports: None

Next Steps in the Recruitment Process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on the week commencing 15th December. This will consist of an interview, and workshop delivery activity. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 8th December. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact interviews@sheffield.ac.uk.

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family‑friendly policies paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies support for those going through the menopause paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more.

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process. We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.