Job Description

Project Co-ordinator - 4 month FTC

Project Co-ordinator - Careers Mentoring

Fixed-Term (4 months) | Full-time

Grade:

OS5

Department:

Careers and Employability

Location:

Exton Park / Hybrid

Contract:

February/March - May/June 2026

Reporting to:

Angela Standish

About the role

The Careers and Employability Team are looking to hire a proactive and organised Project Co-ordinator - Careers Mentorin

g

to deliver The Chester Exchange - an exciting, externally funded pilot careers and reverse mentoring programme connecting students with employers, entrepreneurs, alumni and regional partners. This role will play a key part in supporting student employability, graduate retention and knowledge exchange, aligned to the University's Citizen Student Strategy, Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) priorities and institutional goals around civic value and global impact.



This is a

full-time, fixed-term role for 4 months

, created specifically to deliver this time-limited project.

Key responsibilities

Project coordination & delivery

Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of mentoring pathways. Manage and support approximately 20-30 mentor-mentee pairings. Maintain accurate records using the MentorNet platform, tracking engagement, activity and feedback. Monitor project timelines and milestones, contributing to monthly project updates and reporting. Support quality assurance processes, including surveys, mid-point reviews and end-of-programme evaluation.

Stakeholder & partnership engagement

Act as a point of contact for mentors, employers, partners and students. Liaise with external stakeholders including Chambers of Commerce, SMEs, founders, alumni and LSIP partners. Support mentor recruitment through outreach, communications and relationship coordination.

Student & mentor experience

Coordinate student recruitment with a strong focus on inclusive participation, prioritising students from low social economic backgrounds, and also first-generation students. Support matching processes using career readiness data and mentor profiles. Respond to queries sensitively and proactively to ensure a high-quality participant experience.

Events & communications

Support delivery of key programme events, including: + A launch event with the Chester & Cheshire West Chamber of Commerce
+ A mentor journey social media campaign (#ChesterMentoringClub / #ChesterFuture)
+ A wrap-up showcase event highlighting outcomes and impact
Coordinate event logistics including venues, speakers, accessibility needs and marketing content. Draft engaging communications for students, mentors, partners and senior stakeholders.

About you

Educated to A Level standard (or equivalent). Experience of project administration or coordination (e.g. in HE, employability, business support or related sectors). Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams to tight deadlines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence engaging external stakeholders. Experience delivering events (in person and/or online). Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, equity, diversity and inclusion, particularly in supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds. Ability to travel to campus and external partner sites.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to play a central role in a high-profile pilot programme that strengthens university-industry partnerships, supports student success and contributes to regional skills development. You'll work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners and help shape a mentoring model with the potential for long-term impact.

Contract details:

This role is externally funded and offered on a

fixed-term basis for 4 months only

.

Department/Division

Careers & Employability

Location

Exton Park

Salary

26,093 to 28,031

Post Type

Full Time

Contract Type:

Fixed Term - 4 Months

Closing Date

23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 01 February 2026

Reference

2214-25