Aysha Smith Email & Phone Number

Coventry, England, United Kingdom

•Spearhead developments for the new Talent Team department across multiple campuses within the University Group by creating framework, systems and by managing multiple teams.•Line manage a team of Consultants and Internship managers by providing regular one to one supervision meetings and reviewing performance objective •Manage the planning and development of employability skills embedded into the curriculum, Graduate Outcomes and the placement offer by monitoring the progress of careers teams collaborating with academic teams and by working closely with the Head of Schools •Key member of the Talent Team Management Team. Attending Leadership and Faculty Board Meetings to share best practices and present outcomes.•Leading on multiple projects in line with business priorities to support the growth of Talent Team – marketing, event planning and communications•Recruit new employees, create job descriptions, short list suitable candidates, conduct face to face and virtual interviews and complete necessary HR paperwork for successful candidates•Define and implement the Faculty strategic plan ensuring it is in line with the Talent Team strategy•Monitor and report on departmental performance against set objectives by presenting monthly reports. •Continuously examine staff performance, resource and ensure the optimal allocation of staff. Plan and anticipate for fluctuations in workload across all areas by moving staff and resource as and when required. •Work closely with Heads of School and Associate Director of Education to ensure quality of provision, review outcomes and to contribute to the operational delivery. Leading on areas of strategic importance and regularly evaluating and reviewing service to ensure efficiency.•Source and implement new systems, negotiate on terms of contract. Liaise with internal departments such as Legal to complete contracts•Play an integral role in training staff members to use new software and information management tools

Coventry, United Kingdom

•Responsible for the development and management of the CUC careers department, including strategic planning, KPI goals, execution and budget management•Assisted in the development of career departments for new campuses in the Coventry University Group by implementing operational processes, assisted in the recruitment of new employees and provided temporary onsite-staffing support •Trained and led a team - completed regular one to one updates, probation reviews and Performance Document Reviews•A member of the Senior Management Team, provided employability guidance and reports at monthly SMT meetings•Exceeded the University’s target year on year for the Destination Leavers of Higher Education (DLHE) target. Achieved 85%+ DLHE target within the first year. Kept up to date with the development of New DLHE – Graduate Outcomes•Oversaw the developments of the vacancy scheme. Managed teams to ensure internships, placements and graduate opportunities were appropriately advertised to students. •Undertook project management by developing and integrating marketing and event plans to support the expansion and growth of CUC Ltd. •Accountable for £300k department budget, regularly evaluating expenditures and ROI. Generated and managed income from events •Managed the CUC student ambassador (SA) recruitment process – recruited students at various points throughout the academic year, conducted assessment centres and appointed successful candidates. •Awarded the ‘Outstanding Customer Service Award’ at the university Staff Awards•Assisted in course periodic reviews wrote employability recommendations for all new courses •Supported the internationalisation target hosted visitors from various parts of the world, attended national and international conferences. Sourced graduate and placement opportunities •Sourced and implemented new systems, negotiated on terms of contract and liaised with internal departments such as Legal to complete contract

Coventry, England, United Kingdom

•Responsible for setting up and creating the new CUC Employability department – developed frameworks and processes. •Managed and led a team of Reed NCFE Employment Advisors focused on providing student support. Negotiated and regularly reviewed the terms of the Reed NCFE contract. •Conducted business development to establish working links with employers locally, nationally and internationally. Created and established a strong portfolio of placements and graduate opportunities across all sectors.•Managed the annual careers fairs, invited employers onto campus to present opportunities to students•Conducted one to one student appointments and workshops – gave information advice and guidance on careers options •Worked towards achieving the Destination Leavers of Higher Education (DLHE) target by job matching final year students to suitable graduate roles and postgraduate study options •Assisted with the UCAS clearing process, worked as a Room Manager and provided clearing training to academic staff members.

Coventry, United Kingdom

•Managed a caseload of 100+ clients and prioritised caseload effectively by using the Serco Impact system•Provided one to one high quality, employment focused support to long term unemployed customers in receipt of JSA and ESA benefits•Cold called employers in search of live vacancies, to develop working relationships, generate sale leads for potential job opportunities, get feedback on interviews and monitor customer progression once in work •Review and analyse my own performance to ensure contractual targets and outcomes are exceeded •Provided information, advice and guidance to clients to enable realistic choices to be made regarding education, training and employment needs, improved client confidence through barrier identification and set agreed goals to enable them to gain long term sustainable employment •Partnership with specialist agencies such as Mind, Swanswell, Princes Trust, Coventry Volunteer Action and Job Centre Plus to assist with issues such as housing, drug misuse, debt management and to provide a cohesive service to clients•Conducted in-depth initial assessments and action plans to individual clients for goal setting, in order to determine risk rating and support needs throughout the Work Programme •Referred clients to training sessions such as interview techniques, NCFE employability and vocational skills course to improve soft skills •Worked effectively with in-works support team, tutors and recruitment consultants to review customer progression and to met sustained employment outcome targets

Birmingham, United Kingdom

•Set up the employability department for YPS by creating strategic plan, databases and systems •Managed caseload of homeless NEET aged 16-25 years and assessed the needs and barriers by conducting individual initial assessments, personal development plans and basic skills tests•Pre-screened and job matched young people to apprenticeships, work placements, employment and training based on their needs and skill level•Cold called companies and used sales techniques, business development and marketing techniques to attract business •Conducted one to one and group workshops such as job club, interview techniques, CV writing and IT classes to help build skill gaps and improve job prospects•Attended job fairs and open days for networking purposes, to source apprenticeships, gain and maintain relationships with employers•Ensured clients living in Trident accommodation met their contractual housing agreement by working towards a minimum of 25 hours of education, training and employment per week.

Birmingham, United Kingdom

•Delivered house related support to vulnerable adults with learning disabilities/difficulties such as Aspergers and Autism through the Supporting People programme•Promoted independent living by supporting clients with managing finances, benefit claims, rent and debt management issues•Mentored clients through difficult situations ranging from domestic violence, self harming, homelessness, alcohol and substance misuse by raising safeguarding, liaising with specialist agencies and giving one to one intensive support•Identified the needs of clients through support plans, needs and risk assessments•Contributed to the development of improving neighbourhood relations for residents by working alongside the ASBO officer to tackle anti-social behaviour

Coventry, United Kingdom

•Networked with partnership organisations and the wider community to deliver the welfare to work contract Flexible Routeway for the purpose of retrieving referrals •Worked on all strands of Flexible Routeway by supporting clients with criminal convictions, mental health, learning disabilities, alcohol and substance misuse background by identifying needs through initial assessments•Supported client engagement into education, training and employment though setting action plans, job matching and providing one to one and group work •Identified and break barriers for clients re-entering the employment market•Gave information advice and guidance on welfare benefits, resettlement and housing •Engaged with difficult-to-reach clients by providing outreach in socially excluded areas within the community for example provide weekly job clubs at local hostels and community halls•Managed admin staff and complete monthly reviews

Birmingham, United Kingdom

•Liaised and worked with professionals from a variety of disciplines such as tutors, employers and crime reducing organisations •Input data into NOMS Skills For Life database•Gave one to one support to high and low risk offenders in relation to their education, training and employment needs•Updated Delius and eOASys offender systems with client information

Master Of Arts - Ma, Leadership And Management

Prince 2, Project Management, Foundation

PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a structured project management method and practitioner certification programme

Bachelor'S Degree, Fashion/Apparel Design