Democracy Lead

**Job Description: Democracy Lead**

**Salary**: £24,169

**Responsible to**: Representation and Democracy Manager

**Responsible for**:Student staff posts

This job description is a guide to the work you will initially be required to undertake. It may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances. It does not form part of your Contract of

Employment.

1. **Purpose**

To lead operationally on the Union’s democratic activity, ensuring that our processes and procedures are clear and accessible to all our members. By supporting, advising and developing our elected Officers and Reps, the Democracy Lead ensures they are equipped to improve the lives of Sheffield Hallam students. The Democracy Lead will also play a key role in reviewing, evaluating and continuously improving our democratic structures.

2. **Main Duties and Responsibilities**

**2.1 Working with Elected Students**
- Support and advocate for our elected Officer Team, assisting them to achieve their objectives, helping with their wellbeing, planning and organisation, and being the main liaison with the rest of the SU staff team.
- Work closely with all our elected student representatives by:

- advising on how they can best achieve their goals and improve the student experience.
- researching and briefing Officers and Reps on current issues in Higher Education.
- alongside Events & Campaigns staff, supporting elected representatives in planning campaigns, events, and projects, providing guidance on resources, processes and procedures.
- delivering training and identifying areas of development for elected representatives.
- ensuring that all elected representatives, regardless of background or protected characteristics, can access and contribute fully to the Union’s processes and activities.
- coordinating with other teams across the organisation to ensure Officers’ and Reps’ activities are appropriately resourced, in line with organisational strategy.

**2.2 Enhancing Democratic Processes**
- Alongside the Representation & Democracy Manager, lead on the review, evaluation and continuous improvement of the SU’s democratic structures.

April 2023
- Organise, service and minute key democratic meetings within the Union, including

Union Council and Representative Committee.
- Prepare briefings for various Union committees and groups on issues relating to Union democracy.
- Facilitate the development, implementation and monitoring of student-led policy.
- Provide guidance on issues relating to the Union’s Articles of Governance.
- Ensure that information, themes, and outcomes relating to Union decision making are available and accessible to all our members and staff.
- Proactively identify opportunities to enhance our digital offering around democracy.
- Lead operationally, alongside the Representation & Democracy Manager, on the delivery of Students’ Union Elections and Referenda throughout the year.
- Maintain and update the Students’ Union’s website with information relating to our democratic processes.

**2.3 Developing the Students’ Union**
- Proactively support the delivery of cross-Union activities, such as Welcome Week.
- Deal with requests and queries from a variety of groups and individuals, including students, University staff, and external stakeholders, ensuring outstanding customer service.
- Ensure all our activity is compliant with relevant legislation, including GDPR, Charity Law and the Education Act.
- Help to encourage cross-team working, effective communication, and innovation across the organisation.
- Contribute to the delivery of the Students’ Union’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda and embody the organisation’s values of Passion, Honesty, Dedication,

Innovation & Diversity.

April 2023

**PERSON SPECIFICATION**

**Democracy Lead**

**Essential Assessed by**
**Requirements (E) Application**

**Desirable (A), Task (T),**

**(D) Interview (I)**

**1 Qualifications/Training**

1.1 Good general education, typically to degree level or equivalent or E A relevant experience.

**2 Experience**

2.1 Experience of working within or interpreting governance or policy E A/I frameworks, ideally within a charity or education setting.

2.2 Experience of delivering multiple projects at once, identifying E A/I desired outcomes and key stakeholders.

2.3 Experience of making informed recommendations and decisions to E I improve processes and policy.

2.4 Experience of working with diverse groups, demonstrating D I awareness of good practice in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.

2.5 Experience of delivering training. D A

**3 Knowledge**

3.1 Understanding of the Higher Education sector and the issues that E I affect students.

3.2 Understanding of processes within a university or similar large D A organisation.

3.3 Understanding of good practice in volunteer management. D I

**4 Skills & Attributes**

4.1 Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail E A/T

4.2 Ability to work unsupervised