Professional Development Adviser

Salary: £35,608.00 - £46,049.00 per annum

Closing Date: 19 March 2026

This is an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic and collaborative Academic Practice team, part of our Learning and Teaching Development Service. We are seeking a knowledgeable and people‑centred educator to contribute to the strategic enhancement of academic advising.

You will take a leading role in implementing and enhancing the Academic Advising Framework. Working closely with Academic Advisers and Directors of Academic Advising, you will support the development of effective advising practice and evaluate the impact of academic advising on the student experience. A key focus of the role is improving equity across the student journey and building colleagues’ confidence in delivering inclusive, compassionate, and student‑centred academic advice.

This role provides an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to colleague educational development and the enhancement of the student learning experience. You will play a key role in delivering the University’s academic practice development agenda in alignment with the Education for Life Strategy 2030+.

Our website to learn more about the Academic Practice team and our work.

This role is suitable for blended working and is fixed term to 31.07.28.

For more information, please contact:
Emma McCulloch, Academic Practice Team Manager

• Contribute to devising and implementing the University’s provision to support staff and research students in developing their academic practice in order that the University needs and those of individual colleagues are met.
• Contribute to strategy and policy to ensure that effective academic advising provision is embedded across the University, identifying new and emerging opportunities to enhance support for students. This will include ensuring that advising practices, guidance and resources remain current, evidence‑informed and responsive to student needs and sector expectations.
• Contribute to the design, delivery and evaluation of staff development initiatives that build institutional capability in academic advising, supporting colleagues in academic advising roles to deliver effective, inclusive and consistent advising practices across the University.
• Lead and coordinate institutional stakeholder engagement and collaboration in relation to academic advising, including the facilitation of cross‑university forums, alignment of practice and effective liaison with senior academic and professional services colleagues to support a coherent and strategic advising framework.
• Prepare data and reports for a range of University committees.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to co‑develop, embed and build shared understanding of academic advising approaches across the University, securing engagement and support for advising‑related initiatives and reporting through appropriate governance and quality assurance arrangements.
• Work with the Academic Practice Team Manager to provide Heads of Academic Units and other senior managers with timely and consistent sources of advice, guidance and support regarding all aspects of academic advising.

• Knowledge of academic staff development theory and practice in the areas of academic advising.
• Awareness of current and emerging approaches to academic advising within and beyond the UK higher education sector.
• Ability to plan, organise, teach, monitor and evaluate large volumes of high quality training and development programmes.
• Interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective relationships with Heads of Schools, Deans and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Good IT skills using Microsoft Office packages and web‑based software.
• Experience in designing, commissioning, delivering and evaluating academic advising and support activities, from short targeted initiatives to longer‑term developmental provision.
• Demonstrable commitment to own continuing professional development (CPD).

Excellent organisational skills and the ability to handle effectively a range of tasks simultaneously, work well under…