Student Engagement & Development Officer in Sheffield

The Student Engagement & Development Officer role will form a key part of the Residence Life team by supporting both the Student Engagement & Development team and the wider section. The role focuses on fostering safe, inclusive communities in university accommodation, enabling students to develop desirable attributes and academic success.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Events organisation and management: Support the Lead Residence Life Manager in managing a comprehensive programme of events and activities to engage residents, build community and enhance the residential experience. Support the E&D team in planning and delivering the E&D programme, aligning with University and departmental priorities. Lead the planning, organisation and project management of larger-scale events, including risk assessments, booking arrangements, administrative activities, liaison with external providers and budget management, in line with policy. Delegate appropriate roles to E&D staff for event planning and delivery, ensuring staff are briefed and act as the main contact. Liaise with wider teams (EFM / ACS, the University, and the Students' Union) to support event organisation and delivery. Complete event evaluations, collecting data such as attendance, student satisfaction and impact, and prepare reports for internal planning and external reporting. Coordinate regular evaluation reports summarising key measures of the E&D Programme (e.g., student satisfaction, attendance, impact, budget position) for the Lead Residence Life Manager. Support the Lead Residence Life Manager in managing a delegated events budget, monitoring spend, and making balanced decisions regarding cost, impact and value. Contribute to the annual E&D service review, providing recommendations for service improvement based on student feedback and sector benchmarking.
• Communications and Marketing: Collaborate creatively with the Lead Residence Life Manager and ACS UNICUS Marketing and Communications colleagues. Support the development and implementation of E&D marketing and communications, including articles and promotion via webpages, newsletters, e-mails and social media. Analyse longitudinal feedback from students and stakeholders, summarising data in formatted reports. Liaise with ACS Marketing and other Residence Life areas to support the annual review of Residential Life webpage content and implement updates. Contribute to short/medium-term projects related to service improvement initiatives. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practice in the HE sector, researching and networking to develop new ideas and contribute to working groups.
• Line Management: Line-manage two E&D Coordinators (G5), including objective setting, performance reviews and regular one-to-one meetings. Provide support for event delivery, marketing and promotion, acting as a point of escalation for the Residence Life Engagement inbox and for StarRez/StaffSavvy database management.
• Other: Deputise for the Lead Residence Life Manager as appropriate. Represent Residence Life and ACS at relevant meetings and events (e.g., Open Days, Housing Fair, Activities Fair, Arrivals Weekend). Maintain a flexible approach to duties, adapting to changes in service and sector. Adhere to the professional behaviours set out in the staff code of conduct and support ethical decision-making, embedding the University sustainability strategy where possible. Perform any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.

Person Specification

• Essential: Good honours degree (or equivalent experience).
• Essential: Knowledge and understanding of current issues and context within Higher Education.
• Essential: Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills.
• Essential: Experience of designing, organising and managing complex events, including budget management and risk assessments.
• Essential: Excellent IT and media skills, including internet and creative packages.
• Essential: Excellent record-keeping skills, processing data (including student feedback) to inform decision-making.
• Essential: Effective organisational and time-management skills to prioritise a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Essential: Excellent customer-service skills, identifying additional service requirements or shortfalls.
• Essential: Experience of managing and reviewing individual progress, ensuring alignment with team and organisational priorities.
• Essential: Proven ability to undertake diverse projects to develop service improvements in support of departmental objectives.
• Desirable: Ability to handle sensitive information with integrity and in accordance with GDPR and other legal requirements.

Benefits

• Minimum of 38 days annual leave (including bank holidays and closure days, pro rata) with the possibility to purchase additional days.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid work for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, dining and travel.
• Access to a variety of staff networks for social interaction, peer support and personal development.
• Recognition awards for outstanding performance.
• Commitment to staff development through learning and mentoring schemes, integrated with Academic Career Pathways and Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• Family-friendly policies, including paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies, support for menopause and fertility treatment, and more.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria, you will be invited to interview.

Closing Date: 08/07/2026