Director of Student Services
Student Services/Student Experience
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Director of Student Services
Student Services/Student Experience
Applications are invited for the above full-time permanent post.
Student Services provides a comprehensive range of support and enhancement services to all
students of the University. The department wishes to recruit a Director of Student Services. The post
is a senior management position in the University, reporting to the Vice-President for the Student
Experience. The successful candidate will provide leadership in the integration of the student
services functions and for the provision of high quality and comprehensive non-academic support and
wellbeing services for students.
Applicants should have:


Degree level qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant area.
A minimum of 5 years experience to include working at a senior level in student services or a
related area.
 Demonstrable experience of collaboration across organisational boundaries with diverse
groups of internal constituents.
 Ability to build teams and develop individuals including formal performance management
systems in large complex public sector or equivalent organisations.
 Ability to translate strategy to actions (business planning, budgeting, resource allocation etc.)
 Capability to solve problems and be results/outcomes orientated
 Ability to demonstrate leadership in initiating/implementing change
 Demonstrable personal and professional commitment to the University’s strategy, vision and
values
Applicants may be required to take part in a range of assessment exercises in advance of interview.
For enquires relating to the position please contact: Dr. Pat Morgan, Vice-President for the Student
Experience (pat.morgan@nuigalway.ie)
Salary:
E 75,874 – 86,234 p.a. (new entrants to Irish public sector)
E 84,082 – 95,593 p.a. (non new entrants)
For informal discussion please contact Dr. Pat Morgan, Vice-President for the Student Experience
(pat.morgan@nuigalway.ie)
Closing date for receipt of applications is 17.00 (GMT) on Thursday 5th February 2015. It will
not be possible to consider applications received after the closing date.
Garda vetting may apply.
For more information and Application Form please see ‘Application and Appointment Procedures’
(page 4). Applications should be submitted online.
Please note that appointment to posts advertised will be dependent upon University approval,
together with the terms of the Employment Control Framework for the higher education sector.
National University of Ireland Galway is an equal opportunities employer.
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POST DESCRIPTION
Purpose of Post
 To provide leadership for the provision of high quality and comprehensive nonacademic support and wellbeing services for students; and to be responsible for the
compliance of all regulatory obligations in these areas
 To ensure appropriate working partnerships are in place with colleagues, students,
and external stakeholders, which are conducive to the effective realisation of the
University’s strategic aspirations in relation to student support and wellbeing, and to
the student experience
 To contribute to, and lead the implementation of initiatives designed to make
significant improvements to the student experience.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
 To provide leadership across the University for the implementation and delivery of
strategy, policy, processes and practices that will ensure a consistently high level of
well-integrated student support and wellbeing services and will achieve the
University’s goals in respect of student employability and graduate destinations
 To work in partnership with the Vice-President for the Student Experience in the
development, implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Plan with regard to the
Student Experience
 To work in collaboration with senior colleagues across the institution to maximise
opportunities to develop student work experience and employability
 Benchmark and develop KPIs, where appropriate, so that the University is seen as a
leader exemplifying best practice in relation to student experience and employability
 To have input into the operation of the University Code of Conduct and to take
summary disciplinary action under that regulation on behalf of the Vice-President for
the Student Experience
 To contribute, as required, to wider University aims, working with the Vice President
for the Student Experience and other senior University colleagues including making a
significant contribution to relevant projects and institutional committees and groups.
 To lead, motivate, develop, and manage the Student Services team, effectively and
efficiently, to meet current and likely future demands of the University. Student
Services has circa 42 FTE staff and a non-pay budget of circa €1.5 million
 To develop and maintain good relationships with external bodies providing services
for students
 To undertake such other duties as may be required from time-to-time by the Vice
President for the Student Experience commensurate with the level of responsibility of
the role including deputising for the Vice-President in her/his absence.
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APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES
1.
Application
A. Current NUI Galway employees
If you are a current NUI Galway employee please use the NUI Galway Employee Self
Service (ESS) portal to apply for this post. The following is a link to the ESS portal:
http://ess.nuigalway.ie
The following is a link to a User Guide for ESS:
www.nuigalway.ie/hr/documents/internal/nuig_user_guide_support_internal.pdf
Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post
and allow sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing
date.
Please note that closing dates/ times will not be extended for user error
Late applications will not be accepted
Non NUI Galway employees
If you are not a current NUI Galway employee please use the NUI Galway online
recruitment portal to apply for this post. The following is a link to the online
recruitment portal:
http://erecruit.nuigalway.ie
The following is a link to a User Guide for the online recruitment portal:
www.nuigalway.ie/hr/documents/nuig_user_guide_support_external.pdf
Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post
and allow sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing
date.
Please note that closing dates/ times will not be extended for user error
Late applications will not be accepted.
The completed application document must be submitted online to reach the Human
Resources Office no later than 17.00 (GMT) on Thursday 5th February 2015.
B.
All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of application. If you do not receive an
acknowledgement of receipt of your application or if you have any other queries
regarding the application process please contact recruit@nuigalway.ie
or telephone 091-492151.
C.
Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER):
It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in
Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred
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from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector.
Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.
D.
Pension Entitlements:
This is a pensionable position. Details of the applicable Pension Scheme will be
provided to the successful candidate.
The Pension element of this appointment is subject to the terms and conditions of the
Pension scheme currently in force within the University. This Scheme may be
amended or revised by the Irish Government or its agents at any time.
The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 set a
minimum retirement age of 65 and removed the upper compulsory retirement age for
certain New Entrants to the Public Sector on or after 1 April 2004. Effective from 1st
January 2013, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new
entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the
public service after a break of more than 26 weeks.
Retirement age set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in
the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028.
Compulsory retirement age will be 70.
E.
Declaration:
Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a
public service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be
required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment
or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have
received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.
Assessment Procedure
(a)
Assessment Board
Applications will be considered by an Assessment Board, which will shortlist and
interview candidates.
Applicants may be required to complete assessment tests appropriate to the
requirements of the role.
Candidates who are invited to attend for interview will have their reasonable return
travel and subsistence expenses paid.
All candidates will in due course be notified of the outcome of their application. The
Human Resources Office will offer the post to the candidate appointed once the
appointment has been made by the University Appointing Authorities.
(b)
Interview Dates
Candidates will be advised of arrangements in due course.
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(c)
Expenses
Only candidates invited to the Assessors’ Interview (see (a) above) will have their
reasonable return travel and subsistence expenses paid.
(d)
Referees
Referees listed on the application forms of shortlisted candidates will be contacted prior to
interview.
(e)
The successful candidate will be required to submit evidence of age, original
qualifications and undergo a medical examination.
Appointments will be conditional on work authorisation validation. Further details are
available at www.djei.ie
Human Resources Office
May 2014
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