LEAD LIKE A STUDENT

 

BECOME A STUDENT LEADER AT ESSEX SU

Better than a grad scheme...

No bullsh*t, these roles are hardwork but they’re also rewarding as hell.

Interested? 👇

YES! I want to find out more

1

Essex SU is run by a team of 6 elected Student Leaders

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They achieve amazing things for Essex students

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Any Essex student can apply to be a Student Leader

Not sure what role
to apply for?

That's okay. There's loads of time to decide.

By registering your interest, you'll receive regular emails with more information to help you make your mind up.

Register Interest
 

The Perks

Lead Essex SU

Really! As a member of the Student Leadership Team you’ll be at the top of the SUs hierarchy.

Represent Students

You'll be a voice for 14,000 Essex students, making sure that their needs are understood and represented.

1 year paid contract

You'll work full-time for a year, 35 hours per week from July 1st 2025 to June 30th 2026.

6 roles available

There’s a variety of roles to suit every interest. You’ll be working alongside 5 team mates in the same boat.

No Interviews

You’ll be part of our exciting, all-student election, where you’ll be picked based on votes, not interviews!

The ultimate CV booster

You'll gain a bunch of transferrable skills to add like: time management, people management, communication, strategic thinking and public speaking.

Rated 5 Stars*

“There’s no other job like it. From the variety of work, to the skills you gain and people you meet. The experience helped me to get on a competitive 2-year graduate scheme.”

— Nashwa Alsakka, SU President 2022-23 and VP International 2021-22

"Being VP Community and Engagement gives you a sense of leadership which helps when applying for roles as you learn how to delegate and check on progress."

— Flazzi Adekanmbi, VP Community & Engagement, 2022-23

"It’s an incredibly underrated opportunity. This is a chance for you to gain wide-ranging experience and to develop in a huge way — all while helping life get better for students. As VP Education, you get the chance to work alongside senior university staff and to ensure student views on their education are heard!"

Callum Broadbent, VP Education 2020-22

“It was an honour to be trusted by Essex students to lead the SU and represent them at the highest levels of the university and nationally, but especially during the height of the pandemic.”

Asha Ali, SU President 2019-20 & VP International 2018-19

“The skills I learnt including: negotiation skills, diplomacy and listening to all views, have been essential for me and have helped me to be the best SU President I could be.”

Kieran Phillips, SU President 2023-24, Union Chair 2021-23, Colchester Campus Chair 2020-21

*From people who have been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

INTRODUCING THE
STUDENT LEADER ROLES

SU President

So you fancy yourself as being the Leader of the SU? But what does being SU President actually involve?

  • You’ll be just as passionate as we are about improving the student experience.
  • You’ll be willing to adapt and responsive to current issues effecting students.
  • You’ll be a leader
  • You’ll think outside the box, be creative and determined.

  • You’ll be the President of Essex SU, which is a large charity based across three campuses.
  • You’ll be responsible for overseeing the strategy and the development of Essex SU.
  • You’ll represent the Students’ Union on any University committees relevant to the remit of the role, including but not limited to: University Council, and Senate.
  • You’ll be the Chair of the Trustee board and the Executive Managers Board.
  • You’ll line manage the 5 other elected members of the Student Leadership Team.

VP Education

This role is all about ensuring that students are getting the very best education possible here at Essex.

  • You’ll be detailed orientated.
  • You’ll enjoy reading (you will have to read a lot!).
  • You’ll be great at building relationships.
  • You’ll be as passionate as we are about our students getting a great education.
  • You’ll take on-board feedback and be quick to think of solutions.
  • You’ll care about the small details.

  • You’ll sit on lots and lots of boards and committees.
  • You’ll be responsible for overseeing academic policy within the Union and University and representing members accordingly.
  • You’ll understands the Higher Education environment and be responsive to current issues.
  • You’ll ensure the Union addresses academic issues affecting the quality of education received by the members.
  • You’ll work, with the Union, to support members’ involvement in relevant educational surveys and to ensure the Union acts on the feedback received from members.

VP Welfare

You’ll ensure students are receiving the best welfare support possible. You’ll work with SU Advice, the student conduct team, and SWIS.

  • You’re compassionate & caring.
  • You’ll be great at building relationships.
  • You’ll be as passionate as we are about our students welfare.
  • You’ll take on-board feedback and be quick to think of solutions.
  • You’re willing to learn and understand communities outside of your own.
  • You’ll be happy to work in a team.

  • You’ll ensure that the SU understands the welfare issues that members face and works to address these, including working with the University and other external bodies, where appropriate.
  • You’ll work to develop and improve the university’s welfare support provision.
  • You’ll work with the appropriate student groups to ensure that the night safety of members is managed effectively and that any concerns and issues are escalated to the appropriate University or Students’ Union staff members.
  • You’ll work with the University, SU Advice, and the Students’ Union, to advertise topical and current issues affecting student welfare, both at the university and nationally.
  • You’ll represent student views including, but not limited to, mental health, wellbeing and accessibility.

