Job Description

Department: Student Success and Learning Services


Location: York


Salary: 34,610 to 39,906 per annum


Closing Date: Friday 26 September 2025 at midnight


Interview Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025


Reference: 109-25-R

Full time permanent

Location: York

Salary: 34,610 to 39,906 per annum

Introduction to YSJ University

Situated in the heart of the historic city of York, and with the addition of our London Campus, York St John University has a long and proud tradition as a distinguished higher education provider.


Our success is founded on the quality of academic teaching and research, our thriving campus environments, our professional and pastoral support, and our values of an inclusive, innovative and ambitious community with a strong sense of belonging.


York St John is an ambitious, modern university at the heart of historic York and there has never been a more exciting time to join us. As one of the fastest growing universities in the UK over recent years, we have a new strategy for the next decade, emphasising our commitment to widening opportunity through the power of education and contributing our talents to creating a fairer world, and a more prosperous region. We are putting inspirational learning and impactful research at the heart of this strategy, recognising our academic expertise as our greatest asset.

The Team

You will be working as an Employability Consultant as part of a dynamic team. This is a newly structured team focusing on integrated career development learning as part of our ambitious aim to embed Work-related Experiential Learning (WREL) authentically across the whole curriculum. In addition, the wider team supports life changing opportunities for our students/graduates both in the UK and overseas as well as specific graduate and final year student support.

The Role

As an Employability Consultant you will have responsibility for working with academic colleagues to embed WREL into the curriculum and ensure there is integrated career development learning so that students are explicitly aware of how their studies link to their future career ideas, objectives and outcomes. In addition, you will provide targeted and tailored support to students through one-to-one and group interventions designed to raise confidence and aspiration to explore and develop career ideas. As part of this you will create high class resources and campaigns to help students maximise their employability whilst at University.

Required Skills and Experience

The successful candidates will be self-reliant and driven, with an in depth knowledge of both career development theory and the challenges and barriers that students face in developing employability and succeeding as graduates.


You will need to be a team player as well as working on your own initiative to manage specific projects as part of your role. You should be evaluation focused, able to read and communicate data to support embedded employability strategies. You will be an excellent communicator, adept at giving presentations, writing reports and creating resources. You will have the passion to put students at the heart of your work and impact reporting and be able to facilitate authentic student co-creation.

Further Information

If you need further information or wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact Kathryn Penny (Deputy Head of Student and Graduate Employability) at k.penny@yorksj.ac.uk


Flexible, hybrid working is available with some presence on our beautiful city centre York campus as determined by business need.


It is anticipated that the selection process will include an interview and presentation.


Unfortunately this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship however we welcome your application if you are able to evidence right to work in the UK via an alternative route.


We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive policies and facilities and welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive working environment, consideration is given to all requests for job share or flexible working arrangements.

This vacancy is scheduled to close on the date indicated at the bottom of this advert, but we may close earlier if we receive a high level of applications.

Application process support

We are keen to support you throughout the recruitment process. Before starting your application please refer to the attached candidate application form guidance below which provides advice about completing the application process.


If you require a reasonable adjustment in order to apply for this position please contact vacancies@yorksj.ac.uk. Within the application form there is an opportunity for you to request a reasonable adjustment at the interview stage of the process, however if you wish to discuss this in further detail at any point in the process please do not hesitate to contact us. The following resource may help you adapt the device you are using to apply to suit your needs My Computer My Way (abilitynet.org.uk)


Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form. Within the application process you will be asked to answer a selection of work-related questions. Our aim is to get to know you, and understand your individual skills and experience, and how you would apply these within the role. We are aware that AI can assist you with this, but we would prefer you to share your answers in your own words.

Our benefits package

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including -

Excellent annual leave entitlement, including five discretionary university closure days over the Christmas period Disability leave (applies to staff who have disclosed a disability and is also available to staff with disabled dependants) Pension scheme Health Cash Plan after six months service Employee Assistance Programme Paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists On-campus courses, one-to-one tutorials, and online resources to help you develop your digital skills and work with new software Relocation expenses package for certain roles Reimbursement of Skilled Worker Visa application fees and Visa loan scheme for additional costs (if applicable to the role)

Further information about life at YSJ

Our attached 'further information' document below provides further information about our culture, achievements and testimonials from our employees.


Read more about our culture, inclusive community, working arrangements and benefits for York St John employees


Read the latest news, views and stories from our staff and students.


Read more about our commitment to managing and reducing our environmental impact and to promoting sustainable development wherever we can.

Closing Date -

Friday 26 September 2025 at midnight

Provisional Interview Date -

Wednesday 15 October 2025