Head of Student Representation

Job Summary 

The Head of Student Representation is a critical member of the Students’ Union’s Delivery senior team and leads Durham SU’s work in influencing Durham University in students’ academic interests, through the support of student leaders and volunteers. The Head manages the Student Voice team, which coordinate support for academic representatives, and which provides policy advice to student leaders and the Durham SU senior staff.  

The Head is also the operational lead for data protection, information governance, and data analysis. 

Key Responsibilities and Duties 

The Head of Student Representation is responsible for the performance, growth and sustainability of Durham SU’s professional staff team and volunteers, organised to support faculty and academic representatives.  

In particular, the Head will: 

• Lead effective support for Durham student leaders who want to help make Durham University education better and fairer. 

• Anticipate and respond to student need in their education, seek and seize opportunity, and manage risk. 

• Ensure that Durham SU and its student leaders can, and do, speak with authority on matters impacting Durham students’ education, on behalf of the wider student community. 

• Provide advice and make recommendations to student leaders, Durham SU senior staff and the Board of Trustees on policy development within their area of responsibility. 

• Support the Deputy Chief Executive in the development and maintenance of relationships with Durham University’s academic and professional staff. 

The Head of Student Representation will be accountable for: 

• Leadership across the newly formed Delivery function in the SU – working closely alongside the Head of Community and the Deputy Chief Executive to provide a high-quality experience to Students’ Union stakeholders  

• Managing their team efficiently, effectively and consistently with Durham SU’s values, within agreed targets, to meet agreed outcomes. 

• Delivery of research, reports, consultations and project outcomes as agreed with Durham University (for example, access and participation fund work, responses to the Teaching Excellence Framework, the National Student Survey, etc). 

• Successful support offers for academic communities within four faculties, including academic representatives and academic student groups  

• Seeking and holding key external relationships and advancing the reputation and reach of Durham students and Durham SU. 

• Durham SU’s responsible and effective use of student data and insight, including the management of large data transfers from Durham University to Durham SU.  

• Supporting the successful delivery of student elections to ensure high levels of engagement, experience and turnout.