The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Committed to delivering activities that follow a robust, evidence-based, curriculum, you will  be passionate about fairness and transparency, ensuring our missions to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded in the targeting and delivery of activity that is continually developing, impactful and demonstrative of sector best practice. As an Access Officer you will be responsible for the development and delivery of our expanding partnership and summer school activity. This will include overseeing operations for a number of partnership projects, such as The Brilliant Club and Sutton Trust. You will also support regional and philanthropically funded national projects such as our Access to Sheffield Summer School. The role will focus initially on prospective student engagement but you will be committed to cross-team working, contributing to service wide and cross-department planning. You will be integral to ensuring that cross-programme initiatives, such as mentoring and tutoring, are embedded for your participants engaging with our interventions. You will also represent the University’s Access Service working collaboratively with internal & external stakeholders & partners to effectively deliver projects, sharing and implementing best practice.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Contribute to & influence the development of activity & practices, aligned to our curriculum standards & which offer targeted support to specific underrepresented groups, encouraging & increasing recruitment to the University of Sheffield and access to Higher Education generally.
• Oversee the operational & financial management of target Access Service initiatives in line with University procedures.
• Liaise with schools, colleges and our marketing services to generate interest in Access Service programmes & activity, ensuring that where appropriate programme participants are selected in line with the Access Services targeting framework.
• Liaise & build relationships with both external partners, and the wider University body( for example Faculty, Schools & other Professional Service areas), attending meetings as required to support & represent operational matters.
• Contribute to the recruitment, training & supervision of Student Ambassadors & others who will support the delivery of activities.
• Ensure all designated activity, both internal and partnership collaborative activity, is recorded, evaluated and reviewed against University of Sheffield and regulatory frameworks to drive positive outcomes and contribute to impact reporting and publications.
• Provide information, advice & guidance to prospective students, their parents/carers & other influencers, acting as a positive role model to support their understanding of the benefits of Higher Education.
• Support wider department activity, representing the University at higher education fairs, open days & other on or off campus events for prospective students. This will involve some Saturday & evening work for which time off in lieu will be given.
• 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.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in the week after the job closing date. This will consist of an interview and activity/presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 9th March 2026 and hope to conduct interview by 23 March 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Ella-Rosa Twyman, on e.twyman@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

Criminal record

An enhanced DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Closing Date : 08/03/2026 

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.