Job Description
Job Title:  External Engagement Assistant
Posting Start Date:  03/10/2025
Job Id:  1675
School/Department:  Management School
Work Arrangement:  Full Time (Hybrid)
Contract Type:  Permanent
Salary per annum (£):  £25,249 - £26,707
Closing Date:  16/10/2025

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

 

The postholder will work with the External Engagement team, providing organisational and logistical support for alumni events and other external engagement activities, and maintaining databases of contacts and data. The postholder will work closely with other team members in Employability and Student Recruitment and Marketing to ensure a holistic approach to the School’s external priorities, including providing content for social media and other platforms.

 

Main duties and responsibilities

  • Support The Head of External Engagement in the delivery of the operational plans for external engagement activities in the School. 

  • Provide organisational and logistical support for a range of external engagement and alumni activities, including the Dean's list.

  •  Keep CRM systems up to date to capture external engagement activities. 

  • Provide organisational and logistical support to the School's prize giving and alumni events.

  • Proactively monitor identified social media accounts and alumni and share useful content with colleagues. 

  • Plan, draft for approval, and post approved social media content for alumni platforms. 

  • Work closely with the Employability Assistant to support a holistic approach to embedding external engagement in the curriculum. 

  • Proactively suggest process improvements which can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the external teams working more closely together. 

  • Circulate papers for meetings, attend and take minutes, as required. 

  • Work closely with the Employability Team, providing support for the full range of employability activity, including Company Projects, placements, internships, employability events.

  • Provide cover in the Employability Hub on a regular basis. 

  • Develop and establish networks across the University.

  • Produce and maintain written documentation detailing processes and procedures related to own role, to enable cover in absence.

  • Provide cover for elements of work undertaken by colleagues during absence.

  • As a member of our Professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework.

  • 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.

 

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Excellent IT skills, working with Microsoft Office, especially Word and spreadsheet packages, as well as email.

Essential

Application/

Task

Previous and relevant experience in an administrative role.

Essential

Application

Experience of working with databases and content management systems.

Desirable

Application

Experience of improving processes or systems.

Desirable

Application

Effective communications skills, both written and verbal, particularly when dealing with enquiries.

Essential

Interview

Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to phone and email enquiries.

Essential

Interview

Experience of working effectively as part of a team, and independently.

Essential

Application

Effective organisational and time management skills.

Essential

Interview

Ability to work to deadlines and balance priorities effectively to meet business needs.

Essential

Interview

Ability to produce work to a high standard with attention to detail.

Essential

Interview/Task

 

Further Information

 

Grade

4

Salary

£25,429 - £26,707

Work arrangement

Full-time 

Duration

3rd November 2025

Line manager

External Engagement Manager

Direct reports

None

Our website

www.sheffield.ac.uk/management

For informal enquiries about this job contact Matt Jones, School Manager on matthew.l.jones@sheffield.ac.uk

 

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in early October. This will consist of an interview and a task. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage around a week after the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mgt.hr@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; 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.

 

 

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.

Disability Confident Leader