Job Number
BU03866
School/Department
Skills and Employability
Grade
7
Contract Duration
7 months
Responsible to
Student Success Manager
Purpose of the Job
The Freelancer Community Officer role will be to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of freelancing and promote access to the resources, support and opportunities offered by Freelancer Club Academy. Integration of this resource will be embedded into the Enterprise & Business Start-up Pathway which will promote our online platform, Career Connect. This will be used comprehensively to record student, graduate and business engagement and activity data to report impact and feedback with forward planning of a sustainable approach to scalability.
This will be achieved by working with internal and external partners to support staff, students and graduates to develop their enterprise skills and to support those who want to start their own businesses or social enterprises. Design, organise and facilitate workshops and other activities to support emerging entrepreneurs with finding investment, enterprising competitions and pitching events as well as referring to other organisations, projects and opportunities. The Freelance Community Officer will report to the Head of Careers & Employability.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To develop and deliver support and training to staff, students and graduates in areas of enterprise awareness and the Freelancer Club.
2. To work with colleagues across the University to raise awareness of the opportunities available to students for the development of their enterprise and entrepreneurship skills.
3. Commitment to continuous service improvement, utilising data driven measures of impact, feedback from staff, students and graduates to develop resources and opportunities to increase knowledge of best practice for freelancing and enterprise.
4. To develop and maintain a good working relationship with external networks such as local business support providers and enterprise educators, in particular M-Sparc, in order to enhance the enterprise skills provision for staff, students and graduates.
5. Working with the SU to provide support, advice and guidance for student-led enterprise events and development of a Freelancer Society, promoting their activities both within and outside of the University.
6. To write funding bids, delivery plans and reporting to external funders to support enterprise and entrepreneurship education as appropriate and process financial claims in a timely order to meet reporting requirements.
7. To liaise with the Finance Officer in terms of reporting data, audited documents as required, provide support for any audit or evaluation process associated within reporting guidelines and manage budgets from external funders to ensure targets and reporting requirements are achieved.
8. To represent the University at external events and develop and maintain effective collaborative links with relevant external stakeholders, professional bodies and networks.
9. Any other duties appropriate to the grade as directed through line management.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
10. As part of the Student Services & Administration Directorate, the post holder is expected to function as a team member and provide support to other areas as directed by line management.
11. The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
12. The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
13. The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
14. The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
15. Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject area.
Desirable
16. Postgraduate/Professional qualification in a relevant discipline.
17. Coaching or mentoring qualification.
18. Membership of the IOEE, Fellow status of EEUK or similar professional recognition.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
19. Project management and delivering externally funded projects with the ability to deliver to targets, on budget and excellent reporting skills.
20. Working in or with a Higher Education or Further Education setting, particularly in employability, enterprise, or careers education.
21. Providing one-to-one advice or coaching on self-employment, business startup, or freelance work to a diverse range of individuals.
22. Designing and delivering career education resources, workshops, or learning activities, particularly in an enterprise or employability context.
23. Familiarity with widening participation and inclusive education strategies, especially related to employability or enterprise.
24. Coordinating and facilitating workshops and online webinars.
25. Organising and supporting student-led projects or initiatives that involve real-world delivery or external stakeholders.
26. Experience of working in a bilingual environment and a commitment to learn Welsh.
Desirable
27. Experience with marketing and social media including Canva skills.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
28. Proven ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines to deliver in a target driven role.
29. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
30. Organised and methodical approach with the ability to work on own initiative, excellent time management.
31. Effective people management and team working.
32. Excellent IT and administration skills.
Desirable
33. The ability to travel, as and when required, to undertake the duties required for the role.
Other
Desirable
34. The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.
General
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.