Activities & Engagement Coordinator

Thank you for your interest in the role of Activities 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.

As Activities Coordinator, you will be responsible for delivering an exciting and innovative programme within our active student groups as well as contributing to the significant growth of strong student communities at Solent Students’ Union. The role will be vital to providing students with the support, skills and experience that is needed to transform our student groups. We are looking for an individual who has the passion to develop strong student communities, who possesses exceptional people skills and are passionate about working with and developing volunteers.

Student Activities are one of the defining features of university life. They offer a range of opportunities to students: to meet and socialise with people of similar interests; to develop personal interests and learn new ones; and develop skills and practical experience in organising events and activities, leading others, and managing finances.

The successful individual will possess experience and enthusiasm to work within a fast paced, dynamic and exciting organisation and understands what a vibrant and exciting student experience is for Solent students. The Activities Coordinator will have an excellent knowledge of current themes and issues within Higher Education, in particular relation to student opportunities and has the passion to support, coach and mentor students to ensure they achieve success.

The benefit to students is immense. Our students cite their involvement in societies as a reason for not just enjoying their time at university but even for continuing with studies, while those who take part in society committees have developed new skills and confidence.

Postion information

Working Hours: 35 per week on a flexible basis, with at least three days per week in our Southampton office.

Salary: £23,000-27,000 per year with incremental progression in line with length of service

Reporting to: Head of Membership Services

Direct reports: None

Purpose of the post

• Ensuring student leaders and other members have the resources and support they need to run inclusive, engaging groups and activities.
• Removing barriers to participation and promote the creation, development and support of student co-curricular communities and a sense of belonging.
• Delivering or supporting the delivery of diverse activities and events which encourage greater engagement and participation with the students’ union.

Main duties and responsibilities

Provision of a vibrant Activities programme

• To directly support student-led groups to increase their engagement and impact by providing guidance, training, resources, support, and specialist knowledge.
• Contribute to the effective management of volunteers through designing, developing and delivering effective recruitment, induction, training, support, and reward & recognition approaches.
• Coordinate and deliver initiatives to improve engagement from under-represented students in student groups, volunteering and events.
• Contribute to the development of employability skills and opportunities for student leaders and volunteers.
• Lead on the management and delivery of specific initiatives as part of supporting the delivery of departmental projects and goals, including but not limited to Give it a Go, Varsity, and Freshers’ Week.
• Contribute to the design, development and delivery of an effective extra- and co-curricular events programme, focused on removing barriers to participation.
• Responsibility for delivering activities within agreed budgets and ensuring funds are effectively managed.
• Responsibility for the Union’s minibus and associated procedures.

Membership and Activities development

• Collaborative development and delivery of a comprehensive training programme and resources to ensure student leaders and volunteers have the skills, abilities, and knowledge to deliver their roles.
• Contribute to the Student Experience department’s strategic planning by putting forward evidence-based ideas for improvements to the systems that support student activities.
• Developing and maintaining departmental processes that are functional, efficient, and are providing high quality support to student-led group and activities.

General Tasks and Responsibilities

• Actively engage in student-facing projects and activities of all kinds as required.
• Be an enthusiastic advocate for student leadership and the organisation’s values.
• Maintain own professional networks and promote the Union on a local and national level.
• To remain up to date with the Solent Students’ Union’s policies and procedures and identify and undertake relevant training, where resources allow.
• To attend appropriate internal and external meetings, as directed by your line manager.
• To undertake such other duties as are agreed as being in keeping with the general nature of the job and its grade.
• To carry out these duties in a manner that promotes equality of opportunity and supports diversity and inclusion, and takes into account the Union’s commitment to environmentally sustainable ways of working.
• To work always according to the organisation’s core aims and values.
• To support with large Union-wide events as required.

Person specification