Job Summary: UG Manager (Advising & Student Experience)

The Strathclyde Business School (SBS) is looking for a dedicated, student-focused leader to oversee and enhance the undergraduate journey. This is a pivotal role that balances high-level team leadership with direct, impactful student support, ensuring that SBS students navigate their curriculum, exchanges, and wellbeing successfully.

You will be the architect of the “student experience,” from the first day of induction to the final year of study, managing the systems that identify and support students who may be struggling.

Key Responsibilities

1. Student Support & Advising

Curriculum Guidance: Provide expert advice on complex curriculum choices, ensuring students meet their degree requirements.
Early Warning Systems: Manage and refine the “Early Warning” mechanisms to identify students at risk of disengaging or failing.
Induction & Transition: Coordinate faculty-wide induction activities to ensure a smooth transition into university life.
Referral Network: Act as a central hub for referrals to specialist academic support and wellbeing services.

2. Leadership & Strategy

Team Management: Lead and develop a small, dedicated team of advisers and administrative staff.
Strategic Committees: Represent the undergraduate student voice at key Faculty committees.
Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement in student services, developing innovative models for student engagement and support.
Student Exchanges: Oversee the administrative and advisory framework for undergraduate student exchange programs.

Role Details

Salary: £37,694–£46,049 per annum.
Term: Open Contract (Permanent).
FTE: 1.0 (35 hours per week).
Location: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
Interviews: Planned for the week commencing 20th April 2026.

Candidate Profile

Essential Skills & Experience:

Student Support Background: Significant experience in a student-facing support or advisory role within Higher Education.
Leadership: Proven ability to manage a team and drive performance in an administrative or advisory setting.
Proactive Mindset: A track record of identifying gaps in student services and implementing innovative solutions.
Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate complex academic regulations and sensitive student wellbeing issues.

The Student Success Framework

In a modern Business School, “Student Experience” is viewed as a holistic lifecycle. The UG Manager sits at the center of these intersecting support pillars.

Why this Role is a “Career Builder”

Autonomy: This is an “Open Contract” role with the mandate to drive continuous improvement. You aren’t just following a handbook; you’re writing the next version of it.
High Visibility: Attending key Faculty committees puts you in direct contact with senior academic leadership, providing a strong platform for career progression into senior HE management.
Impact: You will directly influence the retention and success rates of one of Europe’s leading business schools.

Application Tip: Focus on “Innovation and Retention”

The University of Strathclyde is highly focused on “Widening Access” and student retention.

Early Warning Success: In your application, provide an example of how you used data or a specific “Early Warning” system to intervene and save a student’s academic career.
Team Growth: Describe your leadership style. How have you mentored staff to handle difficult student conversations or high-volume advising periods?
Inclusivity: Strathclyde values its diverse student body. Mention any experience you have in supporting international students or those from non-traditional backgrounds.

Informal Enquiries: You can reach out to Gemma Traynor, Senior Faculty Officer (Teaching & Learning), at gemma.traynor@strath.ac.uk for more details about the team and role expectations.

The University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological university located in the heart of Glasgow. Founded in 1796 during the Enlightenment as a “place of useful learning,” it remains dedicated to social progress and industrial relevance. In 2026, the university continues its streak of high-profile recognition, recently named the Daily Mail UK University of the Year 2026 and the Times & Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2026.

Vision and Culture

The university’s culture is defined by being “People-oriented, Bold, Innovative, Collaborative, and Ambitious.” Strathclyde is renowned for its socially progressive mission; it admits more students from Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities than any other highly selective university while maintaining elite academic standards. Its strategic plan, Strathclyde 2030, places sustainability at its core, with a commitment to net-zero emissions and the integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across all research and teaching.

Key University Highlights

Feature	Details
Founding Principle	“The Place of Useful Learning” (Est. 1796)
2026 Awards	UK University of the Year (Daily Mail); Scottish University of the Year (Sunday Times)
Global Ranking	Top 100 globally for Sustainability (QS 2026)
Research Power	Top 20 UK research-intensive university (REF analysis)
Campus Investment	£1 billion transformation project (2015–2025)
Entrepreneurship	Home to Strathclyde Inspire, a flagship initiative for all students and staff

Research and Innovation (2026)

Strathclyde acts as a “triple-helix” hub, seamlessly blending academia, industry, and government.

Nuclear Engineering: In March 2026, the university announced it would lead a £23 million UK doctoral programme to train the next generation of nuclear engineers, supporting the UK’s Net Zero and national security ambitions.
Energy Innovation: A four-time winner of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the university leads global research in renewable energy, smart grids, and maritime safety.
Health & Tech: The Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) in Glasgow’s Merchant City facilitates massive collaborations with partners like GSK, Pfizer, and the NHS.
Advanced Manufacturing: Strathclyde is the anchor institution for the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), driving the “fourth industrial revolution” in the UK.

Working at Strathclyde

As one of Glasgow’s largest and most awarded employers (Herald Scottish Top Employer of the Year 2024), the university offers a sector-leading benefits package:

Leave & Flexibility: 31 days of annual leave plus 11 public holidays, with an option to purchase extra leave and a “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” policy from day one.
Pension: Access to a high-quality defined-benefit pension scheme (USS) with life cover fully funded by the university.
Family & Wellbeing: “Exemplary” rated Carer Positive employer and a signatory of the Pregnancy Loss Pledge, offering robust paid leave for critical life events.
Professional Development: Staff at all levels (from operational to academic) have access to Strathclyde Inspire for entrepreneurial training and ILM-accredited leadership programmes.

To apply for this job please visit www.strath.ac.uk.