JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Placement and Internship Officer
Department/Division/Faculty: Careers Service
Job Family/Level: Professional Services 3b
Responsible to: Employer Liaison Manager
Key Working Relationships (internal): Academic Departments, Registry, Assistant
Registrar (Placements) and other members of the
Careers Service.
Key Working Relationships (external): Placement providers.
Campus location: South Kensington
The Purpose of the Post:
The Placement and Internship Officer will form part of the Careers Service’s central
placement and internship unit. Liaising directly with departments to establish
placement needs, required academic content and methods of assessment and
quality control for degree related placements the unit will provide effective cross
College support for credit bearing and non credit bearing placements and internships
at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The Placement and Internship Officer
will work directly with students to assist with preparation for placement applications,
ensuring suitable monitoring procedures are in place in line with Registry and legal
requirements. The Officer will take a lead role in marketing the College to potential
placement providers for 1 year, 6 month and summer internships. The Placement
and Internship Officer will have specific departmental allocations and will work in
close collaboration with the Careers Consultants.
Key Responsibilities:
1.
Develop, deliver and evaluate the placement and internship programme
To work closely with appropriate departmental academic and administrative staff to
promote and discuss suitability of placements in relation to specific disciplines.
To devise and maintain systems to ensure that all aspects of the administrative work
relating to placement are in place and keep up to date with particular regard to the
monitoring and tracking of student placement activity, employer records and central
Registry systems.
To ensure that employers have current and adequate information about placement
benefits and procedures, course provision and the range of services available to
them through the Careers Service.
To contribute to College, Faculty and Careers Service’s strategy for placement
development through generation of new ideas and initiatives, active contribution to
relevant meetings and provision of management information and reports.
To assist the Director Careers Service achieve placement targets.
To monitor national trends and development in work based learning, placement and
employability matters and implement best practice at Imperial College.
2.
Guidance and support for students
To work creatively in promoting the benefits of degree related placement and
internships to students and motivate them to develop their employability through
accredited placements and other forms of work-based learning from year one to short
summer internships.
In collaboration with departments and Careers Consultants to help design and deliver
a programme of pre-placement support for students undertaking placements as part
of their degree programme.
To have regular contact with students to discuss a wide range of placement issues
regarding applications, interview preparation and employer expectations before and
during placement.
Assist them with the selection process through methods such as drop in sessions,
small and large groups, and one-to-one advice.
To provide students with current and adequate information on placement processes,
selection procedures and health and safety in the workplace ensuring compliance
with all relevant legislation.
To deal with student queries and problems relating to placments and internships
independently or through liaison with appropriate academic staff.
To encourage students to reflect on what they have learned and its value to their
subsequent academic work and career by taking part in post-placement meetings
and presentations within the academic department.
3.
Employer Liaison
To devise and implement strategies to increase the number of placement
opportunities, including marketing campaigns, campus events and visits to
employers.
To organise and host meetings with existing and new employers both at College and
the employers' premises to exchange information and give advice about placements,
College departments, academic courses offered and other Careers Service activities
that may be of interest to the employer.
To involve employers in events that build student employability and encourage
uptake of placements, generate repeat placements, and strengthen relationships with
Imperial College.
To evaluate the quality and suitability of placement opportunities with regard to
relevant Professional Institutions, QAA and discipline requirements.
To manage the recruitment process such as co-ordinating the handling of student
applications, interview arrangements etc. for employers.
To advise employers on issues such as health and safety and equal opportunities,
ensuring that all placements are in accordance with Imperial College policies and
relevant legislation.
To liaise with and contribute to the work of Employer Liaison team including support
for all employer based activities on campus.
4.
Contribution to the Careers Service and the College
To work as part of the Careers Service, supporting delivery of services to students,
employers and other College staff where required.
Keeping professionally up-to-date e.g. through AGCAS (The Association of Graduate
Careers Advisory Services)
To observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, for example Health
and Safety, Data Protection, etc.
To undertake specific safety responsibilities relevant to individual roles, as set out on
the College Website Health and Safety Structure and Responsibilities page
(http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/organisationandarrangements).
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to
undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in its
Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and all
other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title
Careers Service
Level
Placement & Internship Officer
South Kensington
3b
QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING
Essential
 Degree level or other professional qualification
A
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Communication and Customer Focus
Essential
 High level of interpersonal communication, organisational, team working and
networking skills including the ability to work with tact and diplomacy in order to
form effective partnerships internally and externally.
AI

Committed to enhancing the employability of students working in a student
centred way, building confidence, providing constructive feedback and
developing students' ability to succeed in the modern work environment
AI

Friendliness and approachability with ability to relate to students and employers
from diverse backgrounds and understand business needs.
AI

Commitment to work effectively with other colleagues in the Careers Service to
deliver appropriate support and service for all users
AI

Strong ability to share best practice and identify competitive advantages
AI

Ability to set personal priorities working with minimum supervision
AI

Ability to communicate clearly and appropriately, verbally and in writing, adapting
style for the appropriate audience
AI

Commitment to an excellent standard of customer service
AI
Administration and Organisational Service Delivery
Essential
 Commitment to delivering high quality services for all placement users and a 'can
do' approach that will focus on solutions rather than problems
AI

Excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise and multi-task to ensure timely
delivery of outcomes for students, staff and employers
AI

Highly proficient in the use of Office packages, database management and able
to use and adapt to new technology, particularly e-portfolio packages and social
media as required
AI

Commitment to Equal Opportunities
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
AI

An understanding of education systems particularly at HE level
AI

Insight into business organisation and recruitment practices
AI
Desirable
 An understanding of the work of a Careers Service within Higher Education

AI
Understanding of graduate employability, the labour market and student
aspirations and capabilities
AI
EXPERIENCE
Essential
 Experience of providing a frontline service to students and/or employers
AI

Experience of providing advice, guidance or training in an educational
environment including making presentations and delivering to groups
Desirable
 An understanding of students' and Careers Service users' needs

Experience of supporting either students or employers in the graduate
recruitment environment
AI
AI
AI
ITSkills
Essential
 Experience with MS Office software including Outlook, Word, Access, Excel AI


Experience of using other software such as databases, spread sheets,
email, Internet and Social Media in a work setting
AI
Experience of website editing using a content management system
AI
KEY TO CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
A= Application
I = Interview