Jobs at Kingston University

All current vacancies can be found on the search for jobs page. After browsing job details, you can use the 'apply' link at the bottom of the page to complete an application for a specific job. At this point, you will be prompted to save your details and set up a personal login account.

During the application process, you can use the 'summary page' link at the top of the page, or the 'save' or 'cancel' links at the end of the page to return to the summary. If you wish, you can save and logout at any time. You can log in to progress and/or finish your application at any time prior to the submission deadline. Only when you submit your application will we proceed with advancing your interest in a vacancy.

Reference details are part of the application. Upon receiving an offer of employment we will reach out to your nominated referees. 

Our online recruitment portal makes your application anonymous so that the panel members cannot see any of your personal details such as your name or address or any equalities data such as your gender. This is to ensure that shortlisting is as fair as possible. However if you upload a CV or publications list which includes any of these details then they will be visible to the panel. If you wish your application to be fully anonymous then please remove details such as your title, name and address from your uploaded documents.

If you are shortlisted for an interview, we will email you a link to book your interview time online. Interview slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

After booking your slot, a follow-up email will confirm the arrangements, including the format for your interview:

• Panel interviews: these are a panel of interviewers. This type of interview is the most common at the University. Panel members should normally be mixed in terms of gender and ethnicity. There will normally be a panel member who is external from the faculty or department.
• MS Teams interview: these may be used for initial interviews, or for candidates who cannot attend a face to face interview. If you are offered a MS Teams interview, you will be asked the same questions as you would at an on-site interview.
• Presentations: if a presentation is required as part of your interview, you will be notified of the topic and the duration.
• Tests: you may be asked to take a test or a series of tests as part of your interview process. You will be notified of this prior to attending.
• Tours: you may be given the opportunity to tour the workplace at your interview, to enable you to gain a better understanding of the working environment. 

Reserve candidates may be called to attend interviews at short notice.

If successful at the interview the recruiting manager will contact you after the interview. We will normally make a verbal offer, followed by a formal written contract. 

The hiring manager will be in touch regarding arrangements of your first day, alongside alerts from the system with Induction and Welcome materials. 
 

Both job applicants and current staff members can help the University to monitor equality in the workplace by providing us with information that will remain confidential. We use this information for monitoring purposes only; it is not revealed to your line manager or colleagues. This information can tell us if we are doing enough to attract candidates who have protected characteristics and can help determine how resources are allocated.

Any information that candidates provide to Kingston University relating to the nine protected characteristics is classed as special category data under the terms of the General Data Protection Regulation. Special category data provided to or collected by Kingston University will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. We treat this data as confidential and will only be accessed by Kingston University staff with a legitimate reason for doing so in the course of their duties.

The standard information you enter such as contact details and education can be copied over to subsequent applications. Only job-specific responses, such as the supporting statement, will not be available.

We strongly encourage you to ensure that your personal statement addresses the criteria for the position in which you are applying.

If you do not save or move between screens the page will time out. Information already entered will be saved and you will be returned to the login screen.

Email [email protected] for an application pack, or call the recruitment line on +44 (0)20 8417 3118, quoting the job reference number.

While you can submit an application via your mobile, we recommend using a PC for the best user experience.

Microsoft Edge is the preferred browser to use for completing your application.

To give yourself the best chance of success:

• Read the Candidate Information Pack for a good understanding of what it is like to work at Kingston University and what our priorities are 
• Read the job description and person specification carefully to ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria
• Tailor your application to both our university and the role using relevant and specific examples
• Focus on your achievements and the impact you have made in previous roles to strengthen your application and show the value you can bring
• Ensure your application is clear, well-structured and free from errors
• Ensure your CV is up to date and tailored, creating a strong first impression, highlighting relevant skills, experience and achievements
   

Before your interview, make sure you:

• Research Kingston University, our strategy, priorities and our values 
• Review the job description and person specification in detail 
• Prepare several strong examples from your experience using the SBO method 
• Review your CV/application so you can talk confidently about your experience
• Prepare questions you would like to ask the interview panel 
• Plan your journey and allow plenty of time to arrive 
• Test your technology in advance if your interview is online 
• Bring any documentation that has been requested

Questions you may be asked

During your interview, you may be asked questions that explore how your behaviours and approach align to our values. For example:

• “Tell us about a time you worked in an inclusive way.” 
• “Give an example of when you were innovative in solving a problem.” 
• “Describe a situation where you showed ambition and achieved a challenging goal.” 
• “Tell us about a time you took an enterprising approach to improve something or create an opportunity.”

What we are looking for

• What you did and what your personal contribution was (I rather than we)
• How you approached the situation 
• The impact of your actions
• How your behaviour reflects Kingston University values

Other tips

Use the SBO method to structure your answers: 

• Situation – set the context 
• Behaviour – explain what you did and how you approached it 
• Outcome – explain the result and impact of your actions 
• Be clear and structured in your responses 
• Take your time – it is fine to pause and think before answering 
• Be honest if you do not know something and explain how you would approach it 
• Ask questions – interviews are a two-way process

At Kingston University, our values guide how we work and how we support our students, colleagues and communities. We look for candidates whose behaviours reflect these values.

