Student Support Advisor

About us 

The Dyson Institute is a Higher Education Provider with an aim to develop the best engineers in the world by combining rigorous academic programmes with work on future Dyson products and real responsibility from day one. We are searching for a talented individual to join our Student Support team who is passionate about supporting and developing future engineering leaders. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a new Higher Education provider, delivering operational excellence. 

About the role

You will join the student support team which oversees the Institute’s mental health and wellbeing services. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting students with a health condition, impairment or disability, faith, and spiritual support, and coaching for professional and personal development. 

You will be one of a team of Student Support Advisors (SSA), who each support approximately 45 Student Engineers. Each SSA has oversight of a year group, as well as supporting individual students in both a proactive and reactive capacity through coaching and mentoring.

You must keep meticulous records of the support offered and provided to students and be custodian of all information relating to wellbeing, and the process and implementation of Reasonable Adjustments. 

You will work with the undergraduate experience officer to develop a tailored personal and professional development experience to the year group you support through the organisation of three Professional Development Days per year.

You will be passionate about enabling students to achieve their full potential. Working in collaboration with a wide range of staff and students, you will champion inclusivity and accessibility across the full range of provision at The Dyson Institute. 

You will be able to prioritise work, managing multiple caseloads in parallel and engaging successfully with a wide variety of stakeholders to get things done.

You will take a student-centred and led approach to your work, for example, involving students in decision-making when identifying themes or topics for wellbeing activities and events.

In your remaining time you'll be working on, and delivering, undergraduate experience and wellbeing projects, such as workshops, and awareness campaigns.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a passionate, close-knit team in an exciting and emerging higher education provider.

About you

• Educated to degree level, equivalent or qualified by experience. 

• Previous experience of working with young adults in a Higher Education, Further Education or community setting such as youth or social work. 

• Experience of delivering presentations and workshops, adapting your style accordingly.

• Experience and understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, mental health, disabilities and learning differences, and an awareness of available support & resources.

• Preferred experience working in 1:1 support such as coaching, mentoring and counselling and willingness to obtain a coaching qualification. 

• Experience in building rapport quickly and developing strong relationships with young adults and colleagues.

• Awareness of the importance of confidentiality and familiarity with privacy regulation e.g. GDPR.

• Can collaborate and negotiate with individuals and teams internally and externally to secure the best outcomes for all students including vulnerable students. 

• Effective active listening skills – to identify the support required and establish the appropriate approach and communication style e.g., signposting/mentoring/coaching/just listening.

• Comfortable and confident in adapting to change – the supportive offer is constantly evolving, and we have a culture of continuous improvement.

• Commitment to continuous professional development to stay up to date with relevant progress in the field of student wellbeing and reasonable adjustments, and to ensure compliance with professional competency frameworks and best practise. 

• Strong organisation and prioritisation skills – ability to work independently to balance workload effectively.

• Team player – you’ll work collaboratively in a close-knit team. 

The Institute is committed to safeguarding and welfare of all of our students. A comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants.

Benefits 

Financial: 

•  Performance related bonus 

• Company paid Life Assurance 

• Discounts on Dyson machines 

•  Competitive pension scheme 

• Purchase additional holidays

Lifestyle: 

• 27 days holiday plus statutory bank holidays 

• Free bus travel to and from Malmesbury/Hullavington campus from Bristol, Chippenham and Swindon 

• On-site parking 

• Endless free coffee and tea, and a free lunch

• Free on-site hair salon 

• On-site lifestyle Assist 

• Electric vehicle scheme

Health: 

• Private Medical insurance for all employees 

• Employee Assistance Program for employee and dependents 

• Digital GP and prescription service 

• Fertility treatment support 

• On-site gym and sports centre 

• On-site wellbeing centre 

Safeguarding 

The Dyson Institute is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our learners. Successful candidates must be willing to undergo a full screening including DBS check. Issues relating to safeguarding and promoting welfare of students will be explored at interview. 

Dyson is an equal opportunity employer. We know that great minds don’t think alike, and it takes all kinds of minds to make our technology so unique. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other any other dimension of diversity.