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Anglia Ruskin University
Senior Schools & Colleges Engagement Manager (Widening Access)
Chelmsford On-site 5-10 yrs exp£46k – £57k / year
Team LeadershipWidening Access And ParticipationStrategic PlanningOperational PlanningData-Informed Decision-Making
Requirements
A degree-level education and proven experience leading teams and working with diverse groups are required, as is experience in widening access and participation. Higher education student recruitment experience is welcomed; candidates should also demonstrate strong communication, organisation, stakeholder relationship-building, and problem-solving abilities.
Job Description
About ARUJob Category
Administrative
Vacancy Type
Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Duration
12 months
Employment Type
Full time
Salary From
£46,049
Salary To
£56,535
Location
Chelmsford/Cambridge
Faculty/Prof Service
Corporate Marketing
Closing Date
25/10/2026
Ref No
4108
Documents
Apply for this job
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About ARU
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
About The Role
To support delivery against our Institutional Strategies, we have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Schools & Colleges Engagement Manager (Widening Access) to join our Team within Marketing, External Relations and Engagement on a fixed term basis.
Your primary responsibility will be to oversee the maintenance, development, and implementation of data-informed and evidence-led strategic and operational plans for the Schools and Colleges Team and to report progress against the access elements of our Access & Participation Plan required by Office for Students (OfS).
To be successful in this role you will need to be educated to degree level and have a proven track record and passion for leading teams and working with a diverse range of people. Experience of working in Widening Access and Participation is essential and experience working in Higher Education Student Recruitment will also be welcomed.
You will need to be an innovative, creative thinker who is enthusiastic, proactive, patient and highly organised. You will need to demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and you must be able to engage and enthuse those around you. It is important that you can develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of colleagues, partners, and external stakeholders. Confidence with taking the lead and owning problems to resolution is essential.
The successful applicant will be based at either our Cambridge or Chelmsford campus. Occasional travel between campuses, and occasional work outside of normal office hours is to be expected.
It is expected that face-to-face interviews will take place Thursday 5 November (campus tbc)
Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Katie Groves, Assistant Director of UK Student Recruitment and Widening Access, at katie.groves@aru.ac.uk
Find out more about working with us and how we recruit .
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
This appointment is subject to an enhanced level children's and adults barred list disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check . Shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any prior disciplinary action or investigation related to sexual misconduct or abuse.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
In accordance with Home Office guidance and the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Act 2006, ARU has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK and in the role for which they have been recruited. Prior to their start date, the successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.
For candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, ARU is a UKVI-licensed sponsor and may be able to provide sponsorship for eligible candidates appointed to skilled roles, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. Eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Further information about UK immigration requirements and working in the UK can be found on the Home Office website .
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
Guidance Notes
Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.
Administrative
Vacancy Type
Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Duration
12 months
Employment Type
Full time
Salary From
£46,049
Salary To
£56,535
Location
Chelmsford/Cambridge
Faculty/Prof Service
Corporate Marketing
Closing Date
25/10/2026
Ref No
4108
Documents
- Job Description Person Specification (PDF , 1360.84kb)
- Candidate Brief (PDF , 2007.09kb)
Apply for this job
Send to a Friend
About ARU
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
About The Role
To support delivery against our Institutional Strategies, we have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Schools & Colleges Engagement Manager (Widening Access) to join our Team within Marketing, External Relations and Engagement on a fixed term basis.
Your primary responsibility will be to oversee the maintenance, development, and implementation of data-informed and evidence-led strategic and operational plans for the Schools and Colleges Team and to report progress against the access elements of our Access & Participation Plan required by Office for Students (OfS).
To be successful in this role you will need to be educated to degree level and have a proven track record and passion for leading teams and working with a diverse range of people. Experience of working in Widening Access and Participation is essential and experience working in Higher Education Student Recruitment will also be welcomed.
You will need to be an innovative, creative thinker who is enthusiastic, proactive, patient and highly organised. You will need to demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and you must be able to engage and enthuse those around you. It is important that you can develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of colleagues, partners, and external stakeholders. Confidence with taking the lead and owning problems to resolution is essential.
The successful applicant will be based at either our Cambridge or Chelmsford campus. Occasional travel between campuses, and occasional work outside of normal office hours is to be expected.
It is expected that face-to-face interviews will take place Thursday 5 November (campus tbc)
Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Katie Groves, Assistant Director of UK Student Recruitment and Widening Access, at katie.groves@aru.ac.uk
Find out more about working with us and how we recruit .
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
This appointment is subject to an enhanced level children's and adults barred list disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check . Shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any prior disciplinary action or investigation related to sexual misconduct or abuse.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
In accordance with Home Office guidance and the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Act 2006, ARU has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK and in the role for which they have been recruited. Prior to their start date, the successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.
For candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, ARU is a UKVI-licensed sponsor and may be able to provide sponsorship for eligible candidates appointed to skilled roles, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. Eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Further information about UK immigration requirements and working in the UK can be found on the Home Office website .
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
Guidance Notes
Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.
Education
Bachelor Degree
Skills
Team LeadershipWidening Access And ParticipationStrategic PlanningOperational PlanningData-Informed Decision-MakingEvidence-Led PlanningHigher Education Student RecruitmentStakeholder Relationship ManagementInterpersonal CommunicationWritten CommunicationOral CommunicationProblem-SolvingOrganisationCreative ThinkingEngagement