The Southern Universities Network seeks to recruit a Project Leader to develop and deliver the partnership’s Progression Mentor programme in Further Education Colleges. With experience of working in and/or with FE colleges and an understanding of the widening participation agenda, you will be responsible for managing and maintaining relationships with colleagues in FE colleges in the SUN region to enable them to engage with the SUN programme. You will support Progression Mentors (SUN-funded roles based in each college) to develop, deliver and evaluate their own Uni Connect-focused projects.

You will design and deliver a range of projects that contribute to the partnership’s programme including activities for post-16 students and CPD for educational practitioners. In addition, you will collaborate with SUN partner organisations to plan, manage, and deliver projects that support the partnership to meet its strategic targets.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage a varied and demanding workload, possess excellent communication skills, have proven experience of inter-agency collaboration, and be adept at achieving ‘buy-in’ to new initiatives. You will have experience of organising events and producing high-quality resources for educational purposes.

This post will see the successful candidate working from home but with regular travel across the SUN region (specifically Hampshire and Southampton) to partner universities and colleges. They will work closely with two other SUN FE Project Leaders under the overall direction of the SUN central team, reporting on a day-to-day basis to the SUN Programme Manager.

This opportunity is a maternity cover until 31^st October 2025 with the likelihood of extension. This is a part-time position (0.6 FTE) in which we can offer some flexibility around working days and hours however the successful candidate will be required to work at least a half-day on either a Tuesday or Wednesday.

A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service clearance is required.

For an informal discussion and to find out more about this opportunity please contact Amey Dawe, SUN Programme Manager, A.Dawe@soton.ac.uk.

About The Southern Universities Network

The Southern Universities Network (SUN) comprises several higher education providers, further education (FE) colleges, schools, and other organisations in Dorset, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight. It is part of the Uni Connect programme; funded by the Office for Students, Uni Connect aims to reduce the gap in higher education participation between the most and least represented groups.