Aspire Higher Coordinator

About the job

1 x Fixed term until 31 July 2026

1 x Fixed term until 31 July 2026 or until the return of the current post holder, whichever is sooner

Interview date - Wednesday 16 July 2025

The University of Northampton’s Schools Engagement (Widening Access) team is looking for an enthusiastic and engaging person to deliver the Aspire Higher (Uni Connect) offer in Northamptonshire schools. 

The post sits within the Schools Engagement (Widening Access) team, who deliver opportunities in both primary and secondary schools in Northamptonshire, and including the Aspire Higher offer, contribute to meeting the outcomes of the university Access and Participation Plan.  The Aspire Higher Consortium work together to deliver the outcomes and outputs of the Uni Connect Programme, which aims to support the most disadvantaged young people in England to progress into higher education (HE). The programme involves outreach and attainment raising activity in geographical areas where the HE participation of young people is low or lower than expected based on GCSE-level attainment.

This post will lead on the National Saturday Club at the University of Northampton, as well as other initiatives, and will have excellent organisation skills, ability to communicate effectively, require liaison with multiple stake holders including children and parents/carers and weekend working. The post is focussed around the design, delivery and implementation of multiple programmes and opportunities with young people, supporting aspiration and attainment raising opportunities to ensure the effective delivery for the University and its collaborative partners’ programme.   

This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated individual who has a passion for supporting young people to overcome barriers to higher education and has good programme development and delivery skills. You will co-ordinate and liaise with teams of staff and paid student ambassadors to effectively deliver in-reach and outreach aspirational and achievement sessions based at the university, in schools and online; maximising impact, quality assuring and contributing to driving up engagement across our county target secondary schools.

Your working week is 37 hours, including weekend and evening working, at least two days on campus and some flexibility to work from home.  The post will require regular travel between places of work, including schools and colleges across Northamptonshire

This post is subject to a background disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Service before any appointment can be confirmed. 

About you

Educated to level 4, or with relevant experience, you will demonstrate the ability to work across a range of different work streams, prioritising and managing time effectively. You will often be in contact with students and teachers and will therefore need to have some knowledge of progression to Higher Education or be prepared to learn quickly, excellent communication skills, adaptable to change and customer focussed. Candidates will require a very good use of IT skills as well as knowledge of online platforms and their potential functionality for the delivery of online opportunities.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree Qualification or relevant working experience
• Level 3 qualifications
• Grade C/4 English and Maths at GCSE/O’ Level (or equivalent)

Department

You will be working within the Schools Engagement (Widening Access) Team which sits within the Equality and Access department.

The Uni Connect programme is a national programme which targets students who are underrepresented within Higher Education, working with them and their schools to help raise their academic ability, aspirations and interest in the benefits of higher education. You will work closely with members of the Widening Access team, schools and colleges as well as faculty colleagues across the university and those within our two consortium partners, Universities of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire to develop and deliver opportunities to students from year 7 to 13.

About us

At the University of Northampton, we are committed to supporting aspirations, creating opportunities, and delivering meaningful impact. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we foster a progressive, inclusive environment where excellence thrives for our students and staff.

Our People
Our staff are our greatest asset. We are dedicated to building an inclusive community that values diversity, promotes wellbeing, and supports personal and professional growth. By developing a first-rate People Strategy, we aim to attract and retain top talent, enhance career progression, and ensure that every colleague feels empowered to achieve their best.

Our Values

• Inclusivity: We celebrate diversity and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to excel.
• Sustainability: We are committed to becoming a net zero carbon institution, taking collective action for the benefit of society and the environment.
• Aspiration: We strive for excellence in all we do, empowering our staff, students, and partners to reach their highest potential.
• Trust: We build relationships based on respect, transparency, and shared goals.

Together, we are creating a future where our community, our work, and our impact truly make a difference.

Right to work

All candidates will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the UK during the interview process.  Due to the requirements laid out by UK Visas and Immigration regarding Right to Work in the UK, the University can only accept applications from individuals who currently have a status allowing them to work in the UK for this position. Due to this criteria, we regret that we are unable to offer sponsorship at this time. 

Equality

We welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups.

The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical, and sustainable environment that values equality, diversity, and inclusion. Our commitment ensures an inclusive atmosphere for staff, students, and the public. We manage equality and diversity through key committees and formal policies, extending our responsibility to subsidiary companies and partnerships.

Together @ UON
Our Commitment to Equality and Inclusion

Together @ UON affirms our dedication to creating an environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equality. We aim to foster a space where all can thrive, aligning with our mission to transform lives and inspire change.

Commitments Include:

1. Creating an Inclusive Environment: Adopting a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and ensuring all activities are inclusive.
2. Supporting Students and Staff: Strengthening mental health support, enhancing disability confidence, and ensuring academic and professional support.
3. Tackling Inequalities: Involving students in recruitment, integrating forums for equality data analysis, and supporting networks for protected characteristics.

UON’s Major Commitments:

• Disability Confident
• Standalone Pledge
• IHRA Working Definition

For more details, visit: Equality and Diversity at UON