Harris Experience Programme Lead

We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic graduate to join our central team as one of two Harris Experience Programme Leads. The Harris Experience is a cultural and academic programme for our most able students in the Harris Federation, aiming to support them in getting placed at top universities and degree apprenticeships.

This job would suit a graduate from a Russell Group/competitive entry university, with a strong interest in education and events management. We are looking for someone with a minimum of a 2:1 in any academic degree. The right candidate will have an absolute commitment to transforming the lives of young people and a strong interest in Higher Education and current academic events.

You will be based at the Harris Federation head office near East Croydon station; however, much of your time will be spent visiting our academies in and around London. You will work closely with the Head of Harris Experience and the other Harris Experience Lead on programme vision, strategy and management.

About Us

The Harris Experience is a two-part programme that takes place over five years. It aims to broaden the academic and cultural experiences of our most academically promising secondary school students.

Disadvantaged students are prioritised for places and one of the outcomes of the programme is that Harris students now attend Russell Group universities at a rate of more than twice the national average.

The Harris Experience programme spans three years for each cohort, from Year 9 to Year 11; Harris Experience Advanced spans two years for each cohort, from Year 12 to Year 13.

Both programmes aim to broaden the cultural and academic experiences of some of our brightest young secondary students in the federation, to give them an outstanding preparation for some of the country's top university destinations, including Oxford and Cambridge. In the long term, we see ourselves shaping future leaders in all walks of life.

In the long term, we see the programme shaping future leaders in all walks of life, helping to level the playing field for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and bringing much needed diversity to key professions and public life.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing the vision for the HE and HEA
• Initial identification of suitable students for entry into HE for Year 9 and HEA for Year 12
• Visiting academies regularly to meet students and/or staff.
• Building a relationship with and supporting/training the academies' most able coordinators
• Developing programme materials and disseminating good practice at the academies for the most able
• Planning and delivering the federation most able meetings
• Organising and delivering one to one and group sessions with HE and HEA students at academies
• Organising events for the Year 10 Harris Scholars
• Liaising with academy principals and relevant staff
• Working closely with Oxbridge and medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science students and tracking outcomes
• Organising and delivering the mock interview programme
• Providing inset for key stage 5 staff on teaching the most able
• Overseeing the Oxbridge, medicine and Russell Group/top third UCAS applications and tracking outcomes
• Leading on the guidance for university personal statements and working directly with students
• Using UCAS, Bromcom and federation/academy data to track student progress
• Organising and leading the key annual HE and HEA events
• Managing the output of written, social and visual media to generate positive marketing of the HE and HEA programmes
• Developing and maintaining university and career-related links with relevant organisations
• Developing and updating the HE and HEA website
• Working with federation careers advisers to support the aspirations and destinations of HE and HEA students

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have the following qualities:

• High levels of literacy
• Very articulate
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Strong IT/data skills
• Experience with working with young people
• Enjoys team work and working in different environments
• Experience of university applications process
• Confident
• Enjoys working with young people
• Enthusiastic
• Diplomatic
• Professional
• Resilient
• Flexible
• Curiosity and a love of learning

Ideally, you will also have experience working with/in Higher Education, with young people in an educational context and/or events management experience.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us via e-mail, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays) for non term-time only employees, and many other benefits. We offer flexible working in the form of "Core Hours" and potential for hybrid working.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.