Learner Engagement Manager

About ARU:

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

At our ARU Writtle campus, we specialise in animal, environmental, agricultural and horticultural courses, for learners aged 16 to 18, adult learners, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

About the Role:

Are you an experienced pastoral or safeguarding professional with strong leadership skills? We are seeking a Learner Engagement Manager to join our Learner Engagement and Safeguarding Team at Writtle College.

This is a key leadership role, providing day-to-day line management and operational oversight of a team of Learner Engagement Assistants. You will lead the delivery of high-quality pastoral support, oversee caseloads, develop and support your team, and ensure learners receive timely interventions that promote wellbeing, attendance, engagement and achievement.

Working collaboratively with curriculum colleagues, students, parents/carers and external agencies, you will coordinate support for learners, helping to remove barriers to learning and create an inclusive environment where students can thrive. You will also contribute to the continuous development of learner engagement, safeguarding and inclusion practices across the College.

As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), you will help manage safeguarding referrals, respond to emerging concerns, and ensure safeguarding responsibilities and College policies are consistently upheld.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys leading people, driving high standards and making a positive impact on the student experience.

To be successful in this role, you will have experience in a pastoral or safeguarding leadership role within an FE college or similar educational setting, with proven day-to-day line management experience. You will have a strong understanding of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, and current safeguarding legislation and best practice, with a commitment to delivering outstanding support and positive outcomes for learners.

You will have a degree and appropriate level of experience and evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role or be part qualified in a relevant professional qualification appropriate to the specific role being appointed to. And appropriate level of experience and evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.

Informal enquiries can be made to Philip Grant, Principal at [email protected]

Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.

We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.

All appointments at ARU Writtle are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced criminal records with Children’s Barred List check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check. Shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any prior disciplinary action or investigation related to sexual misconduct or abuse.

This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

In accordance with Home Office guidance and the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Act 2006, ARU has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK and in the role for which they have been recruited. Prior to their start date, the successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.

For candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, ARU is a UKVI-licensed sponsor and may be able to provide sponsorship for eligible candidates appointed to skilled roles, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. Eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Further information about UK immigration requirements and working in the UK can be found on the Home Office website.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.

Guidance Notes:

Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.