Head of Student Progression

Department: Employability and Entrepreneurship

Location: London - Greenford Campus (UB6 0HE) or Bow Road Campus (E3 2SE)- (On-site)

Type of Contract: Permanent

GBS is a higher education provider offering a range of sector-relevant courses across ten campuses in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Working in partnership with several of the UK's leading higher education providers, we deliver vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in finance, accounting, business, construction, tourism, healthcare, and more.

Our Vision:Changing lives through education.

What We Do:The Employability and Entrepreneurship Department at GBS is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers and business ventures. It offers tailored one-to-one guidance, a dynamic online Careers Hub via Handshake, and a structured Employability Award that builds critical job-seeking skills through Bronze to Platinum levels. Students gain practical experience in CV building, networking, and real job applications, including tools like ChatGPT.

The role:The Head of Student Progression will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Careers First and Progression programmes, ensuring they align with institutional objectives and industry best practices. The role requires a dynamic leader with a passion for driving student success, enabling seamless career transitions, and fostering employability outcomes that meet institutional B3 targets. You will lead a diverse, multi-campus team, driving excellence in programme delivery, innovation, and stakeholder engagement while ensuring the highest standards or quality and impact across all initiatives.

Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

What the role involves:

• Developing an articulate a clear vision and strategic plan for Careers First and Progression programmes.
• Aligning programme objectives with institutional B3 goals, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards.
• Acting as the primary advocate for progression initiatives, promoting their value internally and externally.
• Providing strong leadership, direction, and programme management support to a diverse team across all campuses.
• Overseeing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Careers First and Progression programmes to ensure consistency and quality across locations.
• Developing, monitoring, and reporting on KPIs to measure the success and impact of the programmes.
• Leading the development and implementation of innovative approaches to enhance the impact of Careers First and Progression programmes.

What Experience/Skills are required:

• A degree in a relevant field such as Education, Business, or Management (Postgraduate qualification is desirable).
• Evidence of continuous professional development in leadership, programme management, or a related area.
• Proven track record in leading large-scale, multi-campus programmes in Higher Education or a related sector.
• Significant experience in careers services, employability programmes, or progression pathways.
• Demonstrable success in meeting strategic targets and regulatory compliance.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team.
• Strategic thinker with a proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans.
• Strong project and programme management skills, including planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Data-driven, decision-making skills with the ability to analyse and interpret complex information.
• Ability to work flexibility, including occasional evenings and weekends, and to travel between campuses.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 public holidays
• 1-day extra leave per year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days
• Workplace pension scheme
• Tuition reimbursement for career development courses
• Flexible Benefits: Cycle to Work, Workplace Nursery, Techscheme and much more
• discounts platform, wellbeing centre and much more
• Reward and recognition programme
• £500 award employee referral scheme
• Discretionary annual performance bonus

I will be starting a Masters in Careers and Employability Guidance in January, and this has been supported by my manager who allows me to manage my time and diary how best works for me. We are also given constant upskilling opportunities and encouraged to attend both internal and external learning and development events.- Kira McCormack (Professional Services Employee)

GBS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. We take our core values seriously and work hard to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed.