YGRS Project Coordinator

Role Description

Department

The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) connects more than 2,000 postgraduate researchers (PGRs) across all disciplines and brings together the support PGRs need to make the most of their research project. A big focus of the YGRS strategic vision is to diversify our PGR community and widen opportunities to postgraduate research degrees for people from different backgrounds and career stages. As part of this, YGRS is doing a lot of work around PGR recruitment and selection, including how we support PGRs in the transition from work or taught study into postgraduate research. This role will help deliver on the ‘Supporting Transitions into PGR Project’ (STiPP).

STiPP will focus on how we support PGR candidates in the period immediately before starting their programmes. Considerable research and investment has been made into preparing individuals from ‘non-traditional’ backgrounds to transition into undergraduate degrees that can inform the project. However, we know that PGRs differ markedly from UGs in their life stage, circumstances, motivations and requirements. A smooth transition into academic study has emerged as a key element of a successful postgraduate degree. 

The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) is looking to appoint a PGR developer to help manage and coordinate the successful delivery of research and materials to support the transition of PGR candidates. This is a Professional Support Staff role with a need to provide evidence based tools and interventions that can be adopted by the university.

Reporting to Professor Kathryn Arnold, the post holder will work within the YGRS team which includes colleagues within the Building Research and Innovation Capacity (BRIC) team and Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education, a project funded by the Office for Students (OfS) and Research England (RE), the project is designed to improve access to postgraduate research degrees for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students. The post holder will be liaising with University teams involved with recruitment, marketing and admissions, as well as senior academics, students, PGRs and wider stakeholders. 

The successful candidate will probably hold, or be close to completion of, a postgraduate research degree, together with relevant experience of delivering training or teaching. They will have experience of managing, or working in, projects, plus experience of running workshops or focus groups. They must also have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for reporting and marketing purposes.  

Main purpose of the role

• Briefly, review the PGR transition process and how we as an institution can improve this going forward

• Analyse existing formal and informal engagement and support practices at York.

• To develop educational and/or marketing materials that will support the transition of international and home applicants to postgraduate research make the transition from work or study to the research environment.   

• Develop toolkits, materials, online communications, MOOCs etc as appropriate aimed at incoming PGRs and/or staff tasked with supporting and engaging PGR applicants.

Key responsibilities

• Desk based research on current practices to identify current gaps

• Develop links with academic Departments, internal service providers and external stakeholders in order to enhance and expand provision. For example, bring together cognate Departments into clusters to enable capacity and to maximise the use of academic expertise

• Design, deliver and evaluate a programme of training and engagement for PGR applicants.        

• Work with colleagues across the University to develop and maintain on-line learning materials, webinars and online resources

• Advise and support colleagues in academic Departments and Professional Services Directorates to support and engage PGR applicants

•  Write papers and reports on training for relevant committees

The above list of duties is not exhaustive and is subject to change.  The post holder may be required to undertake others duties within the scope and grading of the post.

This role is available for up to 9 months.

Interview Date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: Please contact Hannah Smallpage-Hurst on 01904 324439.

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