Application for Student Engagement Coordinator (Coach Lane and Amsterdam Campus)

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1 Dear Applicant, Application for Student Engagement Coordinator (Coach Lane and Amsterdam Campus) Thank you for your interest in the post of Student Engagement Coordinator at Northumbria Students Union. This role offers the successful candidate an amazing opportunity to be part of an innovative, award winning charity, which seeks to have a positive impact on the lives of over 7,000 students in the University s Coach Lane Campus in Newcastle. The Campus specialises in offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses focused on health, social care and education. A large number of the students are over 21 and commute to and from campus from home. The role of the Students Union in Coach Lane is to build a community on campus amongst this population and to ensure students voices are heard in their education and to get the most out of their time at University. To help achieve this goal the Students Union is looking to recruit a candidate who has a real passion for working with people from a wide range of backgrounds ranging from students of all ages to senior University staff; enjoys organising social and recreational events and is committed to our principles of empowering students. The ideal candidate is not necessarily one with a background in Students Unions or higher education, but a person who can show their commitment to our ideal of having a positive impact on the lives of our students. Our vision is for the students at our Coach Lane Campus receive a high quality service, comparable to that of their peers in the main Campus. In addition the role will provide support to the students on the newly established campus in Amsterdam. This is a small campus with a few dozen students and the intention is that such support will be provided remotely with occasional visits.

2 Please find enclosed the following information: Introduction to the Students Union Job Description Person Specification Application Form Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form The closing date for applications is 3 rd August with interviews to be held on 16 th August. Please ensure that you are available for the interview date. If you have questions please contact Students Union HR at (t) (e) SU.HR@northumbria.ac.uk Yours Sincerely Niall Sweby Director of Membership Services

3 Recruitment Briefing Pack Student Engagement Coordinator (London and Amsterdam Campus) About Northumbria Students Union Northumbria Students Union is independent from the University and a registered charity; however the two organisations work closely together to deliver a first-rate service to students and the University has a legal obligation to ensure the good management and running of the Union. Northumbria Students Union is integral to the provision of the modern, top class service provided to the student membership. When a student registers with Northumbria University, they automatically become a member of the Union. There are currently over 30,000 members. The successful candidate will join the Union s team of experienced and enthusiastic staff who deliver a range of our services to and for students. The post will be part of a national team working across Northumbria University s satellite campuses, led by our Wellbeing and Resilience Manager based in Newcastle. She in turn reports to the Director of Membership Services, one of the senior leadership team. The Union employs over 150 staff at the busiest time of the year and employs a core of over 50 people on a year round basis. About the Coach Lane and Amsterdam Campus Northumbria University Coach Lane campus is around three miles from the City Campus. Coach Lane has over 7,000 students a year; ranging from NHS professionals attending one semester for a single module as part of professional development to thousands of undergraduates looking to enter the health, education and social work sectors when they graduate. The experience of these students is very different to those of students at City Campus. It is a smaller campus, away from the centre of the city and the majority of undergraduate courses involve students being off campus for over half their degree, on placements from places as far apart as Berwick to Hartlepool. The academic year is 8 weeks longer than at City Campus. The student population is 88% Female and 68% of all Coach Lane students are aged 21 or over. There

4 is also a very high proportion of home students at the campus with 42% travelling over 30 minutes to get to University. Teaching at the Amsterdam Campus will begin September The campus is a partnership between Northumbria University and Amsterdam University of Aerospace (AUAS). AUAS will host the campus and provide a range of services to students alongside the University and Students Union. Student numbers will be small in the first few years, a mix of postgraduates who apply specifically to attend at Amsterdam and Northumbria undergraduates who will undertake courses at Amsterdam as part of their experiential learning. As a separate campuses of the institution, the students at both Coach and Amsterdam have a unique experience. The smaller sizes of the campuses and the types of student population presents their own challenges in helping students get the most out of their time of study inside and outside the classroom. The role of the Union and this post in particular is critical in helping build a campus community that all students can feel part of and gain from. About this role To successfully engage with students on both campuses and ensure they feel the Union is there for them, we aim to offer a bespoke service, delivered by a team that understands their experience. We aim to build strong relationships with students and staff and look to deliver the equivalent or same experience and services to those students as their peers receive at City. In some cases these services will be delivered by student groups or the Students Union and in other cases by third parties in association with ourselves. Having a public profile is a key part of that and being able to go out and find students rather than wait for them to come to you. The post holder, with their manager, will be drawing on the support of staff across the Union to achieve this. This summer, the Union is investing heavily in the space at Coach Lane, to ensure it has features that draw students to the space and Union staff are visible, easy to find and accessible. The work of the team will be key in bringing the space to life as a student hub and ensuring the new SU office is the 'go to' place for students.

