Student Support Officer at Old Mutual

Job Description

Old Mutual is a premium African financial services organisation that offers a broad spectrum of financial solutions to retail and corporate customers across key market segments in 14 countries. The lines of business include Life and Savings, Property and Casualty, Asset Management and Banking and Lending. We are rooted in our purpose of Championing Mutually Positive Futures Every Day and believe that a great customer experience is anchored in a great employee experience.

Role Overview

An exciting opportunity exists in the Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET) for a Student Support Officer. The Student Support Officer will facilitate the implementation of the OMET student support model for a cohort of students in the higher education space as scholarship beneficiaries of the Trust. This role will be executed through the coaching/counselling skills of the Student Support Officer to ensure that all students in their care feel supported towards academic success and professional development outcomes as defined in the OMET Strategy. This person will also manage stakeholder relations with all parties in this process including universities, trade unions and internal Old Mutual business units.

Role Description

• Ensure the diligent implementation of the OMET student support model in the form of building solid relationships with students, following up with timeous referral processes, at least two formal check-ins per year and regular telephonic or virtual contact and following up on academic progress to inform M&E processes
• Build and hold strategic relationships with critical university staff at the relevant institutions
• Support the team in the design and refining of concepts for developmental workshops
• Support the Applications Officer in the onboarding of new students
• Support the Postgraduate Development Manager in the implementation of the vacation work and employment programme
• Contribute to the design and refining of content for workshops and manuals
• Diligently monitor the progress of all students in their cohort and ensure updated records in the online OMET system for reporting purposes
• Contribute to shaping and building the OMET impact story via alumni members
• A strong team player that is proactively supportive and boosts team morale
• Attention to detail and a strong commitment to data integrity
• A strong communicator with extraordinary self-management skills
• Support the Programme Manager and Head of OMET in observing all good governance practices as prescribed by the Trust Deed

Required Experience

• Minimum of 4 years relevant experience (student development or youth and young adult development in an institutional context)
• Passionate about nurturing the professional and personal growth of youth or young adults
• Familiar with the higher education context in South Africa
• Have a coaching and | or counselling background
• Community Development experience would be advantageous.
• A team player with a passion for excellence and a sense of urgency who knows how to follow through with processes and project timelines
• Strong multi-tasking, organizational, and time management skills - used to juggling many roles at once
• Excellent MS Office skills with a strong focus on MS Excel (preferred)
• Have good interpersonal skills with the ability to interact at all levels
• Appropriate management of confidential information
• Ability to analyse and integrate information and data
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Strong on information monitoring and assessment of processes and system
• High level of ownership
• Excellent planning and organizing competence
• Focused attention to detail (qualitative and quantitative)
• Portray a professional approach to work
• Willingness to travel on a quarterly basis

Required Qualification

• A Social Science or Counselling Degree

Attributes | Competencies

• Customer First
• Leading with Influence
• Execution
• Personal Mastery
• Collaboration
• Strategic
• Innovation