Democracy & Insights Coordinator in St Andrews

Job Purpose The Democracy & Insights Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating effective campaigns, democracy, insight, and relevant projects. This role will empower elected Officers, support students engaging in our democratic processes and harness student intelligence to inform how we support our students. The core of the role involves supporting the work of the President of Union Affairs, support student democracy such as elections and the All-Student forum. Undertake high quality, influential and impactful research that helps students have the best student experience at the University and builds credibility as the trusted voice of students through evidence based insight. Core Duties and Responsibilities • Provide strong and regular support and guidance to our President of Union Affairs to assist them to deliver their stated ambitions during their term in office and to help them engage with and consult the elected officers within their remit. • Support an increased number of students attending forums, ensuring robust engagement mechanisms. • Lead on the delivery, coordination and organisation of all union elections with the support of the Head of Student Engagement. • Lead on the creation of union wide feedback mechanisms and surveys pertaining to the student voice. • Champion the involvement of representation networks in Union leadership, encouraging their active participation in decision-making. Develop and monitor policy and action plans that address student needs and align with Union objectives. • Stay up to date on key issues, priorities, and opportunities in the sector, through engagement with organisations like WonkHE. • Support the President of Union Affairs and other elected officers with research into the Highers Education Policy including examples of good practice in the sector. Assist student officers in preparation for relevant meetings. • Ensure data relating to project work and campaigns is collected, analysed and reported. • Ensure evaluation mechanisms are embedded in working practices and that findings are shared and used to implement learnings with the goal of improving services. • Support Officers by preparing information, statistics and trends about key services to be shared within the University committee cycle. Work with Design and Marketing staff to ensure that the Association communicates clearly to our students, the University and internally on student democracy and representation matters. • Supervise Student Engagement Interns. • Work alongside the executive officers to create an effective democratic structure for representation. • To contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Association: • Actively participate in meetings, personal development, and training events where there is a clear link to our strategy, your role or personal development. • Ensure that statutory and legal obligations are met. • Ensure our financial sustainability by adhering to all financial procedures and processes of the Students’ Association. • Contribute to the positive image of the Students’ Association with students, the University and the local community. • Work across the Association to share skills, improve capability or capacity and in support of service delivery General • Demonstrate the values of the Students’ Association (students first, inclusive and welcoming). • Promote, support and help deliver the Students’ Association strategic and operational priorities including Elections, Freshers Week, and Refreshers, etc). • Provide information and support to students on the work of the Students’ Association and effective signposting, where appropriate, to external services, including the University of St Andrews. • Build and maintain relationships with key Students’ Association stakeholders including students, University staff, community and charitable, and relevant national organisations. • Represent the Students Association and articulate the Association’s positions at any relevant University of St Andrews’ committees and meetings. • Create and maintain positive relationships with officers, students and staff working as part of a professional team ensuring that a positive team spirit is adopted. • Provide support for Elected Officers, enabling their development and work • Deliver relevant training sessions to staff and officers. • Support the democratic structures of the Students’ Association such as representative meetings and other decision-making processes. • Work within the Students’ Associations’ administration and financial procedures. Additional Information • 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 Students’ Association periods. For example, leave during and just before Elections, and Welcome Week should be avoided. • The post holder will be expected to carry out other level-appropriate tasks as may be required by your line manager. • All staff are required to take due care of themself and others in respect of Health & Safety in line with the Students’ Association policy. • The postholder will be expected to undertake Continuing Professional Development to ensure that their skills continue to match the changing job requirements. Additional Information • 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 Students’ Association periods. For example, leave during and just before Elections, and Welcome Week should be avoided. • The post holder will be expected to carry out other level-appropriate tasks as may be required by your line manager. • All staff are required to take due care of themself and others in respect of Health & Safety in line with the Students’ Association policy. • The postholder will be expected to undertake Continuing Professional Development to ensure that their skills continue to match the changing job requirements. Key Relationships • The Democracy and Insights 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 Democracy and Insights 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.