5 This role will be the point of contact for students at Coach Lane and Amsterdam. The postholder will work with their manager and the lead Sabbatical Officer to build recognition of the representational role of the Officer in raising student concerns and issues. The staff member will work closely with our appointed student representatives for London to understand student need and ensure a wide range of students participate. The staff member will be part of a team of three, working with students on all of Northumbria s satellite campuses; London, Coach Lane (in Newcastle) and Amsterdam. Led by their manager in Newcastle, the team draws on the support of the Union to deliver the same or equivalent student experience to their peers in our City campus in Newcastle. This includes the Sabbatical officers, who each take a lead for the satellite campuses and the resources of the Union including our marketing department and specialist staff. This is a new team for the Students Union and the post holder will work the Student Wellbeing and Resilience Manager in developing and implementing a long-term strategy to meet the needs of students in Coach Lane, Amsterdam and across satellite campuses. About you, the successful candidate You will be strongly motivated to provide great customer service, who enjoys talking to students of all ages and able to build a strong rapport with many different people. Although the Union has a hub on campus, the postholder will be expected to be proactive in engaging with students and staff across campus. You will have great communication skills and able to take initiative to build partnerships with outside agencies to offer our students a wide range of rewarding opportunities to complement their academic work. You will have strong listening skills and the ability to understand how different student issues should be supported as they are raised. Providing support to students in Amsterdam will require strong written and telephone skills and confidence in using teleconference/ Skype.

6 The post holder will often receive a wide range of questions and requests for support. They will be able to work with their line manager and University staff directly in ensuring the Union and University can answer and address these. Occasional travel to Amsterdam will be required. This is a very exciting time to be part of this dynamic and unique organisation. For further information about the Northumbria Students Union visit Completing the Application Form We only accept applications from candidates using our form attached in this pack. CVs and covering letters will not be accepted. In completing the application please cover all points of the person specification that are tested at application, preferably in the order presented. Please ensure all examples are relevant to that point.

7 JOB DESCRIPTION Job title: Salary Range: Hours of Work: Responsible to: Location: Responsibility for: Purpose of Post: Student Engagement Coordinator (Coach Lane & Amsterdam) Students Union Grade C ( 18,787-21,405) 1 plus up to 4% employers pension contribution 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday Student Wellbeing & Resilience Manager Coach Lane Campus primarily but with travel to City Campus & Amsterdam as business needs demand. No staff responsibility. Support and mentoring of volunteers may be required. To deliver a range of SU activities and support to Coach Lane students. To help students build a sense of campus community. To plan and implement a programme of social and recreational activities which are taken up by a wide range of students at Coach Lane. To deliver programme rep support and training to students at Amsterdam To ensure student issues and concerns are appropriately raised and resolved. To ensure Students Union services meet the needs of Coach Lane and Amsterdam Campus students Main duties & Responsibilities: 1. To be responsible for the delivery of Membership Services objectives at Coach Lane. 2. To be responsible for ensuring provision of a student facing weekday service at Coach Lane Campus. 3. Support the Coach Lane lead Officer in delivery of campaigns and improvements in student experience in Coach Lane. 1 Pay award pending

8 4. Support the Amsterdam lead Officer in delivery of campaigns and improvements in student experience at Coach Lane 5. To be the first point of contact for students from the Amsterdam campus in regards Students Union services 6. Work with the Student Wellbeing & Resilience Manager to ensure SU engagement with Coach Lane and Amsterdam students 7. Work with the Representation team to support the GT Rep system at Coach Lane Campus in line with the Union s representation structure and philosophy. 8. Work with Activities team to support a range of Coach Lane specific societies, volunteering projects and events relevant to their needs and capacity. 9. To ensure that all services are inclusive and appealing to the Coach Lane & Amsterdam student body. 10.To be responsible for the ensuring safe practice of all Membership Services activities on Campus in line with Union policy. 11.To support elected Officers and staff in planning, marketing, promotion and delivering successful, high-profile Students Union campaigns and services at Coach Lane & Amsterdam Campus. 12.To work closely with Students Union Commercial staff on and off Coach Lane Campus so that students see the Students Union as the heart of their Coach Lane campus experience. Administration 13.Working with line manager to deliver a comprehensive annual plan for Coach Lane & Amsterdam Campus. 14.To ensure all Students Union services are delivered in line with our policies and procedures, i.e. health and safety for social and recreational activities. 15.Provide support to students in organising activities as required. Communication 16.Ensure strong communication across all Students Union departments in planning and provision of services for Coach Lane & Amsterdam Campus students. 17.Support delivery of Students Union marketing and promotional plan as applies to Coach Lane & Amsterdam Campus. 18.To liaise with the Marketing Department to provide effective market research. 19.Be responsible for updating relevant sections of the Students Union website and social media outlets dedicated to Coach Lane & Amsterdam Campus. Mentoring and Support 20.To support student volunteers and leaders in their personal development and where relevant running student led activities. 21.To signpost students with welfare needs to relevant Union or University service.

