HeppSY Project Lead

Are you passionate about overcoming social injustice and empowering young people to achieve their full potential?

RNN Group is looking for a self-sufficient, highly motivated HeppSY Project Lead to join our Future Ready Team and drive higher education progression across South Yorkshire.

In this vital role, you will lead the operational delivery, cohort tracking, and partnership coordination for the Higher Education Progression Partnership South Yorkshire (HeppSY / Uni Connect) 2026-27 collaborative project plan. Working within RNN Group's Careers and Future Ready structure, you will deliver targeted outreach, impartial guidance, and aspiration-raising interventions to reduce participation gaps in Higher Education (HE) and Higher-Level Skills (HLS)-including Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), Degree Apprenticeships, and Level 4/5+ pathways.

Main Duties & Responsibilities;

Targeted Project Delivery: Plan, coordinate, and deliver core HeppSY project interventions, including Your Future Week workshops, sector-specific masterclasses, university campus immersion visits, Higher Level Skills Days, and parent/carer evening workshops.

Cohort Management & Progression: Target and monitor a defined pool of at least 294 widening participation (WP) Level 3 learners (including FSM, care-experienced young people, disabled learners/SEND, young carers, male at-risk cohorts, and students in low-HE participation postcodes). Ensure each target learner completes a minimum of two meaningful engagements.

High-Quality IAG: Provide 1:1 and group careers information, advice, and guidance (IAG), supporting UCAS applications, Degree Apprenticeship assessments, and HTQ enrolments.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Compliance: Coordinate baseline (October) and endline (May/June) impact surveys. Log, audit, and track student interactions on college MIS and HeppSY data platforms, contributing directly to the Final Evaluation Report due ahead of the 31st July 2027 project close.

Cross-Departmental & External Collaboration: Partner with Curriculum Teams, Personal Development Leaders, and Apprenticeship Leads to embed interventions into timetables seamlessly. Act as operational liaison for regional university outreach teams (e.g., Sheffield Hallam University, University of Sheffield), employer networks, and community partners.

Sustainability & Visibility: Develop reusable digital career toolkits and session guides to embed within the RNN Future Ready curriculum post-funding, actively promoting the Careers Lounge brand and HeppSY initiatives across college channels., You will report directly to the Head of Future Ready and Transitions as part of the Future Ready Team and will work with our Students Support team, referring students onto them as required, for instance if a student is experiencing financial or emotional issues.

Our excellent benefits and rewards package:

Access to local government pensions scheme (with employer contributions from 15.6%)

Up to 41 days annual leave per year including closure during Christmas period

Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons

Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in-house Occupational Health service

Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles

Free Parking available at all of our sites

Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry recognised qualifications

New FE teachers can also apply for grants of up to £6,000 in STEM subjects (conditions apply) through the teacher retention initiative

Recruitment Referral Scheme for all employees, worth £200 per referral made

What is the RNN Group?

RNN Group's main goal is to be an 'outstanding' education and training provider and this is at the heart of everything that we do. To help us achieve this we are looking to recruit highly motivated, innovative and dynamic individuals to join our existing teams. To be a part of the team at RNN Group we will expect you to be committed to our values too;

We are Inclusive,

We have Integrity,

We Deliver,

We are One Team.

We celebrate diversity and are proud to be recognised as Investors in Diversity for our commitment to the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) model, fostering a supportive environment for all. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background, proudly participating in the Disability Confident Scheme, and provide reasonable adjustments.

The RNN Group is proud to be part of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT).

As a newly designated Defence Technical Excellence College, RNN Group is proud to support the UK's defence sector by developing the next generation of highly skilled technical talent.

RNN Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), all appointments are subject to rigorous safer recruitment checks. Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment screening, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (with Barred List check where applicable), online background checks, satisfactory references, and verification of identity, qualifications, and right to work in the UK.

The Group's core operating hours are 8.30am-5.00pm (9pm on a Tuesday and Thursday during term time). You may be expected to work at any time during these hours to ensure business needs are met.

Level 2 Literacy and Numeracy (GCSE C/4 or above, or equivalent).

Minimum Level 3 qualification in Advice & Guidance, Careers Guidance, Youth Work, or relevant discipline (or willingness to achieve within the role).

A Level 4 or higher qualification in Careers Guidance or Education is desirable.

Experience & Knowledge:

Proven experience delivering careers education, advice, and guidance (IAG) or targeted student coaching within FE, HE, or secondary environments.

Practical experience designing and delivering interactive group sessions, workshops, and large-scale student events.

A track record of supporting underrepresented student groups and understanding widening participation priorities.

Experience monitoring participant data, logging registers, and utilizing MIS or outreach tracking systems.

In-depth knowledge of post-18 pathways, including UCAS processes, Student Finance England, Degree Apprenticeships, and HTQs.

Skills & Personal Attributes:

Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage conflicting project priorities autonomously.

Strong presentation, interpersonal, and communication skills suitable for engaging diverse student groups, parents, and senior staff.

Professional, confidential approach with a commitment to student success and FREDIE values.