North East Uni Connect Programme

About the University of Sunderland The University of Sunderland offers life-changing opportunities for 27,500 students across its campuses in Sunderland, London, Hong Kong, and through global partnerships with learning institutions in 19 countries. We're proud to be a top 30 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2024), with top-quality facilities, inclusive culture, and our vibrant, ever-changing city. The University of Sunderland is in an exciting phase of its development with a new vision and redefined strategic ambitions designed to take advantage of the ever-changing higher education landscape at home and overseas. About the role An exciting post has arisen as part of the Uni Connect Programme, an Office for Students (OfS) funded project, which aims to increase the number of young people from targeted wards entering higher education. The North East Uni Connect Programme (NEUCP) involves all colleges and universities in the North East region working together to promote higher education opportunities through a sustained programme of interventions called FutureMe. Based within the University of Sunderland, the post holder will have a role in supporting the development and delivery of a student engagement programme of outreach activities in targeted schools/sixth forms. Please note this is a fixed-term post until 31/08/2026 What you can bring The successful candidate will have graduated within the last 24 months. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders. An ability to communicate clearly, orally and in writing, to a variety of different audiences is essential. You should also have the ability to research and develop new outreach activity in support of progression to further and higher education. What we can offer you Our University is not just a place of academic excellence, but also a community that embraces inclusivity and support. We value our staff and offer a rewarding package that goes beyond just salary. At the University of Sunderland, we prioritise not only your professional growth but also your happiness and well-being. Enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days, along with an additional 5 closure days over the Christmas break and 8 Bank Holidays. Enrolment into our pension scheme, ensuring your financial security for the future. Access to our “My Lifestyle Benefits Platform”, where you can enjoy online discounts at hundreds of retailers every day. Plus, take advantage of exclusive schemes that allow you to purchase a new car, bike, or technology at a discounted rate. Your health and well-being are important to us. That's why we provide access to discounted private medical insurance, health cash plans, and guidance on financial well-being. Maintaining an active lifestyle is made easy with discounted membership for CitySpace Fitness, our state-of-the-art facility for sports and social activities. Equality, diversity & inclusion We strongly believe that an inclusive university, where a diverse range of individuals feel valued and have equal opportunity to get into work and reach their potential, is good for our staff, students, university, and society. Our work on equality, diversity and inclusivity has never been more important. We believe inclusivity is an essential value at the heart of what we do, and we want all our staff to be part of that journey with us. Our recent staff survey conducted in 2023 showed that 97% of our staff believed that we were committed to achieving an inclusive university. The closing date for applications is Sunday 4th January 2026 (23.59 GMT). For any informal enquiries please contact louise.stewart-cross@sunderland.ac.uk .