Ambitious

We strive for excellence in everything we do and set high expectations for ourselves and each other. We are committed to continuous improvement and look for better, more innovative and enterprising ways of working.

Inclusive

We value and respect everyone for who they are and promote an environment free from discrimination. We all share responsibility for creating a culture where everyone feels included and respected.

Innovative

We look for better ways of doing things and encourage new ideas. We continuously challenge ourselves to improve and adapt, using available tools and opportunities to deliver positive change.

Enterprising

We actively seek opportunities and turn them into positive outcomes. We take initiative to create impact, drive growth and support continuous improvement.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments throughout the application process at any stage please let us know. We have more information below on how we support disabled job applicants.

All of our roles are advertised electronically via our Recruitment system. This system has been classified as accessible, however when applying, if you require a job pack in an alternative format, you can contact the HR Shared Services team on 020 8417 3118, or [email protected], quoting the job reference number.

Depending on the requirements of our hiring managers, as an applicant you will be asked to complete an online application form, which will ask you a series of questions including the following:

• Personal Details (name, address, contact details)
• Employment History
• Education History
• Equality & Diversity Data – please note this information is not visible to our hiring managers.

In addition to the above, you may be asked to complete a supporting statement and provide any supplementary documentation for your preferred role. 
 

At application stage, you are asked to complete our Equality Monitoring Form (section 8b, ‘Telling us about your disability: equality monitoring’). This information tells us if we are doing enough to attract candidates who have protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010. We can take positive action to do so if we are not. 

The Equality monitoring information is anonymous and separate to your application and will not be seen by those involved in the short-listing process. 

Kingston University is committed to ensuring our recruitment process is barrier-free and as inclusive as possible to everyone. We are committed to making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition.

We would welcome knowing about any adjustments you might need at the earliest possible stage so we can work with you to make sure we can accommodate any requests.
Adjustments will be made on a case-by-case basis and designed to remove barriers or difficulties that you might face during the recruitment process. Some examples of reasonable adjustments could include:

• Providing the interview questions in advance of the interview
• Allowing extra time during the interview
• Holding the interview in an accessible room
• Holding the interview online over virtual meeting software if you cannot travel to the University
• Providing a British Sign Language interpreter or other communication support
• Providing the questions on paper or written in the meeting chatbox
   

The University makes every effort to ensure that it is accessible at all times to staff, students and visitors. If you have concerns about accessibility, contact the HR Shared Services team on 020 8417 3118 or [email protected], quoting the job reference number.

AccessAble is an organisation that produces thorough online access guides for a huge range of venues across the UK. The AccessAble logo is available on many of the University’s campus and other web pages. Clicking on the logo will take you to detailed information about our campus buildings and facilities, such as the number of stairs, or where an accessible toilet can be found.

If you require a British Sign Language interpreter or a communicator for your interview, you will need to:

1. Contact Access to Work, who will usually agree to provide funding over the phone.
2. Contact HR. If you have a contact for an interpreter or communicator then please advise HR.  If you do not have a contact, HR can help you find a BSL interpreter or communicator to support you during the interview.

Both BSL interpreters and Communicators will be fully funded by Access to Work and paid for, in the first instance, by the University’s Central Fund.

The Equality Act 2010 defines protected characteristics as: Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex and Sexual Orientation.

Following a successful job offer, all candidates are required to complete a work Health Assessment Form which will be returned directly to Occupational Health. Your completed form is not seen by anyone outside Occupational Health.

If necessary, Occupational Health will seek your consent to obtain further relevant medical information. If adjustments are recommended or advised, they will seek your consent to inform HR, your line manager and anyone else who may be able to assist in providing those adjustments. 

If you require adjustments to your workstation or the way your work is organised and you have a start date, Occupational Health may advise you to contact Access to Work. 

Access to Work can appoint a specialist to carry out an assessment of your workplace and make recommendations based on the latest equipment and adaptations available. If an application is made within six weeks of your start date, approved funding required for reasonable adjustments will usually be paid in full by Access to Work.

Once you have a start date, however far away it is, you can begin working with the University to make sure adjustments are in place for you when you start. Access to Work will ask for the name of your line manager which HR can provide for you if you do not already know it.

The University is committed to ensuing all employees can thrive and achieve their best work. If you are, or think you might be disabled, or you know that you have a condition which will affect you at work, then the University will collaborate with you to make sure that appropriate reasonable adjustments are put in place and you have everything you need to thrive in your role.

If when you were at school, college or university, arrangements were made to assist your learning or you were in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance, then it may be that similar arrangements will be required for you at work.

Please note: Access to Work is a separate organisation and, while we will always support employees, the process is employee led.  

Kingston University's HR department

Human Resources (HR) department, Kingston University London 
Second Floor, Main Building
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 2EE

• HR Shared Services Team: 020 8417 3118
• Text Relay: 18001 020 8417 3118
• Email: [email protected]

Access to Work

Jobcentre Plus Access to Work Operational Support Unit (OSU)
Harrow Jobcentre
Nine Elms Lane
London SW95 9BH

• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 0800 121 7479
• Textphone: 0800 121 7579