Regional Engagement Manager Jobs

Job Description

The Head of Advocacy and Policy will be responsible for developing an excellent Advice Service and Retention Team to support and advise students effectively to enable excellent student experience and satisfaction.

This role will lead on the development of effective insights, representation and support initiatives/campaigns for students, across our three campuses at Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway.

This role will enhance work with the diverse student population of the University of Greenwich and lead a dynamic team to ensure students have consistent and accessible services that contribute to positive student experience.

This role sits within the wider Membership Services department, together with other key areas consisting of; Activities, Sport, Academic Communities, Representation and Democracy, we provide a high-quality service for students, that they can shape, steer and be at the heart of.

This postholder will be part of the GSU Senior Leadership Team and will be expected to contribute to department and organisation wide strategic development.

The post holder will:

• Have expert knowledge in areas of in relation to Advice and Retention and policies and legislation relating to such activity
• Support and develop strong student-led communities and campaigns in areas of: Advice, wellbeing and retention so that members can thrive
• Provide line management support to staff so that the team have up to date, specialist advice skills, knowledge and understanding of University regulations, policies and procedures that may affect the work of the Advice service and oversee engagement across Greenwich’s 3 campuses
• Undertake casework and provide expert advice for the team on all aspects of Advice
• Lead on the project management of wellbeing/health promotion campaigns and initiatives throughout the year, as well as any external bids through bodies such as OfS
• Oversee the Retention and Wellbeing Project work, and other relevant projects with external partners
• Lead on insights work relating to retention, wellbeing and support
• Lead on responses to external consultation and enquiry responses, including but not limited to OfS, Department for Education, OIA and Universities UK
• Support elected officers to deliver on campaigning priorities
• Ensure the Advice service has the skills and is equipped to support the diverse needs of students at Greenwich and Kent at Medway.
• Provide regular insights and reports on the GSU Membership to inform our strategy and service provision
• Work with other Heads to develop relevant and modern Front of House services for each GSU campus ensuring ease of access and consistency for all members.

Key Areas

• Be an engaged and active member of the Senior Leadership team, contributing regularly and working collaboratively with peers
• Provide leadership, strategic direction and day to day operational management to the Advocacy and Policy: recruiting and inducting members of staff, motivating, supporting and developing team members to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge for their roles as well as manage performance
• Develop a proactive results driven culture within the team, ensuring agreed objectives and targets are delivered, whilst promoting a collaborative approach to working with internal departments
• Develop succession plans and identify training and development opportunities within the team
• Be accountable for the quality of outputs of the team
• Provide support to the Officer team helping and equipping them, particularly in their roles as representatives and providing pastoral support and guidance.
• Ensure the whole organisation is aware of and understands the work of the Advocacy and Policy Team and its contribution to our strategic objectives
• To maintain expert and up-to-date knowledge on sector policies and regulations relating to advice, retention and student success, providing relevant guidance to officers and staff as required.
• Develop and promote a culture of continuous improvement across the team to ensure we can adapt to changing students’ needs and priorities, as well as building on successes and preparing for the future.

Strategic Development

• Contribute to the strategic objectives of GSU, with a particular focus on advice, support and wellbeing in relation to the student experience
• Develop and oversee a new and innovative approach to proactive health and wellbeing campaigns that empower students to look after themselves and each other, as well as seeking support
• Lead on Access and Participation Plan Engagement, acting as the key contact on this area with the University.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with relevant senior UoG staff and departments including Student Academic Services, Faculties and our partners at Kent Unio
• Develop and oversee the Advice service to support advocacy initiatives at multiple levels within the University, ensuring both students and University stakeholders view GSU as a credible and reliable source of information on the needs of students.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop and oversee a structured approach to gathering, analysing and reporting on data relating to engagement of students with our services and to student views on key issues relating to retention and success
• Develop and oversee processes of collecting quantitative and qualitative data from casework to analyse trends and inform feedback for the SU and university
• Ensure evaluation mechanism are embedded in the teams working practises and that findings are shared and used to implement learnings with the goal of improving services
• Support Officers by preparing information, statistics and trends about key services to be shared within the University committee cycle
• Be responsible for the implementation of service standards for the Advocacy and Policy Team and to monitor and report on adherence to these standards
• Prepare materials to apply for any relevant quality mark accreditations for the service.

