Progression and Careers Advisor in London

Job Title: Progression and Careers Advisor

Band: 7

Team: Student Support and Experience

Directorate: Higher Education

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Student Support and Experience Manager

Direct report: None

1. UKCBC Purpose

UKCBC exists to enable opportunity, cultivate confidence and develop capability through applied, inclusive and professionally relevant higher education. The College delivers higher education programmes under franchise arrangements with awarding body partners and is committed to meeting sector recognised standards while progressing towards registration with the Office for Students.

UKCBC operates as a teaching focused provider. Academic standards, curriculum design and awards are set by awarding body partners. UKCBC is responsible for ensuring that teaching delivery, assessment administration, academic support and the wider learning environment enable students to meet those standards and progress successfully through their studies and into positive destinations.

2. Job Purpose

The Progression and Careers Advisor is responsible for delivering a professional careers education, employability and progression service that enables UKCBC students and graduates to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to achieve successful employment, professional practice or further study.

Working within the Student Support and Experience team, the post holder provides impartial information, advice and guidance to support students throughout their academic journey, from induction through to graduation and beyond. The role promotes career planning, employability development and professional readiness, helping students to identify career ambitions, understand labour market opportunities and make informed decisions about their future.

The Progression and Careers Advisor works collaboratively with academic colleagues, employers, awarding body partners and external organisations to develop employability initiatives that enhance graduate outcomes and support the College's strategic objectives.

The role contributes directly to institutional performance by supporting student continuation, progression, graduate success and positive student outcomes through evidence based careers education and targeted employability interventions.

The role is accountable for:

• Delivering professional careers information, advice and guidance.
• Developing and delivering employability education throughout the student lifecycle.
• Supporting students to progress into graduate employment, professional practice, entrepreneurship or postgraduate study.
• Building relationships with employers and external organisations to enhance student opportunities.
• Coordinating careers events, employer engagement activities and employability initiatives.
• Monitoring employability activity, graduate outcomes and progression trends.
• Contributing to institutional objectives relating to student success, continuation, progression and graduate outcomes.
• Supporting wider Student Support activity where required to ensure an integrated student experience.

3. Key Responsibilities:

3.1 Careers Information, Advice and Guidance

• Provide impartial one to one careers guidance to prospective students, current students and graduates.
• Support students in identifying career aspirations, professional interests and progression opportunities.
• Assist students in developing individual career action plans.
• Advise students on graduate employment, internships, placements, volunteering and further study opportunities.
• Provide guidance on postgraduate study, professional qualifications and alternative progression pathways.
• Deliver advice using recognised careers guidance principles whilst maintaining professional standards and confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate records of careers interventions and student outcomes.
• Employability Education and Skills Development
• Design, develop and deliver an annual employability programme across all academic levels.
• Deliver workshops covering career planning, CV development, interview techniques, assessment centres, networking, professional communication, digital employability and personal branding.
• Support students in identifying transferable skills gained through academic study.
• Promote professional behaviours expected within graduate employment.
• Develop resources that enable students to become independent career managers.
• Work with academic colleagues to embed employability within the student learning experience where appropriate.

3.3 Student Progression and Career Planning

• Support students in developing realistic career goals throughout their studies.
• Assist students in understanding career pathways linked to their programme of study.
• Encourage students to engage with professional development opportunities from the beginning of their studies.
• Provide specialist advice to students considering career change or progression into alternative sectors.
• Support students returning to education following periods outside employment.
• Deliver targeted support to students approaching graduation.

3.4 Graduate Outcomes and Destination Support

• Support graduates during their transition into employment or further study.
• Promote graduate employment opportunities and postgraduate education.
• Maintain communication with graduates where appropriate.
• Monitor graduate destinations and identify emerging trends.
• Produce reports that inform institutional enhancement and employability strategy.

3.5 Employer Engagement and Partnership Development

• Develop productive relationships with employers, professional bodies and external organisations.
• Identify opportunities for internships, placements, work experience and graduate recruitment.
• Coordinate employer presentations, networking events and careers fairs.
• Promote employer engagement across academic programmes.
• Encourage employer participation in curriculum enhancement and student development activities.
• Maintain an employer database and develop sustainable external partnerships.

