Institutional Support and Development Manager. Edinburgh (with work in colleges and universities across Scotland) 35 hours per week Monday to Friday

Transcription

1 JOB DESCRIPTION 1. Main Details Job Title Grade Department Responsible to Institutional Support and Development Manager PO2 NUS Scotland/sparqs Head of sparqs Responsible for Development Advisors currently 2 Place of Work Hours of Work Period of Contract Additional Hours Edinburgh (with work in colleges and universities across Scotland) 35 hours per week Monday to Friday Initially fixed term for 1year. (this is a new post for which we intend to establish permanent funding upon evaluation) Travelling out of office hours (especially early mornings) as well as working out of office is a feature of the post. The post holder will also be required to work evenings and occasional weekends to meet organisational objectives for which an anti-social hours allowance is paid in recognition of this. This post may involve international travel. 2. Background to sparqs sparqs is a small dynamic team which consists of the Head of sparqs, the Institutional Support and Development Manager, a team of Development Advisors (currently 5) and a Central Support Team (currently 4). The purpose of sparqs is to ensure students can make a positive and rewarding difference to their own and others educational experience, and are able to shape the nature of learning and contribute to the overall success of Scotland s universities and colleges. The team delivers a wide range of activities around 4 strategic aims that; Support students to engage at all levels in enhancing their educational experience. Support the development of practices and activities in institutions and their students associations that encourage and support student engagement. Support student engagement with national agencies and policy developments. Support the development of a culture of student engagement across Scotland. Members of the team take responsibility for developing plans within each of the strategic aims. However, responsibilities for objectives and tasks can run across aims as the team balances workload on a regular basis. sparqs is funded by the Scottish Funding Council and is managed on SFC s behalf by the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland. It takes its strategic direction from a steering committee which includes representatives from all the main sector agencies plus student membership from both NUS and the college and university sectors.

2 3. Purpose of Job The role will be responsible for the management, development and delivery of objectives in two of the 4 strategic aims Support students to engage at all levels in enhancing their educational experience. Support the development of practices and activities in institutions and their students associations that encourage and support student engagement. In short this means developing and delivering strategies that support institutions and their students and so has a strong focus on client needs. The post holder will manage staff involved in delivering these areas of work and will also be responsible for delivery of projects within these areas themselves. The post holder will form part of the sparqs management team consisting of Head of sparqs, Central Support Team Manager and Institutional Support and Development Manager. This team will be responsible for developing and monitoring sparqs strategic and operational plan. It will also monitor and develop HR, financial and external reporting strategies. sparqs sometimes works at an international level and the post holder will be expected to contribute to this work. The post holder will deputise for the Head of sparqs. 4. Main duties and responsibilities Management and development of the provision of sparqs support for institutions and their students associations. 4.1 Develop links with key contacts within institutions and help build effective relationships with students, staff and senior managers. 4.2 Develop processes and activities to help sparqs build its knowledge and understanding of student engagement activities across its institutions. 4.3 Develop strategies and programmes of work in response to this developing institutional knowledge and sector developments. 4.4 Monitor institutional needs and policy developments to develop and deliver national projects that support these needs. 4.5 Manage the work of sparqs staff acting as institutional contacts/consultants. 4.6 Ensure the development of resources and activities to enable sparqs to deliver tailored support to institutions. Management and development of the provision of sparqs training and development activities. 4.7 Oversee the development and delivery of sparqs core programmes of course rep training and support. Ensure their on-going quality and fitness for purpose and identify and develop future directions, supporting the delivery of such developments. 4.8 Provide an oversight of the range of sparqs training and development activities and support the development and co-ordination of these activities across all areas of sparqs activities. 4.9 Monitor sparqs training and development provision, developing and delivering new products or activities where necessary Contribute to the design and delivery of training and development activities from one off workshops, online materials to major national events. Managing people and processes 4.11 Support the development of individual and team objectives and projects, monitoring and supporting their delivery Conduct regular one to one meeting and annual appraisals and monitor staff performance, identifying support and development needs Maintaining effective HR procedures including use of organisational procedures for expenses, absences, induction and performance management Conduct first line discipline and grievance procedures Operate effective financial procedures within specified budget areas.

3 Contribution to overall direction and success of sparqs through the sparqs management team Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of sparqs strategic and operational plans Contribute to the development of approaches related to staffing structures, performance, finances, reporting and stakeholder engagement Contribute to staff and team development and planning activities Support communications from sparqs management team internally and externally Support the identification of new opportunities including projects that might attract external funding and help produce funding proposals Contribute to the range of external reporting and consultation activities. General 4.22 Deputise for the director where necessary Act as an ambassador and represent sparqs externally Undertake international work on behalf of sparqs where necessary Develop and maintain an expert level of knowledge on student engagement and wider educational issues in Scotland and wider afield. 5. Person Specification Qualifications & Experience Experience of managing staff and supporting the development of strategic and operational plans. Experience of service delivery to a diverse range of clients or users. Experience of designing, planning and delivering a range of training and development activities. Experience of producing high quality resources and written materials. Experience of working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders from volunteers, service users, professional staff, senior managers and sector level decision makers and influencers. Educational experience of College or Higher Education Institution. Experience of facilitating change with partners in a membership or similar organisation. Experience of working or volunteering in a college or Higher Education Institution setting particularly in a quality or student engagement role. Experience of working in a consultancy role Experience of working within a senior management team and/or working as a deputy. Experience of identifying and successfully obtaining external funding opportunities. Educated to degree/scqf level 9 or equvalent and/or relevant professional qualifications. Essential Desirable Abilities, Skills and Knowledge Evidence of ability to monitor external environments and identify key opportunities and challenges. Evidence of ability to process complex information, identify key issues and disseminate to a range of audiences through verbal and written means. Awareness of approaches to engaging learners or other service users in measuring and enhancing the quality of services.

4 Evidence of success in leading projects through from initiation and design to delivery and evaluation. Evidence of excellent organisational skills and ability to work on multiple tasks, both alone and as part of a team. Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to professionally challenge, encourage innovation, resolve conflict and maintain professional relationships. Working knowledge of Scotland s Higher Education or College quality enhancement arrangements and/or knowledge of similar quality arrangements in other parts of the UK or other sectors. Knowledge of key developments within the field of learning and teaching or academic development. Knowledge of key issues effecting higher and further education in Scotland. Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation techniques and approaches. Personal Characteristics & Behaviours Commitment to the work of sparqs in terms of student-led approach, role of student engagement in quality enhancement and value of partnership approaches. Commitment to the creation of an environment that promotes equality of opportunity whilst recognising and valuing diversity. Commitment to a high standard of service delivery and continuous quality improvement. Commitment to your own personal and professional development.

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