Job Description
Job title:
Academic Representation Co-ordinator
Department/School:
University of Bath Students’ Union
Grade:
5
Location:
The Advice and Representation Centre
Job purpose
To maximise the effectiveness of the Students’ Union’s representation to the
University by co-ordinating and actively developing the Academic Representatives
system and associated activities to ensure the University of Bath remains a leader in
the field.
To support and develop educational projects and activities undertaken within the
Students’ Union and in partnership with the University.
To co-ordinate communications, publicity and information on behalf of the area
through web pages, notice boards, newsletters and other effective mediums.
Source and nature of management provided
Representation and Engagement Manager
Staff management responsibility
None
Special conditions
May be required to work occasional evenings and Saturdays for activities which can
be reclaimed as TOIL.
Main duties and responsibilities
Detail the main duties of the job, grouping together related activities. Consider the
precise nature of responsibility and choose the most appropriate verb e.g. plan,
supervise, analyse etc. This will help when evaluating the grade of the job. Please refer
to the guidelines on writing a job description and consider the 14 HERA elements when
detailing these duties.
1
To oversee, support and develop the Academic Representatives system to
ensure delivery of an effective system. Monitor good practice across the sector
and benchmark the academic representatives system against key areas. Liaise
with University partners and stakeholders. Create recommendations
accordingly.
2 Co-ordinate the online elections for Academic Representatives through strategic
planning, implementation, technical support and research. Undertake
consultation and liaison with members of the University and students to provide
a timely and effective system with high participation levels.
4 Plan, co-ordinate and deliver effective training for Academic Representatives
and other relevant stakeholders of the Academic Representatives System.
5 Co-ordinate Academic Council meetings and other engagement activity to
ensure high levels of participation by Academic Representatives, Faculty
Representatives and other key student members. Prepare regular reports on
discussion topics for University committees.
6 Recruit and supervise student staff to ensure effective minutes are delivered for
all area meetings, and participation of student members recorded and monitored
for use in accreditation and other activities.
6 Identify and prepare effective briefings and topical reports for Academic
Representatives according to need.
7 Co-ordinate and deliver specific mechanisms, support and training for specific
student groups to effectively participate in the Academic Representatives
system, including Placement students, Distance Learners and Learning
Partnerships.
8 Co-ordinate and develop mechanisms to provide regular impact reports to
highlight activity being undertaken by reps across the University. Co-ordinate
issue mapping activity and contribute to wider Students’ Union and University
activity on mapping student issues and impact report.
9 Co-ordinate the annual Awards Evening for Academic Representatives through
liaison with relevant stakeholders, including management of the event, and coordination of awards selection process. Co-ordinate student awards for staff
members of the University.
10 Co-ordinate area communications including website, regular newsletters, social
media, displays etc, to ensure high levels of awareness of topical issues, to support
the aims of the area.
11 Create participation reports, development plans, surveys and other documents to
continuously monitor and develop activity within the area.
12 Liaise with Peer Assisted Learning Team and Departmental Societies to provide
joint activities and support and to raise the profile of the Students’ Union across all
departments.
13 Provide academic research support to the Representation and Engagement
Manager, Education Officer and Academic Representatives on the matters
concerning both the University of Bath and more generally within the UK Higher
Education system.
14 Support key academic campaign activities and planning through a variety of support
activities, and sector wide knowledge.
15 Perform other duties within the Students Union, as the Representation and
Engagement Manager shall require on behalf of the Executive Committee and
Senior Management, consistent with current levels of responsibility.
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as
reasonably required by your line manager.
Person Specification
Criteria: Qualifications and Training
Essential
X
Qualifications
Educated to degree level
Criteria: Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge of Higher Education issues
Experience of working within a HE environment.
Experience of working within a Students’ Union
Experience of working with volunteers
Experience of impact assessment
Experience of undertaking research and
analysing results
Experience of planning and delivering training
Experience of supporting meetings
Knowledge of membership-led or democratic
organisations
Criteria: Skills and Aptitudes
Desirable
Essential
Desirable
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Essential
Excellent communication skills
Excellent
personal
organisational
skills,
particularly time management and prioritisation
skills
Strong report writing skills with the ability to
produce information for a variety of audiences
Ability to work in a team as well as under own
initiative
Strong clerical skills – ability to support meetings
though taking minutes and associated
arrangements
Excellent attention to detail
Good ICT skills
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Must be self motivated
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Must be adaptable
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Must be approachable
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Desirable
Effective Behaviours Framework
The University has identified a set of effective behaviours which we value and have found
to be consistent with high performance across the organisation. Part of the selection process
for this post will be to assess whether candidates have demonstrably exhibited these
behaviours previously.
Managing self and personal skills:
Willing and able to assess and apply own skills, abilities and experience. Being aware of
own behaviour and how it impacts on others.
Delivering excellent service:
Providing the best quality service to all students and staff and to external customers e.g.
clients, suppliers. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up
service standards.
Finding innovative solutions:
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically and with creativity to analyse problems
and develop innovative and workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.
Embracing change:
Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, demands and changing roles. Seeing change as an
opportunity and being receptive to new ideas.
Using resources:
Making effective use of available resources including people, information, networks and
budgets. Being aware of the financial and commercial aspects of the University.
Engaging with the big picture:
Seeing the work that you do in the context of the bigger picture e.g. in the context of what
the University/other departments are striving to achieve and taking a long-term view.
Communicating vision clearly and enthusiastically to inspire and motivate others.
Developing self and others:
Showing commitment to own development and supporting and encouraging others to
develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential
for the wider benefit of the University.
Working with people:
Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Demonstrating a
commitment to diversity and applying a wider range of interpersonal skills.
Achieving results:
Planning and organising workloads to ensure that deadlines are met within resource
constraints. Consistently meeting objectives and success criteria.