Scolarships and Student Funding Manager

 Venesky-Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Edinburgh, is currently looking to recruit a Scholarships and Student Funding Manager for a 6 months contract on a rate of £21.56 per hour PAYE. The working hours will be Monday to Friday from 9am till 5pm.
Responsibilities:
- Line management and supervision of team leaders and core staff to support, develop and empower colleagues to deliver a high-quality front-line student service, embedding deeply the values of our staff behaviours charter in our team.
- Work collaboratively with the Head and Deputy Head of Student Support Operations to ensure that the vision for the service aligns with student needs and wider Registry Services values and vision.
- Continually horizon scan, identify risks and disclose these to the Head & Deputy Head of Student Support Operations without delay, always ensuring we work in an environment of openness and full transparency.
- Responsibility for the operational management of scholarship, bursary and financial support processes, including: recording, assessment and disbursement of funds.
- Ownership of the statutory annual audit processes (US Loans, SAAS etc) working collaboratively with the university audit team and university appointed external auditors & partners.
- Develop and deliver plans together with our Finance Manager and wider team to ensure that new and standing relationships with key external agencies and partners, including our highly valued Scholarship providers, Government Agencies and National and International Funding Bodies & Partners, are continually strengthened.
- Ensure that our payment processes are continually reviewed and developed in collaboration with our Finance Manager.
- Work closely with colleagues from the newly launched Departmental Office on recruitment and other administrative tasks such as the development and update of webpages for Scholarships & Student Funding.
- Work closely with the Team Leader and staff to create a sense of community & belonging for staff, and plan short-, medium- and long-term goals, ensuring that work streams are completed on time, to a high standard, and tasks and projects are delegated appropriately, providing staff with ownership and opportunities to develop themselves and their skillsets.
- Work with the Head and Deputy Head of Student support operations to ensure that all staff receive ongoing career development support and are encouraged regularly to engage with consistent CPD activities, including attending & hosting conferences.
- Work together with the Head and Deputy Head of Student Support Operations to supporting individual staff with screening and management of challenging student cases.
- Lead by example in this area by commissioning student case conferences, and including college and/or school staff such as Directors of Student Affairs, College Office Leads and Student Advisers; and staff from wider university services such as Accommodation services, Finance, the Disability Learning & Support Service, Student Immigration Advisers, Students Association staff, Edinburgh Global, Widening Participation team etc, ensuring the best outcomes for the student whilst working within university and third party frameworks, guidance and legislation.
- Build and cultivate excellent relationships with our college & school colleagues and Students Association staff, ensuring that Student Scholarships and Funding is highly visible and has a presence within these critical business areas.
- Develop and deliver plans to engage with internal stakeholders at key points in the academic year ensuring all our staff are fully briefed on our service and any change which may impact our students.
- Participate in ‘away day’s’ and Student support briefings, present to staff and field questions about the service and our offering.
- Work with the Head and Deputy Head Student Support Operations to implement and oversee allocated operational developments or change projects to enhance service delivery, persuade our team of the benefits and ensure that continuous improvement is embedded within the team daily practice.
- Ensure the team have opportunities to generate ideas for improvement, fully support them to carry out any initial scoping work and coach them to develop successful ideas into project plans for consideration.
- Other duties as directed by the Head or Deputy Head of Student Support Operations to support wider department activity.
Essential Skills:
- A good honours degree or equivalent qualifications/experience demonstrating key competencies required through progressively more complex and demanding roles.
- Demonstrable commitment to consistent engagement in a wide range of CPD activity.
- Experience of successful team development at an appropriate level including management of staff and resources in higher education.
- Excellent communication skills, good analytical & IT skills (e.g. use of complex databases).
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with evidence of the ability to manage, motivate and influence others.
- Excellent time management skills.
Desirable Skills:
- Access databases qualification (or similar).
- SharePoint development qualification (or similar).
- Completion of Edinburgh Managers development program or similar management qualification.
- NASMA membership
- US Federal Loans C.O.D. access rights/trained.
- Change Management qualification
- Experience in delivery of student services within the University of Edinburgh or other HE institute.
- Substantial experience in student administration in higher education, including good understanding of Scholarships & Student Funding activity.
If you would like to hear more about this opportunity, please get in touch.