Internal Redeployment Only - Placements Manager presso Cardiff University

Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment.

Internal Redeployment Only - Placements Manager

Student Futures, part of the Student Life Division of Cardiff University, is a fast-paced department working with University colleagues, students, and employers to provide a service that enhances student employability and improves graduate outcomes. 

Working as part of the Student Futures team based in the Cardiff Business School, you will lead and manage the placements team responsible for sourcing and managing high quality placements and projects that undergraduate and postgraduate students undertake as part of their degree programme.

You will manage the day-to-day operations of the placements team, ensuring service delivery meets the needs of both the Business School and central Student Futures. Working collaboratively with the Student Futures Business Partner and the School’s senior leadership team you will be responsible for driving continuous improvement and meeting strategic objectives. You will work closely with academics, professional services staff, employers and students delivering a first-rate service and building upon the team’s strong reputation in the School. You will use data management systems to manage the end-to-end processes involved in setting up, monitoring, and evaluating placements and projects and be required to report on progress to internal and external stakeholders.

This is a really exciting time to join Student Futures as the demand for placements and projects increases across the Business School. As well as getting to work with an experienced and reputable team, you will be given plenty of support and autonomy to manage your workload, enhance placement provision and be innovative in your work.

The role can be undertaken on a flexible basis, so there will be opportunities to work from home and from the office, although you may be expected to be in the office more during peak periods.

The post is full time (35 hours per week) and fixed term until 21 September 2026.

Salary:  £41,064 - £46,049 per annum (Grade 6)

If you would like to have an informal discussion to find out more about this post, please contact Jon Forbes (Student Futures Business Partner) by emailing [email protected].

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 37 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), pro rata for part time staff, local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Closing date: Friday, 14 November 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Key Duties

• Manage the operation of the placements team, planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress against targets and budgets, and intervening as required
• Manage the performance, induction and development of the team
• Work closely with senior stakeholders in the School and Student Futures to recommend clear processes enabling the delivery of successful placement and experiential learning activities that meet learning outcomes and professional accreditation requirements
• Contribute to the long-term management of placements and projects in the Business School, including a clear strategy for sourcing opportunities, building strong networks with employers and undertaking key processes such as risk assessments
• Represent the placements team at meetings and events providing professional advice and information to internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with academic colleagues to understand their requirements for placements and projects and recommend processes for implementation and delivery
• Undertake business development activities to source new employer partners and proactively manage relationships with existing employers, identifying ways to grow opportunities for students
• Proactively promote placements and projects to staff and students in the Business School via a range of in-person and online channels such as lecture talks, newsletters and LinkedIn
• Create promotional material for a range of stakeholders advertising opportunities and selling the benefits of placements and projects.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance existing processes and procedures to continuously improve service provision
• Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports as appropriate
• Use the Target Connect system to manage and capture all placement and project activity in the School
• Stay up to date with the latest news, developments and trends related to placements and projects in Higher Education, feeding back your findings to the team and wider Placements Network.
• Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas
• Engage and collaborate with the central Student Futures team, supporting with various events and projects as appropriate
• Undertake the training of others in areas relating to the team’s work
• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Due to a small number of events taking place in the evening and on a Saturday, the postholder will be required to work outside of core hours on some occasions.

46,049

Grade 6

41,064

Management & Executive

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS