Academic Administrator - Foundation Degrees

Salary: £26,500 - £28,000 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Head of School - Foundation Degrees

School: Foundation Degrees

Click here to read the full job description and view our excellent benefits here

This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that will require little to no travel into our Coventry head office or various UK campuses. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

About Arden University:

We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.

About our School:

Our school of Foundation Degrees teaches a number of programmes that are designed to provide a vocational and work-based learning experience, tailored to meet the needs of widening participation (WP) and disadvantaged student groups. The Foundation Degrees aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, equipping students with practical skills and real-world experience. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity and employability, Arden’s approach supports learners from diverse backgrounds, offering flexible pathways into higher education and future careers.

The School of Foundation Degrees is situated within our faculty of Foundation Studies, a newly formed faculty which plays a pivotal role in guiding students through their first-year journey. The Centre delivers a suite of strategic initiatives including Foundation Year programmes, CertHE support, ‘On Track’ progression and resit support, and university-wide orientation events. Arden is passionate about helping students realise their potential, and this new offering reflects its commitment to inclusive education, student success, and social mobility.

About the Opportunity:

As an Academic Administrator, you will play a key role in supporting the effective delivery of academic activity within the School. Working closely with academic leaders and stakeholders, you will provide high-quality administrative support to the School while collaborating across the wider Faculty to ensure consistency and efficiency in processes.

You will be responsible for coordinating a range of activities, managing competing priorities, and supporting the delivery of academic projects and initiatives. This is a fast-paced and varied role, requiring strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to respond positively to changing demands. Using a range of digital tools, you will help ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of the School, contributing to a positive and collaborative working environment and the successful delivery of the Faculty’s objectives.

About You:

Essential Skills / Experience:

• Proven experience providing administrative support within a professional environment, including supporting senior stakeholders

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with a wide range of stakeholders

• High level of attention to detail and a methodical approach to work, with the ability to work independently

• Proactive problem-solving skills, with the confidence to use initiative and improve processes where appropriate

• Experience of coordinating meetings and events, including scheduling, minute-taking, and managing documentation

• Ability to monitor progress, follow up on actions, and manage data effectively

• Good understanding of financial administration processes, including raising purchase orders and checking data accuracy

• Experience of working with sensitive information and a strong understanding of data protection requirements (e.g. GDPR)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 tools, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Experience of working in a similar role in a higher education/other educational institutions

• Knowledge of key current issues within the HE sector.

• Experience in SharePoint management as well as knowledge around VLE platforms.

Why Arden:

At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!

• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%

• BUPA Cash Plan

• Private Medical Insurance coverage (applies to certain job roles)

• Access to Perkbox benefits

• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends

• Plus, other excellent benefits

• Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education
  

Our Values:

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines and locations.

Closing Date: 31st August

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. In order to avoid missing an opportunity to apply please submit your application as early as possible.

If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance here.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship statement:

Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa, or fulfil the criteria we have for providing sponsorship.  However we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.