Academic Representation Coordinator in Saint Andrews

Job Purpose

To provide day to day support and guidance to the President of Education. To support and develop our Academic Representation Structures. To provide policy advice to the President of Education and other Representatives.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the President of Education to deliver their priorities and engage effectively with academic representatives.
• Design and deliver training for academic representatives, ensuring they can represent students confidently.
• Supervise Student Engagement Interns and oversee support for academic representatives.
• Coordinate annual Academic Representative elections.
• Maintain awareness of sector developments and build relationships with organisations such as Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland, Quality Assurance Agency and other Students’ Associations.
• Support elected officers with Higher Education policy research, good practice benchmarking, and meeting preparation.
• Lead on events and comms that promote and celebrate academic representation.
• Deliver the annual Academic Representation Conference and coordinate support for the student-led Teaching Awards.
• Provide policy support to volunteer officers, committees and forums relating to academic representation.
• Support academic representatives through internal and external quality assurance processes as a core responsibility.
• Work with Design and Marketing staff to ensure clear communication on academic representation matters.

General

• To maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• To promote, support and help deliver the Associations’ strategic and operational priorities (including Elections and Freshers’ Week).
• Support all democratic structures of Association such as representative meetings and other decision-making processes.
• Create and maintain positive relationships with officers, students and staff.
• To provide support for the Elected Student Officers, enabling their development and work.
• Produce documents, papers, reports and presentations.
• Work as part of a professional team and ensure that a positive team spirit is adopted at all times.
• Use initiative and creative input to improve the student experience by demonstrating knowledge and experience to students and adopting a helpful and practical approach to work.
• Signpost enquiries where appropriate to other services, including the University of St Andrews.
• Deliver relevant training sessions to staff, students and officers.
• Liaison with key external organisations, e.g. sparqs, QAA.
• Act on behalf of the Association and articulate the Association’s ideas at relevant University committees.
• To work within Association administration and financial procedures.
• Keep in line with Association operational plans and key performance indicators.
• To attend training courses that may be identified as necessary by your Line Manager.
• To carry out other level-appropriate tasks as may be required by your Line Manager.
• To take due care of yourself and others in respect of Health & Safety.

Additional Information

• The post-holder will be expected to undertake Continuing Professional Development to ensure that their skills continue to match the changing job requirements.
• It may be necessary for the post-holder to work out of hours on occasion e.g. to cover events and extended office opening hours. A system of time off in lieu will operate to cover this.
• You are encouraged to take your leave days during non-peak Association periods. For example, leave during and just before Elections and Fresher’s should be avoided.

Key Relationships

The Academic Representation Coordinator will work very closely with staff and student officers at the Student Union. They will develop a strong relationship within the Engagement Team, under the line management of the Head of Student Engagement. The Academic Representation Coordinator will work on a day-to-day basis with the Elected Student Officers, the Association staff and University of St Andrews institutional staff providing a permanent point of contact. They will forge robust working relationships and work closely with University departments including Education and Student Experience Team, Careers Centre, Libraries and Museums and all Academic Departments and Schools. They will foster a culture of collaboration, teamwork and inclusiveness. They will also liaise with external organisations across a range of activities.

Person Specification

Essential

Values

• Welcoming/Helpful
• Inclusive
• Student Focused

Qualifications and Training

• Educated to HND level or equivalent work experience.

Experience

• Working in a membership-led or democratic environment
• Working with students and young people
• Experience in the design, delivery, and evaluation of training
• Writing analytical reports, researching evidence, conducting surveys, making presentations to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to prioritise and self-manage when faced with conflicting deadlines and projects

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of the Higher Education sector in Scotland and UK
• Ability to maintain confidentiality always
• Excellent IT skills, particularly in MS Office (excel and word)/MS Teams and software packages
• Well-developed ability to communicate (both orally and in writing) clearly, accurately and effectively with colleagues at all levels
• Good attention to detail; accurate, meticulous and conscientious
• Ability to demonstrate professional confidence, tact and diplomacy when dealing with a variety of stakeholders
• Ability to develop and maintain complex stakeholder relationships
• Experience in leading projects from initiation to completion and assessing their effectiveness
• Ability to keep accurate records
• Flexible Approach to work

Desirable

Qualifications and Training

• Degree or equivalent work experience

Experience

• Working in the Education Sector in the UK
• Working in Student Unions

Working with us

Additional Benefits

• On shift staff discount.
• Free staff parking.
• Time off in lieu for any hours out with contracted hours.
• Staff discount scheme to local and national services.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and subsidised local bus travel (75% discount).
• Access to (S&LAS) Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
• Employee Assistance programme.
• 35 days annual leave entitlement.

Inclusivity and Accessibility

The University of St Andrews Students’ Association is committed to promoting diversity and equality for all and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. While successful candidates will always be recruited on merit, we particularly aim to include applicants with disabilities, from BAME backgrounds, and those with diverse sexualities or marginalised gender identities.

Where we work

We are located on St Mary’s Place in St Andrews, with an additional coffee shop located on North Street. Our main building spans three floors and includes a nightclub and theatre venue, two bars, office space, and dedicated areas for societies and students. The building is conveniently situated just a five-minute walk from the town’s main bus station and approximately a 15-minute drive from the nearest train station.

Application deadline: Fri 31 Jul 2026 1700hrs