IMPERIAL COLLEGE BUSINESS SCHOOL
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Manager, Career and Professional Development Service
Job Level:
Professional Services, Level 5
Division:
Career and Professional Development Service, Imperial College
Business School
Reporting to:
Jon Tucker, Director of Operations
Responsible for:
Career Coordinator (3a), Career Information Manager (3b),
Corporate Relations Manager (4), 2 x Career Consultant full time
(4), 3x Career Consultant part time (4)
Key relationships include:
Internally:
Principal, Deputy Principal, Director of Operations, Head of Marketing and Admissions,
Academic Group Heads, Programme Directors, Programme Managers, Teaching and
Quality Manager, Head of Alumni Relations, student ambassadors and students
participating in Student-Staff Committee meetings
Externally:
Employers, sponsors, media representatives, Career and Professional Development
Service Associates, Ashley Hacker Associates, Alumni, MBA career services council,
Association of Graduate Recruiters, Management Consultancy Association, networking
groups such as CleanTech
Overview
The Career and Professional Development Service is integrated into every aspect of the
student journey, from initial programme enquiry through their studies to lifelong support
as a School alumnus. The team plays a vital role in ensuring that our students are well
equipped to search for, secure and perform well in exciting, challenging and complex
roles. The team’s corporate development work is vital in creating and managing key
external relationships and informing the School of employment trends and the
recruitment marketplace.
Our work informs Programme Directors of employer
perspective in terms of knowledge, skills and experience expected from degree
programmes.
Purpose of the Job
The post-holder defines and champions the vision for the Career and Professional
Development Service. The post-holder sets the strategy then creates and delivers the
Business Plan for the unit. The post holder line leads and manages the team to ensure
delivery of an integrated and seamless service through all stages of the student journey,
from first enquiry to support for alumni who have gone on to take very senior positions in
business. The post-holder proactively manages a complex portfolio of stakeholders
and must be able to operate as a Business Partner to the many different functions upon
which C&PDS has an impact. They should be comfortable leading a well qualified and
professional team, be able to promote the School at senior level at home as well as
abroad and understand career issues and the employment marketplace across
graduate, MBA and experienced hires.
This role requires extensive contact with students, alumni, employers, Business School
academic and non academic staff and the external career and professional development
community. Ultimately the post-holder is responsible for leading the team which
develops and delivers the structure, design, timing and marketing of the Career and
Professional Development Programme for all business school postgraduate
programmes and alumni which including:
MSc Management (150 students)
MSc International Health Management (50 students)
MSc Finance (150 students)
MSc Risk Management and Financial Engineering (100 students)
MBA full time (85 students)
Executive weekday MBA (35 students)
Executive weekend MBA (50 students)
Distance Learning MBA (50 students)
PhD students
A growing global alumni community of over 6,000.
The post-holder will achieve the above through appropriate planning of their resources
and budget (currently over £500,000) their 8 direct reports and a range of Associates.
Key Responsibilities and Tasks
1. Define and implement the mission, vision and strategy for the Career and
Professional Development Service
2. Strengthen relationships with UK and international employers through corporate
development work, alumni links and by establishing links to sponsoring companies.
3. Provide information on the global employment market for our students, alumni and
the Business School. Research ‘hot topics’ e.g. Internships to provide up to date
analysis and information to enable the School to take informed views on recruitment
trends effecting MSc and MBA programmes.
4. Develop and establish the structure, design and timing of seamless career
development programmes for the postgraduate programmes (listed above) offered through a combination of internal careers team members and external consultants
maximising service quality, efficiency and continuity.
5. Deliver the career service strategy of an individual and tailored “career and
professional development service” in the most innovative and appropriate way
possible which enables students and alumni to:
 identify skills, interests and motivation
 understand the employment market
 develop professional skill sets
 gain the most from these together with work experience and education to
achieve career goals
 manage their career going forward using the 5 step career management
process
Whether they are seeking career change, an entrepreneurial career or returning to
family businesses or sponsors
6. Develop the team to be a leader in the career services field, embedding continuous
development and investment in staff skills as a key to driving service innovation.
7. Benchmark service against competitor business schools to ensure leadership in
service quality and cost effectiveness. Modify the offering in light of experience and
knowledge of changing student, faculty and corporate needs.
8. Ensure the team delivers targeted, up front career advice which informs MSc and
MBA applicants’ decision making. In so doing, increase the number of highly
employable candidates applying to graduate and MBA recruiters.
9. Play a full role in building relationships with the corporate community, with a view to
using such contacts both for the recruitment of future students and for the
development of potential partnerships involving other School activities, e.g.
Executive Education courses.
10. Collaborate with Alumni Manager to offer tailored careers information, support,
services and scheduled events to support Alumni network.
11. Assess, on the basis of employability, candidates for all programmes (MSc and
MBA) and use this assessment to help inform admissions on viable candidates.
12. Inform Programme Directors of employer opinion identifying perceived gaps in
academic delivery
13. Liaise with Marketing, Academic staff, the Operations Director, Vice Principal, Alumni
Manager and Alumni Board to share employer, student and alumni career needs and
perspectives.
14. Plan budget spend of over £500,000 (staff and non staff costs) ensuring maximum
value is delivered.
15. Monitor customer service and quality through user views of the service, such as
planned online student feedback questionnaires.
16. Co-ordinate the development of online careers services. Explore and develop new
relationships with a broad range of careers suppliers. Use tendering processes to
identify and acquire the most appropriate technology solutions to provide back office
career support.
17. Develop a coaching capacity in the career and professional development service
which will enable the School to retain its USP in careers.
18. Represent C&PDS at internal meetings to promote and represent expertise,
judgement and specialist knowledge and use expert knowledge to make decisions
where solutions are not obvious.
19. Ensure appropriate collation, management, monitoring and maintenance of
destination records with appropriate support from business school faculty. Advise on
the analysis and interpretation of destination data.
To observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, for example Health and
Safety, Data Protection, etc.
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
MANAGER, CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
Applicants for this post should demonstrate how their skills and experience meet the
following Person Specification
Essential
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Proven leadership and managerial experience in a complex environment
Ability to lead and develop a close-knit, professional team
First degree, or equivalent in any discipline
Understanding of the market in which Business Schools operate
Demonstrable current knowledge of the UK’s graduate and MBA/experience hire
employment markets ideally gained through recruitment
Understanding and knowledge of the value of coaching in career and
professional development
Track record of excellence in customer service, self-motivation and flexibility
Proven ability to deliver high quality presentations and one to one advice
The ability to present information effectively both orally and in writing in a
concise, clear way
High level of organisational, time management and personal management skills
Desired:
 MSc or post graduate education or professional qualifications in HR, recruitment,
leadership or development.
 Qualifications in coaching and membership of a recognised professional body
(such as ICF) preferred
 Experience of recruitment at senior executive level ideally in one of the Business
School’s key areas (consultancy, finance and/or the health sector)
 Experience of managing third party suppliers and contractors
 Experience of working in an international, multi-cultural environment.