Key information

• Hours: 37.5 hours

• Start date: October 2022 (we are happy to work with you and your notice period)

• Duration: Permanent

Early applications are encouraged, as we will assess applications and schedule interviews on an ongoing basis.

About upReach

Do you think that your socioeconomic background should determine your career prospects?  

upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from a working-class background disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a Russell Group University top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2. 

We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help young people from less advantaged backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment. 

To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report. 

Role overview 

upReach are seeking to hire a Programme Manager to deliver our programme of support for students from less advantaged backgrounds. This is an exciting opportunity to directly contribute to the growth of the charity by managing multiple employers and/or university partnership relationships and leading a delivery team of Programme Coordinators to attract, onboard and provide high-quality support to Associates (the undergraduates we support). We may hire more than one candidate depending on the need within the charity. One programme that we will certainly be recruiting for focuses on supporting students interested in careers in the Government and Public Sector and/or Charity & Social Impact Sector. If you have experience in this area, please do mention it in your application. 

This position would be suited to individuals who are committed to upReach's mission and have an understanding of, and empathy with, the challenges facing those from lower-socio-economic backgrounds. You will be responsible for overseeing key elements of these programmes, including attracting new students, planning high-quality support and events, managing relationships with key external stakeholders at all levels of seniority, and evaluating impact.

You will support and coach a team to manage day-to-day partner responsibilities and relationship management, working closely with the Head of Employer Partnerships and/or University Partnership Manager to ensure that all relationships and events with upReach’s partners are managed effectively. You will also contribute to strategic decisions about new opportunities to grow upReach's existing partnerships and identify new relationships we could build to support our Associates.  

In addition, you will work with the broader Delivery leadership team to form plans and strategies for upReach’s general Associate attraction, programme delivery and team management. You will be a key member of a dynamic and growing national team. 

Experience

To be successful, it is anticipated that you would have prior experience in programme delivery, stakeholder management, monitoring progress against agreed KPIs’ and leading small teams.

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems.

• Ability to engage and flex communication style confidently with a variety of stakeholders, such as beneficiaries, upReach partners and all levels of employees across the organisation.

• Line management or team leadership experience.

• Experience working directly with key stakeholders to manage and grow a relationship and/or partnership.

• Excellent influencing, facilitation and communication skills (both oral and written) and comfortable preparing and presenting reports and proposals to senior management and external stakeholders.

• Strong programme management and problem-solving skills, in addition to superb organisational skills, to manage a varied workload.

• Monitoring progress against KPIs and pivoting where needed.

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as independently, with a creative and proactive attitude.

• Experience working with the sectors that upReach operates in Financial Services, Government and Charity, Technology, Law, and Professional Services OR have experience working with universities and widening participation.

• University degree in any discipline (2:1 or higher), or equivalent experience.

Desirable experience:

• Project management qualifications or comparable experience. 

• Experience delivering all aspects of a programme end to end, from design to reporting and evaluation.

• Experience in marketing a programme or campaign.

• Familiarity with G Suite and Zoom video conferencing software.

Responsibilities

Over the first six months, you will contribute to upReach's mission, by working to deliver our programme of support for students exploring their career options. This includes managing a team to deliver key upReach programmes of the role. You will be responsible for overseeing key elements of these programmes, including attracting new students, planning high-quality support and events, managing relationships with key external stakeholders at all levels of seniority, and evaluating impact.

Core responsibilities include: 

Programme Design and Delivery

• Contribute to strategic decisions concerning the design and delivery of our programme of support for students, creating a 12-month plan in advance of the start of each recruitment cycle. 

• Work with the Delivery Team to design learning journeys (including events & opportunities) for Associates.

• Oversee the development and creation of resources and planning and delivery of events and opportunities relevant to the unique needs of the participants in our programmes. 

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the programmes with overarching responsibility for meeting internal engagement and application success KPIs.

Partnership/Relationship Management

• Maintain strong relationships with partners at all levels of seniority, including managing quarterly/annual reporting requirements on stakeholder KPIs.

• Help Programme Coordinators manage day-to-day partnership responsibilities, and coach them in relationship management.

• Support Programme Coordinators in monthly meetings with external partners, to plan upcoming events and opportunities for students and confirm progress.

• Support Programme Coordinators to create effective end-of-year reviews with partners, advising on data collection, analysis and presentation.

• Contribute to strategic decisions about new opportunities to grow upReach's existing partnerships and identify new relationships we could build to support our Associates on these programmes.

Team Management

• Manage a team of Programme Coordinators in a variety of locations, providing weekly 1-to-1 support, reviews and personal development support. 

• Ensure Programme Coordinators document all interactions with Associates and application progress.

• Support Programme Coordinators in their professional development, including objective setting, performance reviewing and appraisals.

• Use relevant dashboards and data to set Programme Coordinator priorities.

• Evaluate the Programme Coordinator’s progress to ensure that all stakeholder KPIs are achieved.

• Contribute to strategic decisions concerning the resourcing of programmes.

•  Be part of the upReach Leadership Team and contribute to forming the strategy and direction of the charity.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are committed to supporting you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture. 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working.

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days and bank holidays. This increases to 2 additional days after 2.5 years and then to 5 additional days after 5 years of working with us. 

• Birthday leave.

• 3% Pension Contribution.

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

• Monthly socials.

• Dedication to Staff well-being through our Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health Training. 

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role.

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Ethnic Minorities Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

Ready to apply?

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you have particular needs or requirements, please get in touch using recruitment@upReach.org.uk.

Applications close at 5 pm on the 23rd of September. Early applications are encouraged as we will be scheduling interviews on an ongoing basis. 

If you have any questions regarding the role please email us at recruitment@upReach.org.uk.