Access and Outreach Manager (Maternity Cover)

Role Description

The University of York was founded on principles of social purpose, equality, diversity and inclusion. The Access and Outreach team is therefore central to our overall institutional ethos and strategy. This post holder will play a vital part in the University’s widening access strategy and will be integral to ensuring the University meets the aims, objectives and targets as set out in our University strategy and Access and Participation plan. 

We are looking for an innovative individual, with significant experience in widening access or outreach-related roles, who will be able to lead the delivery of our Black Access programme and contribute toward the management of Access and Outreach programmes more broadly. 

The Role

Black Access is one of our most important widening access initiatives and needs an experienced manager to ensure its continued success during a period of parental leave. This role involves significant project management and oversight of programmes, activities and teams. You will also deliver line management support and programme team management. As the Black Access programme involves co-creation and co-delivery with university students, you will also take responsibility for direction of the student team. 

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

Applicants should be educated to degree level (or have an equivalent professional qualification or relevant experience), you will be enthusiastic and well informed about post-16 education and possess outstanding communication skills alongside substantial experience in partnership working and project management. You should have evidenced experience delivering programmes of work to support social impact like widening access and must have experience overseeing complex events such as residentials.

This post is fixed-term until 31st July 2026. This post may be suitable as a secondment opportunity for current University of York staff. Applications for secondment opportunities would need the agreement of your current Head of Department at the point of application. 

Start Date: To start before the end of the year, by 8th December at the latest

Interviews: 27th November 2025

Contract type: Fixed term to 31st July, the end date to this post may change depending on parental leave return date that could be up to December 2026. 

The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 16th November

For informal enquiries: please contact Rebecca Clark, Head of Access and Outreach, rebecca.clark@york.ac.uk 

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork