College Advisor - Placements

£26,981 to £28,213 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £32,445 per annum)

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Registry supports all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research informed practise. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high-performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all, supporting excellent student experience.

About the team

The Placements Team plays a central role in supporting students throughout the many placement journeys that take place. We work in partnership with academic colleagues, professional services and external stakeholders to ensure high-quality placement experiences are provided to our student body. The team provides expert advice, guidance and administrative support to students and placement providers, ensuring that placements are well-coordinated, compliant with University regulations and aligned to Professional Standards and Regulating Body (PSRB) requirements and quality expectations.

Working collaboratively across Colleges, the team supports the development and maintenance of robust processes, and ensures a consistent, inclusive, student-focused service. Through effective use and management of information and data, the team contributes to student retention, progression and achievement, while also supporting funding, reporting and regulatory requirements associated with placement provision. We value a leadership styles that empower colleagues, encourages accountability fostering trust and professional growth within the team.

Committed to continuous improvement, the Placements Team actively reviews its services, and engagement with stakeholders to promote best practice across the broad scope of placement activity. At its core, the team is dedicated to delivering an excellent student experience and ensuring that placements are meaningful, well-supported and professionally managed.

The primary responsibility of the Placements College Advisor is to act as a first point of contact for student records (as regards Placements), offering advice, information, and guidance to students, academics and other colleagues where necessary. The role involves working closely with academic colleagues to deliver comprehensive program support. A key aspect of this position is the utilization of a variety of digital technologies to support the operations of the Placements Team. This includes facilitating communication and record keeping through the ARC system, as well as gathering and analysing information to understand student engagement and performance.

This role offers a unique opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking team dedicated to providing exceptional educational experiences. Applications are encouraged from individuals who are eager to contribute to the mission of the University of Derby and support students in achieving their academic and professional goals.

Please note, this role is a student facing role which means an on site presence is required year round. This means staff will be expected to be able to attend our Kedleston Road site full time.

Anticipated interview date: Tuesday 21st July 2026

We are seeking a highly organised and experienced professional with substantial experience of delivering information, advice and guidance within a professional setting; ideally within Higher Education, placements, student administration or a related student-facing function, however this is not essential. You will have a strong understanding of the student journey and the regulatory framework that underpins academic quality and standards.

You will demonstrate excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage a varied and complex workload, respond to escalated issues and implement effective solutions. You will be confident in analysing and interpreting data from multiple systems, producing clear reports and using management information to inform decision-making and support student retention, progression and achievement. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, with the ability to build effective working relationships with academic colleagues, professional services, students and external stakeholders.

You will be proactive, detail-oriented and committed to continuous improvement, with the ability to develop and enhance processes in line with University regulations and funding requirements. A commitment to inclusive practice and delivering an outstanding student experience is non-negotiable. You will demonstrate a supportive and empowering management style, valuing collaboration, openness and mutual respect in all team interactions.

• Have a good understanding of the student journey, to provide advice, information and guidance to students on issues relating to their placement.
• Work with academic colleagues to deliver excellent programme support.
• Assist with the provision of an excellent service to students through the effective delivery of placement administration, acting as a key contact point for students and stakeholders in placement settings for advice and guidance on placement settings.
• Undertake administrative duties to support advice work e.g. monitor and manage student record profiles.
• Utilise management information to support University metrics for student retention, progression and achievement.
• Contribute to the development of suitable sources of information required to support students, ensuring it remains current, in appropriate formats and is shared appropriately with colleagues.
• Work collaboratively with all areas of the University to ensure the best response to students.
• Meet regularly with the relevant Academic Placement Leads to review student profiles and attendance, identify potential issues, provide advice on University processes and regulations and take action as required.
• Provide dedicated administrative support to meet professional/accreditation body specifications as required.
• Make a significant contribution to the development and positive promotion of the College Registry team, including active participation in appropriate Committees and meetings.
• Ensure an inclusive service with a focus on delivering excellence.
• Take part in the evaluation of the services provided and the setting of service standards.
• Escalate issues or concerns to Placements Senior Advisors and/or Placements Team Leader.
• Maintain professional competence through continuous professional development in line with role.

This is not a complete list of all duties and responsibilities; the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level and skills/qualifications of this role.

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above or equivalent qualification
• Educated to A level standard or equivalent demonstrable work-based experience

Experience

• Experience of delivering information, advice and guidance in a professional setting
• Experience of working in an administrative role in a service setting
• Experience of working with computer systems/databases
• Experience of contributing to the development of innovative solutions to problems, addressing the root cause
• Experience of working collaboratively across boundaries to achieve common goals
• Experience of understanding and applying data protection requirements
• Experience of using large amounts of data/multiple data sets; and using data to manage workload

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent customer service skills with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to complex queries
• Ability to work under pressure and achieve deadlines whilst managing competing workloads
• Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy in dealing with a wide range of contacts both internal and external to the University
• Good judgement of situations and people and the ability to respond appropriately
• Ability to take a professional approach and work on own initiative
• Ability to adapt and be flexible
• Ability to understand and apply regulations/rules e.g. GDPR, quality assurance frameworks
• Confident and able to demonstrate digital competency across a range of technologies . click apply for full job details