Internal Applicants Only - Business Partner - Student Futures

Student Futures comprises careers, employability, student enterprise and international mobility provision for students. Our team comprises just over 70 staff and there is currently a vacancy for a Business Partner to lead our work in the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS). Our work in each of the University Colleges is led by a Business Partner. The role is based in the Centre for Student Life but involves working closely with the College of BLS and the seven academic Schools within it. You will work closely with the Interim Head of Student Futures and will be part of the management team. You will also liaise with numerous College roles such as the Dean for Education and Students, the Registrar and the Education Manager, as well as the Employability Leads in each School. This role involves holistic and strategic leadership of all our work with the College and the line management of three teams, namely the Enterprise team, Work Experience team and Career Confident team, in addition to a placement manager based in an academic school. Work-based learning is currently an area of focus for Student Futures, and this role will lead this important agenda. Candidates will need to have a background in project and line management, preferably within a Higher Education context.,

• Contribute to the long-term strategic planning and management of Student Futures provision, interpreting Student Life, Education & Students and College strategies to develop work priorities and deliverables, ensuring professional standards and quality systems are adhered to.
• Management and leadership of the delivery of Student Futures services in the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS).
• Planning and delivery of projects in Student Futures and in the College of BLS that have an institutional impact, organising and delegating work and monitoring performance and progress as required.
• Responsibility for resolving issues independently, within the College of BLS and as a member of the Student Futures management team, where they fall within the remit of the role. Use of judgement and creativity to make recommendations and report to stakeholders.
• Work with academic colleagues to identify appropriate and discipline-specific curricular initiatives to embed employability and enterprise. This may include working in a team to develop modular content and materials including assessment.
• Collaboration with the Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy and the University Quality processes in relation to new programme development and revalidation of existing academic programmes.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of stakeholders (students, colleagues, employers) ensuring complex and conceptual issues and solutions are understood by the audience.
• Provide professional advice and guidance on Student Futures provision, processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institution-wide impacts. For example, convening the internal BLS College Planning Group.
• Work closely with the Strategic Lead for Advice & Guidance to ensure appropriate provision in this area for the College of BLS.
• Negotiate, review and maintain School Action Plans on an annual basis.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts to help improve service levels, developing appropriate communication links with the University's Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.
• Collaborate with others to develop processes and procedures used within Student Futures and the College of BLS, leading or chairing forums when appropriate.
• Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports, working with College Data Analysts as appropriate.
• Work with the Information Systems and Graduate Outcomes Managers to provide an annual update and interpretation of employability data for the College of BLS, making recommendations for enhancement to process and outcomes as appropriate.
• Line management of three operational teams, ensuring team
• objectives are communicated and engaged with. This will include recruitment, induction, performance management and staff development.
• Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas.
• Undertake the training of others in areas relating to Student Futures, the College or specific teams.
• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate, and which will enhance performance.
General Duties
• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role, Due to the nature of this role, some activities take place on a Saturday and as such the post holder will be required to work Saturdays and out of office hours on occasions., As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.
• Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below.
• Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.
  
  Qualifications and Education
1. Degree/NVQ 6 or equivalent Professional membership/experience. This could be in a Careers, Higher Education or teaching context. Knowledge, Skills and Experience 2. Substantial experience of managing a section consisting of one or more teams 3. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge of employability in HE and ability to give advice & guidance to internal and external customers 4. Proven ability to manage projects, analyse and interpret data, and ability to set up develop office systems and procedures Customer Service, Communication and Team Working 5. Ability to communicate detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people 6. Experience of managing several teams, balancing multiple objectives and priorities 7. Experience of dealing with performance and welfare issues 8. Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered Planning, Analysis and Problem solving 9. Proven experience in dealing with diverse and challenging problems, including researching issues and creating new solutions where no prior precedent exists 10. Evidence of ability to plan the work of a section over year plus time scales, reacting to changes in workload and strategic direction, 11. Postgraduate/Professional qualification 12. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment 13. Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy 14. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements., Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

The post full time, 35 hours per week and Fixed term until November 2025 to cover for an existing member of staff on secondment. The post is available from February 2025. Salary: £50,694 to £55,295 per annum (Grade 7) Due to the nature of this role, some activities take place on a Saturday and as such the post holder will be required to work Saturdays and out of standard office hours on occasions. Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 37 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), pro rata for part time staff, local pension scheme, blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.