Budget and Financial Management

• Manage a budget relating to Advocacy and Policy including any restricted funds.
• Be responsible for the teams resources, ensuring these are effectively allocated, managed and controlled
• Review and establish processes, systems, polices and where appropriate standard procedures to maximise efficiency ensure deadlines are met and a positive return on investment
• Review and provide narrative for scrutiny at monthly management meetings with the Finance Team

Stakeholder management

• Collaborate with GSU colleagues, particularly the Student Voice and Engagement Teams to ensure we have a consistent approach to how we work with and support students
• Work with students through our representative structures and forums to ensure we shape services students want and need, taking into consideration the varying campus priorities
• Maintain strong relationships with key university staff to develop, deliver and evaluate collaborative projects and interventions supporting advice and retention
• Attend meetings relating to Advocacy and Policy as well as associated areas at both GSU, the University and externally, included, but not limited to regional networks
• Identify opportunities to share best practice and represent the work of GSU and your team to the wider HE community, through conferences and publication.

Personal Specification

Essential Experience

• Line management experience
• Relevant experience working in the youth, education, students’ union or other membership or advisory organisation
• Experience of leading a multi-functional team
• Experience of mentoring coaching staff/elected officers
• Experience of developing operational policies and procedures
• Experience of budget management, project management, and operational management
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and partnership working or strategic networking

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work with and lead a high performing team
• Ability to troubleshoot difficult situations, and deal with them calmly, efficiently and effectively
• Ability to produce confident, clear written reports and be able to write succinct documents on complex areas
• IT skills at a level that supports membership CRM systems, Advice Pro and other platforms
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to manage others to reach deadlines, within agreed budgets and to a consistently high standard
• Ability to write strategies and be able to effectively communicate vision and mission
• Ability to stay focused and efficient in the face on changing priorities
• Track record of successfully developing and implementing projects and operational change
• Able to draft policies and procures with an eye for detail and accuracy

Essential Knowledge

• Awareness of current issues within the higher education sector
• Knowledge of relevant external bodies and organisations including Advice UK, NUS, Citizens Advice, OIA, Ofs, Student Minds
• Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation
• Knowledge of Safeguarding, advice legislation, risk assessments and GDPR
• Knowledge of providing 121 support

Education/Training

• No one specific qualification is required, but evidence of recent continuing professional development in a professional area relevant to the post is required. For example: ILM, City &Guilds etc.

Personal Attributes and other requirements

• Able to travel within the Borough and Region.
• Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
• Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work
• Be eligible for a DBS check if needed
• A commitment to the principles and practices of equality and diversity
• An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of GSU.

Desirable other requirements

• Visionary, creative, and innovative strategist
• A positive, solution focused leader – able to make ‘tough’ decisions; determined and resilient in order to cope with the demands of the role
• Empowering, authentic leader with high levels of emotional intelligence

Prioritising tasks, meeting deadlines and opportunity to be part of a small, dynamic team, the Executive Assistant plays a key role bringing department leads together, developing papers and information for Trustees, liaising with the research community, supporting the fundraising team in their daily tasks and ensuring the highest level of accountability in the Governance of the charity. 

The role has a number of areas to fulfil: supporting research, supporting the fundraising team and supporting the Chief Executive to help the charity achieve it's ambitious operational strategy, alongside achieving it's aim of finding the cause and a cure for multiple system atrophy.

MSA Trust is a UK and Ireland-wide charity, supporting people with a life-limiting rare neurodegenerative disease. It has home based staff around the UK and a small office in central London. Your role will be pivotal in supporting the CEO and senior team to undertake their roles. 

Location: YMCA City Gateway, and other YMCA locations across the Black Country

Are you passionate about offering pastoral support to people from all walks of life? Do you have experience of working in a chaplaincy role? If so, YMCA Black Country Group wants to hear from you!

What you will do:

· Develop new and existing Chaplaincy services in all YMCA BCG settings.

· Develop, train and support of a team of voluntary Christian Chaplains.

· Strengthen existing relationships and create new links with churches local to YMCA sites to support our chaplaincy work.

The successful candidate must have: Experience of working in a relevant Chaplaincy role, or similar support role, experience in managing volunteers, and a personal commitment to the Christian faith, and practical expression of that faith in a professional context. *

Benefits

Apart from a competitive salary and the opportunity to work for a company that is passionate about giving back to the community, the successful applicant will also receive:

· 24/7 Confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

· Wellbeing Support

· Cycle to work scheme

· Access to our IMHR Plus online portal, offering discounts at major brands and retailers

· Annual leave increase based on length of service

· SimplyHealth cash plan e.g. dental care, physiotherapy, diagnostic consultation, tests, scans and more

· Heavily discounted: childcare at our YMCA nurseries, YGym membership, and Coffee at the Clock purchases

· Life Assurance scheme

· Additional annual leave day for your birthday month, after 1 year

It is a requirement that the successful applicant will complete an enhanced DBS check before taking up the role.

