Student Casual – Beacon Project Officer – Educational Development Team – Grade 6 – 907052

Position Details School or Department: Educational Development Team Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK Grade/Band: Grade 6 Hourly rate: £16.92 per hour plus holiday entitlement Casual contract from: 02/02/2026 Advert closing date: Friday 9th January 2026, 23:55pm Number of positions available: 1 Please note that this vacancy may be taken down early depending on the number of applications received. We advise you to submit your application promptly. Our offer to you People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham Background We would like to employ a student to support the delivery of an existing research project which evaluates the University of Birmingham’s Beacon Professional Recognition Scheme. Beacon provides a platform to staff at the institution to gain recognition in the form of a fellowship with Advance HE by applying through the scheme. Beacon has now reached 10th year in operation, having recently also awarded its 1000th fellow of Advance HE. The piece of research consists of a longitudinal evaluation and research into the impact of Beacon on both individual trajectories as well as cultures of practice in ‘local’ contexts. We have now reached over 150 responses to a survey recently circulated, and we have received over 20 interview requests. Role Summary The role will need someone to work alongside the project leads to conduct interviews with key stakeholders, such as Heads of School, Directors of Education and former participants on the Beacon Scheme. The holder of this role would have experience in research methods and project delivery who will also be able to analyse and interpret survey and interview data and contribute to written outputs. The project has received full ethical approval. Main Duties As a project officer you will manage elements of this research project, particularly the organisation and collection of data from interviews. You will also be expected to analyse data collected from the recent consultation survey, and where possible, any initial findings and themes uncovered from interviews. You will be expected to work proactively, and use your initiative and planning skills to set your own priorities to ensure progress is maintained as expected, identify any issue and propose solutions. To use and apply relevant methodologies to analyse qualitative and quantitative data To be able to design interview questions and carry out one-to-one interviews with staff from different roles at the institution Contribute to developing communications plans, presentations, and promoting the projects and outcomes of projects/workstreams. Maintain an up to date knowledge of project management methodologies. Determine short term priorities for own work, ensuring you maximise quality, efficiency and continuity. Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working. Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture. Any other duties commensurate with the grade. Person Specification Educated to doctoral level or working towards (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required. Familiar with mixed-methods research approaches, preferably incorporating social science research methodologies. Significant practical experience in a similar role, experience of using project management tools. Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to analyse information and data. Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and powerpoint. Ability to understand policy, processes and procedures, but also to recommend improvements and implement changes. Excellent analytical skills used to produce reports, identify issues and resolve them decisively. Excellent interpersonal skills. The postholder must inspire confidence and command authority with a range of colleagues and provide excellent customer service at all times. A high degree of professionalism, tact, and diplomacy, and the ability to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information/issues. A high degree of initiative, personal judgement, resourcefulness, flexibility, and a self-motivating approach. · Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of how the University and higher education institutions work. Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly. For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Jamie Morris (j.g.morris@bham.ac.uk) View our staff values and behaviours here Valuing excellence, sustaining investment We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working. The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g. PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an International student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence. You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered. To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.