Here are a wide variety of academic, administrative and facilities support roles in the Further Education sector which don’t involve teaching but can be just as rewarding. From working in human resources to being a chef in a college kitchen, the FE sector offers an interesting working environment, flexible hours and great career progression.
Administrative and Academic Support Roles
FE colleges and organisations employ administrative and academic support staff across all departments. Roles encompass all aspects of the day-to-day running of an institution, interacting with students and teaching staff, handling budgets and organising events and promotions. Academic and administrative support roles include:
Exam Invigilator
Overseeing strict exam procedures. Candidates need no specific qualifications but a good level of general education is normally required. Training is usually provided and you may need to have DBS (CRB) check if you are working with younger students. Exam invigilators have ad hoc hours which may involve working in the evenings.
Pay is usually £6.50 to £9.50 per hour.
College Librarian/Library Manager
Managing the college or training organisation’s library and IT resources, supervising staff and assisting students. Candidates will be expected to have a degree with an additional qualification in Librarianship.
Newly qualified librarian salaries range from £23,000 to £28,000 p.a. Experienced chartered librarians can expect £30,000 to £36,000 p.a.
Administrative Officer/Assistant
Managing the affairs of a department, providing frontline services to students (and sometimes parents), managing student data and admissions, marketing, accounting and line managing other clerical staff. Depending on the level of administrative role, candidates require a good level of education to least Level 2 (GCSE A-C Maths and English) and excellent IT and interpersonal skills. Specific qualifications may be needed for certain areas such as accounting and finance.
Expected salaries from £13,000 p.a. for assistants up to £32,750 p.a. and above for highly experienced administrative or office managers.
Human Resources Officer/Manager
Ensures the organisation employs the right balance of staff in terms of skills and experience, and that training and development opportunities are available to employees. Candidates will be expected to have a degree or equivalent, plus an accredited qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Starting at around £22,000 p.a. for HR assistants, salaries can rise to up to £55,000 p.a. for HR managers in large organisations.
IT Officers/Systems Administrators
Provide comprehensive IT support services and undertake routine administration and maintenance of the college or organisation’s IT network. The job may also involve web programming and maintaining the organisation’s website. Candidates will normally have a degree or IT-related qualification. For more information about IT qualifications consult the National Careers Service.
Starting salaries range from £16,000 to £23,000 p.a.
Careers/Employability Advisor
Providing information, advice and guidance to help students make choices about their education, training and future career prospects. You would work with teaching and non-teaching staff to identify options for suitable careers, build CVs, identify skills gaps and give advice about job-seeking. Candidates will have a degree plus a Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG). For more information, consult the Career Development Institute.
Starting salaries range from £18,000 to £22,000 p.a. rising to £27,000 to £32,000 p.a. with experience and the relevant qualifications.
Schools Liaison Officer
Working with school pupils of all ages to raise their educational aspirations and encourage them to continue into FE. You will also promote apprenticeships as a positive progression route for school leavers. Education to degree level is desirable but not essential as well as experience of working with young people in an advisory capacity and sales and marketing in an educational setting.
Starting salaries range from £18,000 to £21,000 p.a.
FE Assessor
Providing support for students as they work towards a vocational qualification. To be considered fully qualified to assess NVQ candidates you will need the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA).
Discover administrative jobs in UK FE Colleges here.
Sales and Marketing Roles
FE sales and marketing professionals work closely with teaching and non-teaching staff to heighten the profile of an FE organisation. Marketing officers promote the institution to prospective students and external partners, both at home and internationally. Roles include:
- Marketing Officer/Executive/Assistant
- Events Coordinator
- International Officer
- Business Development Consultant
No specific qualifications are needed to work in a marketing role, however, a good general education, degree or vocational equivalent would be highly desirable (and sometimes essential). Knowledge of sales, marketing and business development within an educational environment would also be a plus.
Salaries start around £13,000 p.a. and above for marketing trainees or assistants, rising to around £35,000 p.a. for managers. Some FE employers also offer performance-related bonuses.
Find your next role in marketing in an FE College here.
Non-Admin Roles
FE colleges and organisations employ a number of facilities support staff. Most FE colleges offer courses in hairdressing, beauty therapy, Early Years Education and farm, estate and equine management, where they need assistants and technicians to support staff in training environments. Roles include:
- Nursery Nurse (assisting in the college crèche)
- Hairdressing and beauty salon assistants
- Chef/catering assistants (working college kitchens or canteens)
- Estate managers and caretakers
Salaries range from £8.25 per hour up to £30,000 p.a. for qualified Estate management and buildings professionals.
Explore all FE support services roles on jobs.ac.uk.
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