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

Reporting to the Head of Careers & Employability, this role is crucial in ensuring University-wide governance and compliance of placement and work-related learning activity, both within and beyond the curriculum; in support of the University's strategic commitment to this area. This involves coordination of such activity across the institution, overseeing projects, processes, governance and health & safety in order to drive growth, compliance and equitable student access.

The role-holder is the institutional lead for placements & work-related learning, and will be a member of the Careers & Employability Service’s Senior Management Team (SMT), liaising with and influencing colleagues across the University. This includes collective responsibility for continuing service excellence to students, staff and external stakeholders, and delivery of careers and employability services which meet the University’s Vision and strategic commitments.

The post-holder will influence and provide professional advice and coordination for work experience initiatives across faculties and schools, working closely with academic and professional services teams. Effective collaboration with employers, alumni and the Students’ Union, alongside the University’s insurance and health & safety experts will be essential.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead University-wide coordination of year-long placement activity, overseeing the governance, processes, systems and reporting to minimise risks and meet institutional objectives.
• Collaborate with senior managers and colleagues across Careers, S&AS and the  University to ensure all placement year and in-curricular work-related learning activity complies with appropriate policy and approved processes.
• Proactively identify and address potential risks and concerns for the University, and develop the means to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of work experience opportunities.
• Develop and maintain internal partnerships, working across academic faculties, schools, and professional services to align and optimise work experience opportunities.
• Ensure effective governance procedures for placements and other work-related activities, maintaining full compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Provide guidance to faculties and schools around confidentiality and intellectual property for managing placement and work-related learning activity.
• Lead and manage various work experience schemes, ensuring budgets and resources are efficiently allocated to deliver objectives on time.
• Seek sources of additional investment including writing bids for funding and donations to develop and maintain work experience and employability development opportunities for students.
• Ensure efficient processes and delivery mechanisms for all activities, exploring new systems as needed.
• Utilise data and evaluation tools to measure impact, inform service improvements, and drive strategic decision-making.
• Build and engage external networks to enhance the delivery of the University of Sheffield’s services and strategic objectives.
• Oversee related employer engagement, working closely with specialist partnership and employer engagement teams to optimise opportunities available to students, including virtual or remote work, and local, civic and community engagement.
• 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.

Essential criteria

• A degree (or equivalent experience). [assessed at: Application]
• Significant experience in leading and managing teams to achieve high performance and meet personal and team objectives. [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Experience in delivering process, governance and compliance solutions, ensuring regulatory adherence, risk management, and operational efficiency [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Experience of effectively managing complex budgets [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Good understanding of the management of student placement and work experience processes, with excellent attention to detail [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Broad understanding of employability activity and strategies within the HE sector. [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Demonstrated success in leading and managing multiple complex projects with diverse stakeholders. [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships both internally and externally, and to represent the Careers and Employability Service and the University professionally, at all levels. [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Proficiency in IT systems and tools, with experience leading process development and system improvements. [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Experience of strategic and creative problem solving and timely decision making. [assessed at: Application, Interview]
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including writing and presenting proposals, updates, and reports to senior committees, and influencing and persuading others.[assessed at: Application, Interview]

Further Information

Grade: 8

Salary: £48,149 - £57,422 (Pro rata)

Work arrangement: Part-time: 0.9FTE, working pattern to be determined. Minimum 60% on campus in Sheffield.

Duration: 21st July 2025 - 31st May 2026

Line manager: Head of Careers & Employability

Direct reports: Placements and Systems Support Officer, Employability Projects Officer

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers
 

For informal enquiries about this job contact Kerry Hyde, Head of Careers & Employability: on kerry.hyde@sheffield.ac.uk or on 0114 222 0939

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on the 26 June 2025. This will consist of an interview, presentation and opportunity to meet with the team. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 16th June 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Ann Yeomans at a.yeomans@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 41 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.

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.