3.6 Labour Market Intelligence and Career Resources

• Monitor labour market trends and graduate employment opportunities.
• Ensure careers advice reflects current labour market information.
• Develop careers resources that support informed decision making.
• Produce guidance materials relating to graduate recruitment, industry expectations and career planning.
• Promote digital careers resources and online employability platforms.

3.7 Student Engagement and Targeted Intervention

• Identify students who would benefit from enhanced employability support.
• Deliver targeted interventions for students at risk of poor graduate outcomes.
• Encourage participation in employability activities through proactive communication.
• Work collaboratively with academic teams to support students requiring additional career planning.
• Refer students to specialist support services where issues fall outside the scope of careers guidance.

3.8 Careers Events and Employability Initiatives

• Plan and deliver an annual programme of careers events.
• Coordinate employability weeks, employer networking events and professional development activities.
• Promote volunteering, mentoring and professional networking opportunities.
• Support employer led workshops and industry engagement.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of employability initiatives and recommend enhancements.

3.9 Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with academic staff to support student progression.
• Liaise with awarding body partners regarding employability initiatives where appropriate.
• Work closely with Student Support, Academic Registry, Marketing and Admissions to enhance the student journey.
• Represent the College at external careers and employability events.
• Develop partnerships that enhance graduate opportunities and institutional reputation.

4. Other Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with all UKCBC policies and procedures, including those relating to academic quality, data protection, safeguarding and information security.
• Maintain full compliance with health and safety requirements, taking reasonable care for personal safety and the safety of others, and supporting a safe and secure working and learning environment.
• Actively support and promote equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair, respectful and inclusive practice in all aspects of work.
• Champion UKCBC values and purpose, contributing to a positive organisational culture and a professional, student focused environment.
• Ensure all activities are delivered in line with relevant regulatory requirements, including those of awarding bodies and external regulators where applicable.
• Maintain high professional standards, including confidentiality, integrity and ethical conduct in all responsibilities.
• Deliver against agreed annual performance targets and key performance indicators, with performance actively monitored, measured and benchmarked against institutional standards and sector expectations.
• Complete all mandatory and relevant professional development training courses as assigned by the College within the specified timeframes
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.

Person Specifications

Job Title: Progression and Careers Advisor

Team: Student Support and Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience.
• A recognised qualification in Careers Guidance, Career Development or Employability, or a willingness to work towards an appropriate professional qualification.
• Experience of providing careers information, advice and guidance within higher education, further education or a related environment.
• Experience of supporting individuals with career planning, employability and progression.
• Experience of delivering careers education, employability workshops or professional development sessions.
• Experience of providing one to one guidance and coaching to students or clients.
• Good understanding of graduate recruitment practices, employability and labour market trends.
• Knowledge of the student lifecycle within higher education and the factors influencing student success and graduate outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with students, employers and colleagues.
• Ability to motivate, coach and support students in achieving their career aspirations.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to analyse information, maintain accurate records and produce reports to support service enhancement.
• Confident in the use of Microsoft Office and digital student management systems.
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries within a higher education environment.
• A professional, proactive and student focused approach, with a commitment to continuous improvement and excellent customer service.
• Experience working within a UK higher education careers or employability service.
• Membership of the Career Development Institute (CDI), AGCAS or another relevant professional body.
• Experience of developing employer partnerships and coordinating careers events, placements or internship opportunities.
• Experience of supporting Graduate Outcomes data collection or destination tracking.
• Knowledge of the Office for Students regulatory framework, particularly student outcomes and graduate progression.
• Experience of using careers management platforms, employability software or customer relationship management systems.
• Experience of supporting widening participation, inclusive careers education or employability initiatives for diverse student groups.
• Progression and Careers Advisor are expected to demonstrate:
• Empathy and professionalism in student interactions
• Reliability and accuracy in case recording
• Proactive communication and follow up
• Collaborative working across institutional teams
• Commitment to inclusive and supportive practice

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