JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Manager, Career and Professional Development Service
Department:
Imperial College Business School
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:
Operations Director, Vice-Principal, Head of Marketing and Admissions, Academic Group Heads,
Programme Directors, Programme Managers, Quality and Teaching Manager, Head of Alumni
Relations, student ambassadors and students participating in Student-Staff Committee meetings
Externally:
Career and Professional Development Service Associates, Ashley Hacker Associates, Alumni,
employers and sponsors, 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 to lifelong support as a School alumnus. The team’s
corporate development work has a role to play in 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. Thus the team
plays a unique part in the life of the School.
Purpose of the Job
The post-holder manages this end to end service and through doing so help to deliver an
improved student experience. The post-holder 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. They
should feel comfortable designing and delivering workshops where needed on career
management topics. Ultimately the post-holder is responsible for developing and establishing the
structure, design, timing and marketing of the Career and Professional Development Programme
in collaboration with the team for all business school postgraduate programmes and alumni which
includes:
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
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. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Strengthen relationships with UK and international employers through corporate development
work, alumni links and by establishing links to sponsoring companies.
5. 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.
6. Deliver 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.
7. Assess, on the basis of employability, candidates for all programmes (MSc and MBA) and
use this assessment to help inform admissions on viable candidates.
8. Benchmark service periodically against other competitor business schools to ensure service
quality and cost effectiveness. Modify the offering in light of experience and knowledge of
changing student, faculty and corporate needs.
9. Inform Programme Directors of employer opinion identifying perceived gaps in academic
delivery
10. 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.
11. Plan budget spend of over £500,000 (staff and non staff costs) ensuring maximum value is
delivered.
12. Monitor customer service and quality through user views of the service, such as planned
online student feedback questionnaires.
13. Develop a coaching capacity in the career and professional development service which will
enable the School to retain its USP in careers.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Collaborate with Alumni Manager to offer tailored careers information, support, services and
scheduled events to support Alumni network.
17. 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.
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 (IMPERIAL
COLLEGE BUSINESS SCHOOL)
Applicants for this post should demonstrate how their skills and experience meet the following
Person Specification
Essential
 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
 Proven managerial experience in a complex environment
 Track record of excellence in customer service, self-motivation and flexibility
 Ability to work within a close-knit, professional team
 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.