Engagement and Partnership Manager – Medway

Reports to:                 Head of Campus Engagement and Opportunities

Responsible for:         Reception Supervisor
x2 Engagement and Opportunities Coordinators

Department/Service

This role sits within the wider Membership Services department, and will involve working with other departments including Advice and Wellbeing, Commercial, Academic Communities and Representation and Democracy. We provide a high-quality service for students during their time at university, that they have the power to influence to ensure we are student focused and student lead.

Duties and key responsibilities

This postholder will be part of the Membership Services Management Team and will be expected to contribute to the departments and organisations wider objectives and planning.

Key Areas

• Support and develop strong student-led communities in areas of: Societies, Front of House, International support activities and one-off event-based opportunities (Give it a Go/Medway Move).
• Assist the Head of Campus Engagement and Opportunities with any work/tasks relating to the Medway Partnership with Kent Union and CCSU, including ‘Partnership Board’ tasks, including reports, insight and attending meetings.
• Manage key relationships for operational delivery at the Medway campus (Kent Union, CCSU, University of Kent, University of Greenwich, and Canterbury Christ Church University).
• Contribute to the strategic objectives of GSU, with a focus on developing engagement, opportunities, and student experience with a diverse student body.
• Help to develop partnerships both internally and externally and through this maximise engagement with members and customers
• Chair key Medway meetings including Medway Operations Committee and a regular staff meeting with colleagues from each home union.
• Provide line management and lead the day-to-day operational management to the Medway Engagement and Opportunities Team.
• Gather data and insight from across the wider engagement team to be used to and measure impact against GSU strategy and aims and prepare reports for the Head of Campus Engagement and Opportunities.
• Lead the planning and annual delivery of key activity such as GSU Welcome and commissioned projects such as Global Greenwich and Community Fund.
• Building and maintaining robust systems for ensuring students’ safety when engaging in GSU activity such as Risk Assessments, Standard Operating Procedures, external speaker processes, insurance, and any other necessary checks).
• Ensure opportunities are effectively communicated and safe to all students based at Medway.

Budget and Financial Management

• Manage a budget relating to Medway campus engagement
• Being responsible for the team’s resources and ensuring these are effectively allocated, managed and controlled
• Together with the Head of Campus Engagement and Opportunities and the Finance team, ensure suitable financial procedures are in place when dealing with student finances
• Ensure robust processes, systems, polices and where appropriate standard procedures are in place to ensure a positive return on investment
• Review and provide narrative for scrutiny at monthly management meetings with the Head of Campus Engagement and Opportunities and Finance Team

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with GSU colleagues, particularly the Commercial, Student Voice and Advice Teams to ensure we have a consistent approach to how we work with and support all university students studying at Medway.
• 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
• Support students from all demographics, and particularly those from under-represented groups to develop and grow their own activities and communities
• Attend internal and external meetings, forums and discussions on behalf of the Head of Campus Engagement or wider team
• Prepare submissions and reports for relevant awards and accreditations/committees as necessary

General Responsibilities

• Represent and be an ambassador for GSU.
• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
• Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices
• Support and promote liberation, diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations and or clients or staff and Project data.
• Actively seek better ways to assist GSU in its effort to become a more sustainable workplace.
• Any other duties commensurate with the accountabilities of the post.
• Deputise for the Head of Campus Engagement & Opportunities when needed.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

EXPERIENCE  

• Experience of managing a multi-functional team
• 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
• Research and report writing

SKILLS AND ABILITIES  

• Ability to engage and motivate other
• Clear communication skills face to face and on the phone or email.
• Ability to troubleshoot difficult situations, and deal with them calmly, efficiently and effectively.
• Writing skills – produce reports and ability to write succinct documents on complex areas.
• IT skills at a level that supports report writing, email, internet and database.
• Time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to engage and motivate others.
• Self-motivated with the confidence to work alone but can also work co-operatively and flexibly as part of a team.
• Ability to stay focused and efficient in the face on changing priorities.

KNOWLEDGE       

• Understand how to engage a variety of different types of stakeholders (students)
• Understand barriers for hard to reach groups to engage with activity
• Regulatory requirements and best practice guidance relating to events and activity (inc health and safety.

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.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Able to travel within the Borough and Region as required for the role
• Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
• Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.  An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of the organisation

Training and support will be given to the post holder to support the role.