9 Other Duties 22.To aspire to the highest standards of services at all times. 23.To take responsibility for the health and safety of the microwave/hot water provision at Coach Lane. 24.To attend appropriate and relevant training events, courses and conferences as required. 25.To respect the democratic structure of the Students Union; the post holder will be expected to work closely with elected officers. 26.To abide by the Students Union Constitution, policies and procedures at all times. 27.To uphold the Students Unions environmental and wider corporate social responsibility practices. 28.To attend conferences and seminars as and when required. 29.To be committed to NSU s values of Democratic, Inclusive, Ethical, Innovative, Excellent, Supportive, Fun 30.The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be expected to undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required.

10 Person Specification Job title: Student Engagement Coordinator (Coach Lane and Amsterdam Campus) Qualifications Educated to degree or equivalent or a minimum of five years relevant experience Experience Planning and delivery of a programme of social or recreational activities or services to a broad range of adults Engaging and supporting volunteers in personal development, ideally in a professional setting Tested At Application Interview Supervising volunteers Being accountable to a budget Delivering training Knowledge and Skills Working knowledge of general procedures regarding health and safety ideally in context of Students Union Knowledge and ability to effectively market and promote a range of services Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Excellent planning and organisation skills Excellent communications skills Ability to manage own time and workload Ability to use own initiative Approachable and reliable Outgoing with the ability to build strong relationships Ability to handle sensitive situations Ability to work with and across multiple teams and departments within an organisation Values/attitudes Commitment to principles of Equality and Diversity Able to work in a student led, democratic environment Willingness to work in a goal-oriented environment Commitment to high standards of customer care Ability to work in a fast paced environment Highly motivated, energetic and enthusiastic

11 Unique Identification Number EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING This section of the application will be used solely for monitoring purposes. Northumbria Students Union recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion and belief. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community. Ethnic Origin: White British Irish Any other white background* Mixed White and Black Caribbean White and Black African White and Asian Black or Black British Caribbean African Asian or Asian British Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese or Other Ethnic Group Chinese Other Ethnic Group* Any other mixed background* Gender: please specify Date of Birth: Do you consider yourself to have a disability: Yes No If yes, please state nature of disability The Equality Act defines disability as A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and longterm effect on the person s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities If you wish, you may disclose information about yourself in this section about your: Religion Sexual Orientation How did you become aware of this vacancy? Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

12 APPLICATION FORM ALL SECTIONS TO BE COMPLETED IN BLACK INK OR TYPED Application for the Post of: Personal Details: First Name: Surname: Address: Mobile Tel: Home Tel: Postcode: Education: Higher Education and Further Education Diploma / Degree etc and A-levels (or equivalent) Institution Dates Qualification Results Other Training and Professional Development Undertaken Provider Date Details of Training

13 Current and Previous Employment: Current or Most Recent Employer Organisation: Address: Role: Dates: Salary: Notice Period: Summary of Achievements: Previous working (and voluntary) experience, providing details of any gaps in employment history Organisation Role Dates Summary of Achievements Experience and Skills: Provide a detailed, specific breakdown of how your experience and skills meet the person specification for the role, in particular giving tangible evidence that proves you meet the criteria. Continue on a separate sheet if required.

14 Other Information: Provide further details that will add value or enhance your application (max 500 words)

15 Do you require any special provisions or facilities if you are selected for interview? If yes, please detail Yes No Referees: Please provide details of two referees, that we may contact for a reference. One of these must be your most recent employer. Referee One: Name: Company: Address: Referee Two: Name: Company: Address: Tel: Tel: Where did you see this vacancy advertised? Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence? Yes No If yes, please detail (except for convictions regarded as spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) Declaration: I declare that all information contained in this application form is true correct and understand that this shall be the basis of any offer of appointment Signed: Date: Please return this form to in hardcopy or electronically to: HR Coordinator Northumbria Students Union, 2 Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8SB. Tel: I SU.HR@northumbria.ac.uk DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 3 rd August 12pm Interviews to be held on 16 th August.