Representation and Democracy Manager

We are looking for a creative, determined, and organised person to join the Students’ Union as our Representation & Democracy Manager. This new post is designed to develop the student experience at St. George’s and support the delivery of student feedback and representation systems, to ensure the effective coordination and development of democratic functions and to work with elected officers, volunteers, and other students to deliver change.

Job Purpose:

·       Contribute to the delivery of our strategic goals and strengthen the democratic ethos of the Students’ Union

·       Responsible for delivering and implementing an Annual SU Democracy and Representation Operating Plan

·       Organise democratic processes including Student Senate, Student Executive Committee and Union Progress meetings.

·       Organise representation including sabbatical officer, student executive and course representative elections and provides ongoing support, training, and development.

·       Support and facilitate the student voice and to work with the sabbatical offices to increase engagement with the student community.

Key Responsibilities:

Election Organiser

·       To organise and manage the elections for all sabbatical officers, executive officers, and course representative elections.

·    To support elected officials through on-going training needs

·       To work with the sabbatical officers and the university to develop new processes for the election of course representatives.

·       To work with colleagues to promote elections through social media platforms and ensure that information and resources on the SU website are both up to date and relevant.

Democratic Processes

·       To be responsible for developing the Union’s student representative structures, including Course representatives and the Student Executive

·       To promote the student representation network to the student body and staff and identify opportunities for cross-development.

·       To provide operational support to elected student representatives in articulating the student voice.

·       To coordinate, manage and oversee the Student Senate, annual general meetings and other student led meetings including organising, minuting and following up actions arising from meetings.

·       To monitor the progress of matters raised by, or on behalf of, students and to compile appropriate reports.

·       To brief (or arrange for a briefing from an appropriate source) SU officers on policy developments or research from elsewhere in the sector (in order that they are informed in their representation work)

·       To ensure that the Union’s byelaws and constitution accurately reflect its democratic and representation processes.

·       To be the main point of contact for queries from students and staff as to the SU’s democratic processes

·       To service the trustee board of the Students’ Union including minuting meetings and managing actions in consultation with the CEO and Chair

Training and Development of Representatives

·       To deliver training to the elected student positions to enable representatives to be effective in their roles

·       To nurture student representatives’ enthusiasm for their work and inspire their development to enable them to advocate effectively for their peers.

·       To maintain a calendar of training and activities

Person Specification

Essential

·       The ideal candidate will be passionate about strengthening the student voice at George’s and will have experience of working in a students’ union or other democratic, member-led environment.

·       They will have experience of working in a diverse environment and will have the ability to apply an approach that is effective at highlighting both mainstream and marginal concerns and be capable of championing action and change.

·       Attention to detail and the ability to convey messages clearly and concisely both in report writing and in written and verbal communications.

·       Ability to work in an inclusive, accessible, and empowering way with the student membership.

·       Good interpersonal skills with confidence in presenting

·       Ability to multitask and work to deadlines.

Desirable

·       Experience of providing support to volunteers and coordinating activities for volunteer development

·       Knowledge of SU processes

·       Experience of project planning and management