Communities Development Coordinator

We're looking for a Communities Development Coordinator to support, develop and grow student-led societies, sports clubs and other communities at Arts SU. This role is all about helping students get involved, whether that's through joining a student group, planning and running events or stepping up as a student leader. You'll be the first point of contact for over 100 student groups, providing tailored support, training and advice to help them thrive. From processing finance requests and booking spaces to helping deliver key events like Welcome Fair, Varsity, and Awards, you'll make sure students and colleagues have what they need to succeed. You'll oversee student group elections, manage the promotion of opportunities, and work with colleagues across UAL to create inclusive spaces where students are welcomed and engaged.

Recruitment Timeline
Application Closes: 24th November at 9am
Interviews: 5th and 8th November
Job Purpose

• Engage students to participate in activities and events by supporting and developing student-led societies and sports clubs, volunteering and other student communities.
• Provide accurate, consistent and innovative support to the 100+ groups, committees members and group members.
• Support the delivery of variety of student-led events and activities, empowering and enabling student leaders.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee Student Group and Community Development
• Coordinate regular development meetings with relevant student groups, supporting groups to set and achieve yearly targets.
• Provide tailored support to relevant societies, focusing on development and growth of student-led activities.
• Create and deliver training workshops to empower student committee members to oversee their group and activities.
• Support the Communities Development manager to develop new initiatives and processes to increase opportunities for and efficacy of student communities.
• Assure Finance, Risk Management and Administration
• Coordinate, maintain and develop associated student group administrative processes including but not limited to new group applications, member databases, kits and equipment, space booking systems, group travel, and facilities hire.
• Assessing student group grant funding applications to ensure fair and equitable funding is being distributed across groups.
• Oversee day-to-day spending of student groups including processing invoice and payment request forms and where required liaising with the Finance team on specific issues, ensuring all finance protocols are followed.
• Act as the primary liaison with relevant UAL teams responsible for timetabling, room and space bookings, estates and events for the purpose of developing student group activity.
• Act as the primary liaison for third-party sports team coaches and facilitators including dealing with queries regarding payment and contracts.
• Liaise with other universities, students' unions as relevant to coordinate shared activity including but not limited to competitive sports fixtures through BUCS and LUSL
• Drive engagement with students in Arts SU's community spaces
• Engage students to participate in activities by supporting and developing student groups and developing committee members.
• Oversee and develop relevant promotion of student communities including social media pages and newsletters to promote opportunities, events and activities at the SU in line with our brand guidelines and other Arts SU policies.
• Keeping resources for students, student groups and other stakeholders about student communities up to date and easily accessible.
• Be responsible for the technical set-up and management of SU student group elections using membership engagement systems.
• Develop and deliver training for candidates in student group elections to ensure lawful and impactful campaigning of students.
• Lead on the candidate experience in SU student group elections by coordinating candidate support initiatives and result announcements.
• Support Events and Initiatives
• Coordinate and problem solve student group events and activities with student committee members, supporting groups to deliver their core events and activities safely.
• Coordinate and problem solve large-scale student group events and activities (e.g. the annual Dance Showcase) with committee members, liaising with relevant staff and departments to deliver their events and activities safely.
• Support with the delivery of key departmental and high-risk events and projects such as Welcome Fair, Awards and Varsity as required.
• Support with the coordination and delivery of the Elite Athletes Programme including reviewing and approving applications as well as relevant follow-up.
• Update and develop processes, procedures and guidance to support student groups through continual review and seeking review and seeking feedback from key stakeholders such as student leaders.
• Be an active member of the Communities Development team
• Support the elected sabbatical officer team in their pursuit of achieving their goals and objectives.
• Help colleagues on shared objectives to improve student engagement particularly those from low participation groups with student communities of the Union.
• Support the recruitment, training and oversight of student staff including where required coordinating their attendance at student group activity.
• Undertake and monitor the day-to-day spending from assigned budgets.
• Be the first point of call for student groups who have questions about associated student group processes including but not limited to membership, finance, event/activity management, sponsorship and fundraising.
• Be the first point of call for students who have questions about the SU's student communities including student groups.

Person Specification Criteria

• Knowledge

1.1 Good working knowledge of Office 365

1.2 Experience of working with budgets

1.3 Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating events/projects

1.4 Knowledge of current themes affecting students in the Further/Higher education sector

1.5 Experience of working in the third sector or education setting in a community development role

• Skills

2.1 An open and flexible approach with the ability to create and maintain strong working relationships

2.2 Experience of communicating with a range of diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing

2.3 Ability to work flexibly, manage working time effectively and priorities projects appropriately Personal effectiveness and results focused

2.4 Ability to explain and/or support others in relation to complex processes and procedures using simple and accessible terms

2.5 Ability to work under pressure and have a positive attituded towards problem solving and decision making

• Behaviours

3.1 Understanding of equality and diversity and the relevance to students' experience

3.2 Able and willing to actively demonstrate Arts SU values

3.3 A willingness to work outside traditional office hours, including evening and irregular weekends shifts.