Careers and Employability Lead for International Students – Manchester Metropolitan University
What is this job about?
This role sits within the Careers and Employability Service at Manchester Metropolitan University, a department dedicated to helping students thrive in a competitive graduate job market. The Careers and Employability Service plays a vital role in shaping students’ futures by equipping them with career readiness, employability skills, and connections to employers.
Specifically, this position focuses on supporting international students, helping them maximise their career potential during and after their studies. As the Lead for Careers and Employability for International Students, you will:
- Innovate on tools, resources, and tailored services to meet the specific career needs of international students.
- Collaborate across departments to ensure international students receive personalized career guidance through academic curriculum, extracurricular pathways, and one-on-one support.
- Develop e-learning resources to create accessible, impactful career learning materials, such as online tutorials, webinars, and videos.
- Build partnerships with employers and opportunity providers to open avenues for internships, graduate roles, and work-integrated projects.
- Shape strategic plans using research and data to drive positive outcomes for students and provide recommendations for university-wide practices.
- Promote graduate success by hosting employer-focused events and securing meaningful career opportunities.
In essence, you will be the lead champion for providing targeted employability support for international students, helping them overcome unique challenges, develop key skills, and successfully transition into competitive job markets-whether in the UK or abroad.
Advice for Applicants:
If you’re planning to apply for this position, here are some tips:
Understand International Education and Student Needs
International students often face unique hurdles when pursuing careers after graduation, such as navigating immigration-related job market restrictions, lack of familiarity with UK business practices, and cultural transitions at work. Applicants who can demonstrate a strong understanding of these challenges-and propose innovative solutions to address them-will stand out. Highlight any previous experience working with diverse, multicultural groups and instances where you’ve successfully helped students overcome barriers (e.g., designing career workshops or employer networking programs tailored to international students).
Leverage Your Expertise in Careers and Employability
Talk about your expertise in areas such as employability skills development, labour market trends, and work-related learning. Discuss how you’ve implemented career-focused projects that have had measurable success and how you’ve built strong networks with employers in relevant industries. Communicating your ability to tailor careers support to specific student demographics (especially international cohorts) will put you in a strong position.
Emphasize Your Strategic and Innovation Skills
Innovation and strategy are key elements of this role. Share examples of times you’ve transformed strategic objectives into clear, actionable plans that delivered meaningful results. Showcase your ability to create impactful e-learning resources, use data-driven decision making, and lead successful initiatives designed to improve employability outcomes.
Demonstrate Collaboration and Communication
A significant part of the role is about working across departments and building relationships with employers, academics, and students. Explain how your relationship-building skills have led to successful partnerships in the past-whether with external stakeholders like recruiters or internal ones like academic staff. Highlight your communication skills, both verbal and written, particularly in creating engaging resources or influencing positive change through collaboration.
Speak to a Global and Inclusive Perspective
Manchester Metropolitan University values diversity and inclusion. Highlight your ability to work with students from underrepresented groups or global backgrounds. Showcase any experience you’ve gained working within inclusive initiatives or programs that have supported diverse individuals in accessing equitable career opportunities. For international applicants, explain how your own global perspective or international experience will help you deliver tailored support to students navigating global career landscapes.
How to Apply:
To apply for this role, you should:
- Submit your CV and Cover Letter: Your cover letter should outline your suitability for the role, specifically addressing the job’s key responsibilities. Highlight how your expertise aligns with the expectations of the position, and include examples of your achievements in similar roles.
- Tailor your Application to International Education: Since the role involves providing employability support to international students, emphasize your experience in international education and global employability issues. Demonstrating a nuanced understanding of cultural diversity and the challenges faced by students from varied backgrounds will strengthen your application.
- Highlight Data-driven Impact: Provide evidence of how your work has led to measurable improvements-for example, higher employment rates, increased engagement with career resources, or stronger employer partnerships.
Additional Information:
- Flexible Working: The role supports flexible working arrangements, with a hybrid model that includes on-campus presence during certain periods and remote work during others. You’ll have the opportunity to work in an environment that prioritizes staff wellbeing and productivity.
- Commitment to Inclusion: Manchester Met actively encourages applications from diverse and underrepresented groups. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria, you may be guaranteed an interview under the university’s Disability Confident Scheme. Be sure to highlight your eligibility if applicable.
- Recruitment Assistance: For informal inquiries, reach out to Julian White at j.r.white@mmu.ac.uk. This is a great opportunity to discuss the role further and gain insight into the team and culture.
Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to delivering an equitable and empowering workplace environment. If shaping the futures of international students excites you, while combining innovation, collaboration, and strategy, hit the ‘Apply Now’ button and join the Careers and Employability Service team!