Thank you for your interest in the role of Student Voice Coordinator at Solent Students’ Union. We support and represent over 6,500 students at our city-centre location in Southampton and campuses in the surrounding areas, helping our members to have an amazing experience during their time with us.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work with students and develop the Union’s work to ensure that the student voice is integral to influencing both Solent University and Student Students’ Union does. This role is responsible for course representation, student council, and other forums, but also identifying mechanisms that increase student engagement across a number of internal and external initiatives. You will be integral to the delivery of elections, supporting the election processes and identifying new ways for us to reach out to both candidates and voters.  You will work closely with the Sabbatical Officers and help them achieve their manifesto aims, acting as a champion and motivator to facilitate student Voice across the university community.

The Student Voice is the driving force behind the Union and key to ensuring we effectively represent the views and interests of our members. From leading on democratic and representative functions, you will help ensure we remain a strong advocate for the student experience.

Working Hours: 35 per week, on a flexible basis

Salary: £25,091 – £28,653 per year with incremental progression in line with length of service

Reporting to: Head of Membership Services

Direct reports: None

Purpose of the post

To lead on all democratic and representational activity, ensuring the student voice is heard and is at the heart of the organisation. This post supports and develops our student council, course rep scheme, member-led campaigns, and elected officers to be highly effective in representing student interests.

Drive or support democracy and representational activity

• Lead the continual development and improvement of the Union’s democratic work including general meetings, elections, course reps, and student forums

• Responsible for maintaining and populating data systems associated with democratic functions

• Coordinate Union staff and officers to recruit election candidates and involvement in voting periods

• Responsible for recording, keeping, and disseminating minutes, records and agendas of democratic meetings

• Responsible for the promotion of democratic events and functions

• Coordinate our representation at relevant conferences and events

• Support Sabbatical Officer campaigns by providing advice, guidance, and practical help

• Provide support for the day to day operation of the Union’s democratic groups and bodies including promoting and arranging meetings & taking and circulating minutes

• Be proactive and ambitious in improving how students influence the work of the Union.

• Be aware of good practice in the sector and regularly review governing document to ensure the organisation is a leader in effectively promoting the student voice.

• Liaise and negotiate with University staff and other relevant external parties to in relation to democratic functions.

Responsible for volunteers involved in democracy and campaigning activities and provide operational support for part-time officers

• Develop and deliver training and induction for elected student volunteers and Sabbatical Officers

• Provide democracy volunteers with information relating to their roles and Solent Students’ Union’s governing documents

• Responsible for specific administrative support for democracy volunteers

• Responsible for supporting election candidates including coordinating training

• Provide election candidates with information relating to elections and Solent Students’ Union’s governance documents

• Provide primary operational support for part-time officers including coordinating training & development

• Responsible for advising democratic volunteers on matters including Solent Students’ Union’s governing documents, conducting effective meetings, and increasing involvement in democracy

• Maintain communication with democracy volunteers – including regular communication with part-time officers and support with running campaigns

• Maintain communication for elected volunteers and students involved in union campaigns

• Responsible for advising part- and full-time officers on campaigning tactics, techniques and supporting the administration of these campaigns.

Contribute to Solent Students’ Union’s strategic and operational planning

• Be the main point of contact for matters concerning the democratic and representational aspects of the organisation.

• Provide support to the Advice & Wellbeing Coordinator with casework when necessary.

• Significantly contribute to the design and delivery of Solent Students’ Union’s governance model

• Provide information relating to democratic functions and campaigns for reports and meetings as required by the Head of Student Experience

• Contribute to the Membership Services department’s strategic planning by putting forward evidence-based ideas for improvements to democracy and governance, and put forward ideas for democratic and governance activities

• Contribute to the Membership Services department’s operational planning by planning the tasks and events relating to democracy and governance

• Liaise and negotiate with University staff and other relevant external parties to in relation to democratic functions or campaigning activity.

Person specification

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to su.recruitment@solent.ac.uk by the deadline date.