Closing Date:
Wednesday 19th June 2024

YMCA BCG is a trauma-informed organisation; we recognise and understand the widespread impact of trauma on individuals to shape policies, practices, and culture. We are sensitive and responsive to the needs of those who have endured trauma to prevent its recurrence among clients and staff.
 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Therefore, we encourage and support the recruitment, retention and career development of people from as wide a range as possible of ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds.
* A Genuine Occupational Requirement in accordance with the Equalities Act 2010

About the role:

When a person or their family member sustains a spinal cord injury it is a life changing experience. For many it is a huge concern as to whether they will be able to return to their current occupation or employer or whether they will ever be able to work or volunteer again following their spinal cord injury.

Back Up’s vocation service aims to be the leader in supporting people with spinal cord injury to return to work and our Vocation Coordinators are the main point of contact to help service users reach their vocational goals. They work in partnership with spinal units and other stakeholders such as employers to raise aspirations, coordinating activities such as our Skills for Work courses and Careers Fair, as well as providing telephone support to service users.

You’ll be a confident communicator with excellent organisational skills in person, in writing and on the telephone. You’ll enjoy planning and delivering work to see projects through; be that independently or as part of a wider team.

Lived experience is an advantage; but most important is your sharing our commitment to transform the lives of everyone affected by spinal cord injury.

For full details please see our role description[BH1] .

About us:

At Back Up, we have big ambitions. Over the next few years, we’re going to be transforming the lives of even more people affected by spinal cord injury.

Together we’ll be working hard to make sure everyone affected by spinal cord injury has access to the support they deserve; and we are the only spinal cord injury charity in the UK providing specific services on vocation and services to children and young people.

At Back Up, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. Please read our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from those from black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds or those with higher level spinal injuries.

In 2024 Back Up won The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award for Best place to work for disabled employees. As well as this, Back Up has been voted one of the top ten charities to work for (Third Sector Best Charities 2020). The enthusiastic, inclusive and supportive spirit of our very skilled staff ensure excellence in the services we deliver.

About the PVRI
We’re a small charity with a global reach and an important purpose: to reduce the burden of pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) - a serious condition that can lead to heart damage and trigger symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, poor growth, fainting, and light-headedness. PVD can reduce both quality of life and length of life, but it isn’t widely recognised or well-understood.

Our aim is to improve clinical care, education, and PVD research. To do this, we bring together an international network of thousands of clinicians, scientists, academics, and industry partners supported by our small team based in Bermondsey, London. Together, we deliver conferences, e-learning, and an academic journal, raise awareness of PVD, and encourage collaboration in research.

About the role
We are seeking a Marketing Officer to help grow and service the charity's international membership, increase the value of our membership offer, increase our income, and deliver our e-learning programmes. You’ll help ensure our members are informed about the latest developments and learning opportunities, and they’re valued for their contributions to the PVRI. No two days are the same. One day, you might be writing content for our website and social media channels, and the next, you might be welcoming respected speakers and attendees from over 30 countries to our scientific webinar.

We are looking for someone with excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail. You’ll need to create successful marketing plans and grow our membership. You will also bring excellent organizational skills and the ability to coordinate high-quality webinars.

If this sounds like you, we can’t wait to hear from you!

What we can offer
We offer a 35-hour working week and flexible working, a positive learning culture, international travel, and opportunities for you to learn and grow in your role. And for those who prefer hybrid working, we’re based in a vibrant, sociable office space close to London Bridge and Borough Market. You will need to be able to travel to London for the occasional meeting.

The PVRI celebrates diversity and is committed to equality and inclusion in our recruitment practices and ways of working. If you’re excited about our mission and can bring talent and enthusiasm to our cause, we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply
To apply for the role, please send us your CV and a supporting statement (max 850 words) outlining what you could bring to the role and referencing the Person Specification. Please send these, together with the Equalities Monitoring Form to Katie Corris by 09:00 on Wednesday 19 June.
 

PVRI is a Registered Charity, number 1127115