Graduate Management Trainee in Professional Services - Executive Office - 48578 - Grade 6

The University of Birmingham is one of the largest employers in the West Midlands. A comprehensive research-intensive institution, which is home to a diverse community of 38,000 students from 150 countries, we are ranked in the top 100 universities globally, and with our ambitious strategy, we hope to become a global top 50 institution by 2030. We are also home to over 8,000 members of staff working across a huge variety of roles, running an organisation of this size and complexity offers a challenge to rival that of any major business or public sector body. Committed to attracting the best and brightest employees, our Graduate Management Training Scheme provides ambitious and high calibre graduates with an entry point to a dynamic and stimulating career in university management and leadership.

Our two-year programme includes a rotation of placements across different areas of the University’s Professional Services, complemented by a tailored training and development package and mentoring from a university senior leader. Trainees will learn the necessary skills to run a global university and will gain direct experience of a number of university services.

Working in higher education brings with it a huge and exciting range of opportunities, allowing for career development that expands far beyond the traditional education and research functions of Higher Education Institutions. With over 300,000 people working in more than 170 higher education institutions across the UK alone, there are an incredible variety of jobs available, from academic to professional, administrative, and other roles which are all vital in maintaining the reputation and success of these institutions.

As the sector continues to transform, we face new and unprecedented challenges. At the University of Birmingham, we are ambitious in our aims and innovative in our approach to these challenges. We are constantly adapting and looking forward to the future, taking a collaborative approach to problems and pioneering solutions.

The success of the higher education institutions is underpinned by their professional service function. They are critical in facilitating academic and institutional success. Colleagues working in Professional Services are highly motivated individuals who can operate across a variety of dynamic and challenging roles within their capacity.

Main Duties

We are looking for future leaders, and our ideal candidates are intelligent, inquisitive graduates who are passionate about the ideals of both the University and the city of Birmingham and its wider region. We value diversity, and recognise that by embracing different perspectives, thoughts, ideas and values, we will be more effective in achieving our objectives. We provide equal access to opportunity and welcome applications from people who identify with any of the Protected Characteristics, such as race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression.

Our culture is based on our shared values, which we seek to embody throughout the organisation:

• Ambitious: We are confident in the University of Birmingham and project this globally. We are focused on our goals, are clear about our strengths, and pursue our own direction. We are bold and take intelligent risks.
• Innovative: We enjoy being the first to do things. Inspired by our Birmingham, we are resourceful, creative, grounded, and practical, and seek to make a real and positive difference to the world around us.
• Open: We welcome colleagues, collaborators, and students from across the world to work and study with us. We are committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and equality of opportunity for all. We expect everyone to act with sensitivity, respect, and fairness.
• Collaborative: The major challenges facing our city, nation, and the world cannot be solved if we act alone. We enhance our research and education by pursuing creative partnerships within and beyond the University.
• Responsible: We operate with transparency, trust, and respect. We value our role as an anchor institution for Birmingham. We strive to be an excellent employer, to reduce inequalities in access to education, and to place sustainability at the heart of our work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

You should be able to demonstrate the following qualifications, attributes, and skills:

• At least a 2.1 in a first degree in any subject in the past three years (between 1st January 2023 – 1st August 2026), or a postgraduate qualification completed in the same period, having previously achieved at least a 2.1 in a first degree.
• An interest in, and understanding of, Higher Education issues;
• A high degree of initiative, resourcefulness, flexibility and a self-motivating approach;
• The ability to form effective working relationships with a diverse range of colleagues;
• Ability to think analytically, to apply skills and knowledge in new contexts, and to problem solve by thinking beyond traditional solutions;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively through presentational skills as well as excellent writing skills;
• Resilience and adaptability to work effectively in new environments;
• Good IT skills;
• Good standard of numeracy;
• A willingness to learn and embrace opportunities.

To apply for the scheme, you must be eligible to work in the UK. Please note that under the current immigration rules, the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Visa route. In order to be eligible to apply for the scheme, you must have (or reasonably expect to have by the start of the role) Right to Work in the UK permission that would allow you to work for the entirety of the fixed-term contract (September 2026-September 2028).

The application process

There are three key stages of the application process:

• Stage 1: Online application: For the first application stage you will need to complete a brief online form and upload a current CV and cover letter through the University's online jobs portal. Please note that your CV and covering letter should be uploaded as one document. In your cover letter you should answer the following questions:

• What does working in higher education mean to you personally, and what impact do you hope to make during your time on the graduate scheme?
• What is your proudest achievement to date?
• Can you describe a time when you showed initiative?

Your cover letter should be no more than 1000 words. Use of AI in applications: we review hundreds of applications and shortlist candidates based on their unique perspective, motivations and potential. Cover letters generated through, or edited by, AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT or CoPilot) are easy to identify. They produce generic answers and will not score highly enough to progress. You may use AI tools for research, but all written content in your application must be your own work. Authenticity and originality are key to standing out in this process.

• Stage 2: Assessment centre: The assessment centre involves a variety of activities designed to enable you to show the skills and qualities that we are looking for in our Management Trainees. It is also an opportunity for you to meet members of the senior leadership team and previous trainees, learn more about working at the University, and decide whether a career in Higher Education is for you. The assessment centre will take place on one day and will involve activities such as group discussions, individual interviews, and a written task. It is designed to be both enjoyable and challenging.

• Stage 3: Individual interview: After the assessment centre we will invite successful candidates to an individual panel interview with members of the senior leadership team - the final stage of the recruitment process. The interview will last approximately 45 minutes.

Please note the following dates for 2026 recruitment: 12th & 13th March 2026 – Assessment Centre; 25th & 26th March 2026 - Individual Panel Interview.

Career Pathways

The Graduate Management Training Scheme is an excellent way to accelerate and enhance your career. The versatility of roles on offer will allow you to obtain a broad range of experiences that will each present the opportunity to learn different skills and values through your placement for well-rounded experience and understanding of the different functions of the university. The fast-track and generalist design of the scheme allows you to develop transferable skills such as people management, effective influencing in the workplace, dealing with ambiguity, self-confidence and more. These transferable skills, alongside your consistent professional development, sufficiently equip you to progress into professional leadership and management positions upon completion of the Graduate Management Training Scheme.

Many of our Trainees have progressed their careers by continuing to work for the University of Birmingham after the two-year term of the Management Training Scheme. Our Trainees advance into various roles in a range of departments across the institution.

Additional Opportunities/Benefits

At the University of Birmingham, we are home to a thriving community and fast-paced environment. We encourage you to be an active member of this community outside of your placements through the various extracurricular activities you can participate in. There are student facing opportunities such as assisting with graduation ceremonies, the clearing process and university open days. You may also choose to join a staff network where you can engage in discussion with other colleagues and find support. Examples of these include the Staff Enabling Network, Race Equality Network and Rainbow Network.

As a community of over 145 nationalities, the University is committed to equality and diversity and now holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award. Our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme provides everyone in Professional Services with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.