At a Glance
- Tasks: Plan and deliver engaging programmes to support under-represented students in higher education.
- Company: Join a supportive and inclusive university community dedicated to widening participation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Full-time maternity cover role with potential for part-time options.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives and promote inclusivity in education.
- Qualifications: Experience working with young people and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 24700 - 30500 £ per year.
Salary £29,740 to £36,446 per annum pro-rata depending on skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
Location Jubilee Campus
Area Student & Campus Life
About The Role
We are looking to appoint a committed and enthusiastic Widening Participation Officer to join our Access and Widening Participation team. This is a varied and rewarding role that combines programme and event planning with front-line delivery and prospective student support, for example with our Sutton Trust Pathways programmes and Summer Schools.
You will devise, coordinate, and deliver activities, in addition to supporting with collecting feedback, evaluating and contributing to continuous improvement of the programmes. You will provide support to prospective students as they undertake the UCAS process, identifying potential issues and signposting them to relevant services as needed. You will work with Student Ambassadors, academic colleagues and student support services to ensure a joined-up approach both on the programmes and as participants transition to the University of Nottingham.
About The Team
In the Access and Widening Participation team, our outreach and programmes work is predominantly with groups that are under-represented in higher education in order to support aspirations and remove barriers to continuous learning. Our team delivers sessions to a wide range of age groups, from primary through to Post 16 and mature students.
About You
You will be a committed professional with a good understanding of widening participation and knowledge of how to address these aims. You will bring:
- Excellent presentation, communication and organisational skills
- Experience of working with young people
- Experience of organising events and developing and implementing a range of projects or programmes
- An ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- An education at least up to A-Level (or equivalent)
Why Join Us?
You will have the opportunity to undertake meaningful work that supports our Access and Participation Plan and contributes to our vision of a fairer, more inclusive higher education landscape. This full-time, maternity cover role is available from mid-April 2026 for twelve months and requires some work outside normal working hours, in the evenings and weekends, for which time is given back in lieu. Your working hours will be 36.25 per week. If you are interested in part-time work (minimum 29 hours per week), we encourage you to apply. Please specify your preferred hours in your application. Please note, our Summer School delivery weeks are 5–12 July and 12–17 July and are essential to this role.
What Next
Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click “Apply Now” to complete your details. Please contact Pete Bruce (peter.bruce@nottingham.ac.uk) if you have further questions about this role. Applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted. We aim to interview on either Wednesday 11th or Thursday 12th March.
It is a condition of this post that satisfactory enhanced disclosure is obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Additional Details
Further information includes: Job Description/Role Profile. Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs—diversity is vital to our success and to our values. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). We are committed to the aims of the Disability Confident Scheme. We are the first university to have achieved Athena Swan Gold Award. To help you succeed, we publish Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process. Discover our benefits on Your Benefits website. We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details. Your application will be considered on an equal basis, subject to the relevant permission to work in the UK as set out by UK Visas & Immigration.
Widening Participation Officer (Maternity Cover) in Nottingham employer: University Of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and fosters professional growth. As a Widening Participation Officer, you will engage in meaningful work that directly impacts under-represented groups in higher education, while enjoying flexible working hours and a commitment to employee well-being. With access to comprehensive benefits and a strong focus on continuous improvement, this role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a fairer educational landscape in a vibrant campus community.
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