Talent Development Officer

The Careers and Employment Service Team supports students with their Careers Learning throughout their programme and for three years after graduation. This support enables work ready graduates to secure high skilled graduate outcomes including enterprise, new business start-up and post graduate opportunities.

Support includes embedding employability and industry engagement in curriculum, promoting and creating work experience opportunities, Information, Advice and Guidance appointments, access to online skill development resources and range of employer facing recruitment events.

As a Talent Development Officer, you will develop and strategically deploy relationships with external stakeholders, to create developmental and recruitment opportunities, and increase skills awareness of students and graduates, to enable increased graduate outcomes. 

You will advise employers, charities and other recruiting organisations about developing, attracting and recruiting talent (students and graduates) using your understanding of the local and national labour market. You will work across teams to build and develop successful relationships with Academics and other internal stakeholders such as Events and the Union of Students. In addition, you will contribute to the development of strategic relationships, including those between partner external organisations, academic schools and Research support services at the University.

You will continue to develop your skills through relevant internal and external training and the opportunity to attend conferences such as the Institute of Student employers (ISE).

As the first point of contact for the Careers and Employment Service, you will be responsible for handling recruitment queries from external stakeholders to source new volunteering, internship, year placement and graduate opportunities with existing employers. You will also have the opportunity to deliver a range of employer events, activities and networking opportunities on campus and online. 

This role is specifically aligned with the College of Arts, Humanities and Education and will therefore also work within the College Cluster to foster close working relationships with Schools and disciplines, supporting them with the career development of current students and recent graduates by supporting the delivery of College based employer led skills sessions and centrally delivered careers and skills training.

The role is currently hybrid, working a minimum of two days onsite per week.

The anticipated interview date is 6th March 2025.

To excel in this role, you will bring substantial experience in graduate recruitment or talent development, with a proven track record of consulting with external stakeholders. Your ability to deliver outstanding customer service will be complemented by a strong history of achieving operational targets through exceptional planning and organizational skills.

Key Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Labour Market Expertise: Knowledge of current labour market trends and the higher education landscape.
• Technological Aptitude: Understanding of how technology can enhance and streamline service delivery.
• Team Collaboration: A constructive team player with the ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships.
• Communication & Problem-Solving: Excellent communication skills, the ability to present complex information clearly, and a strong analytical approach to problem-solving.
• Empathy & Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to explain complex issues to diverse audiences with empathy and clarity.
• Innovation & Commitment: Enthusiasm for generating new ideas and a dedication to enhancing the student and employer experience.

This role requires a passion for supporting the University's vision and values, with a focus on making a meaningful impact on both students and employer partnerships.

1. Be the first point of contact for the Careers and Employment Service, handling recruitment queries from external stakeholders.
2. Work with Employer and Community Engagement Manager to implement the Employer Engagement Operational Priorities Plan.
3. Source new volunteering, internship, year placement and graduate opportunities with existing employers. Develop new relationships with external stakeholders to increase opportunities for students and graduates.
4. Support the Graduate Transitions Manager to identify opportunities to increase the number of employers recruiting talent from the University.
5. Work with the College Careers Partners and Careers Coaches to foster close working relationships with Colleges, Schools and disciplines, supporting them with the career development of current students and recent graduates.
6. Collate and disseminate Labour Market Intelligence, employer demand for skills and up to date recruitment practices to academics and the wider university.
7. Contribute to the employability of students, postgraduates and graduates by supporting the delivery of College based employer led skills sessions and centrally delivered careers education/transferable skills training.
8. Assist in attracting and engaging local SMEs through activities such as: direct calls and site visits, organisation of webinars, workshops and events, attendance at industry focused external conferences and events.
9. Be a key contact for employer and community organisation enquiries regarding student and graduate skills development and employment.
10. Contribute to the development of strategic relationships, including those between external organisations, academic schools and Research support services at the University.
11. Maintain employer records on CareerHub, collate information and data, report on activities and forecast opportunities, for the management of external relationships.
12. Promote opportunities to attract external stakeholders attending Careers related events, such as Careers Fairs, panel sessions and alumni events.
13. Organise and promote a range of employer events, activities and networking opportunities on campus and online, including social media, working across the team to complement employability events and curriculum engagement.
14. Contribute to the continual enhancement of evidence informed services leading to the statutory Graduate Outcomes Survey, and provision of Labour Market Intelligence.
15. Develop and provide advice on a knowledge base that reflects the needs of clients within a specific caseload including work with professional bodies such as the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) and other employer-specific organisations.
16. Work as part of a professional consultancy team supporting each other to achieve aims set out in the university’s employability agenda; promote a culture of excellent customer service and support a high-performance culture within the team.
17. Comply with University policy and requirements of the operating environment including University Health & Safety requirements and ensuring that confidentiality of information is maintained in line with data protection and University policy.
18. Undertake such other duties as may be required by the service, commensurate with the level of responsibility of the role in support of enhancing the student experience.