VP Community and Engagement

You’ll work with and mentor the Student Community Officers (SCOs) elected to represent each community.

  • You’re passionate about empowering our students.
  • You’ll be a team player and can work in a collaborative way.
  • You’re compassionate and willing to learn about new cultures and communities.
  • You’re happy to be an ally for all of our communities.
  • You’re social media savvy.

  • You’ll represent the SU on relevant committees that impact our student communities.
  • You’ll ensure all International communities are represented equally and to actively support the ISA Committee to work for all international students.
  • You’ll represent the voice of student communities.
  • You’ll work with all the Student Community Officers (SCOs) from all relevant campuses.
  • You’ll collect issues and concerns from the SCOs and feed them back where appropriate.
  • You’ll communicate with our members in relation to communities’ activities and events.

VP Student Experience

You’ll work with students in VTeam, Sports, Societies and Rebel. You’ll sit on the Essex Sports Board and be the President of the Blades.

  • You’ll understand the importance of sport to students health and wellbeing.
  • You’ll get the importance of extracurricular experiences.
  • You’ll be passionate about volunteering in the wider community.
  • You’re a team player.
  • You’ll be confident talking in front of people and with people from a variety of backgrounds.
  • You’re social media savvy!

  • You’ll be responsible for supporting the development of student activities & opportunities.
  • You’ll represent the Essex Blades and Societies at all SU, University and external occasions.
  • You’ll chair Essex Blades and Societies meetings, including General Meetings and Committee Meetings.
  • You’ll support the Societies Team and Sports Team to develop in line with student interests.
  • You’ll feedback any student concerns surrounding student’s experience to the SU or University staff.
  • You’ll lead an annual fundraising project, with the support of the SU.
  • You’ll work with VTeam to ensure that volunteering opportunities are made available to members.
  • You’ll oversee the development of Rebel Student Media, ensuring it remains independent and impartial in its reporting from the SU.

VP Southend

Based in Southend, you’ll ensure that students in Southend have the best possible university experience. Working with the 5 other Student Leaders and Southend team.

  • You’ll be just as passionate as we are about improving the student experience.
  • You’ll be willing to adapt and responsive to current issues effecting students.
  • You’ll be a leader.
  • You’ll think outside the box, be creative and determined.
  • You’re willing to learn and understand communities outside of your own.

  • You’ll be responsible for representing the members based at the Southend Campus.
  • You’ll represent the SU on all local external bodies relevant to student needs and issues.
  • You’ll be responsible for welfare, and student activities on the Southend campus, working with other Officers and Departments where relevant.
  • You’ll ensure the voice of Southend members is heard.
  • You’ll ensure that members at Southend are represented at SU meetings.
  • You’ll ensure and review the effectiveness of the SUs’ Southend Commercial services.

Already know you’ve got what it takes?

Let us know if you're thinking of becoming a Student Leader next year.

We'll get in touch with more information, and let you know when applications are opening.

I'm interested - tell me more

 

Still deciding if it’s for you? Scroll on down and find out more about the roles and the SU Leadership Election process 👇

 

So How Does it all Work?

Essex SU is run by students, for students

Each year in February, students put themselves forward to run for a full-time, paid position as a Student Leader. They campaign for votes and every Essex student will have an equal chance to 'vote like a student' and choose who they want to be elected into each of the 6 roles.

This is the SU Leadership Election.

The SU Leadership Elections is broken down into these stages...

Interested in running? Let us know by expressing your interest by 23:59 Sunday 9 February.

It’s the first step towards becoming a 2025-26 Student Leader.

This is the phase where you can apply (put yourself forward) for 1 of 6 roles.

You can only nominate yourself for one role.

CHOOSE FROM:

  • Monday 24 February
  • Tuesday 25 February

Now that you’re a candidate, it is time to find out all of the details and ensure you understand the rules and procedure of the SU Leadersho[ Election. It is also an opportunity to find out anything you want to know before campaigning starts.

The candidate briefing is compulsory. You must attend at least one of the sessions.

All candidates will be announced by Essex SU as an official candidate in the SU Leadership Election 2025/26.

You can start promoting that you are running for a position in the SU Leadership Election!

It is your chance to do everything that you can to get the most votes in your category.

Use this period to convince the student body that you are the best person for the role and that they should vote for you.

Use posters, social media posts, leafleting and campaigning on campus.

The Campaign Hub will be available for all candidates in Colchester to use.

And voting is open! Now’s the time to make sure your audience are voting!!!

All eligible students can vote for who they want to lead Essex SU. Voting is available online and in voting booths on the Squares. This is when campaigning gets to its most intense and you’re pushing to get as many people to vote for you as possible.

Students vote in order of preference.

The results of the SU Leadership Election 2025/26 are announced. If you’re a candidate, you cross your fingers that it’s you. Good luck!

The Rules

The election is free, fair, competitive and safe.

The following rules have been designed to ensure this…

Read The Rules

Talk To Us

Got a question? Just drop us an email

We’re on a mission to be the world’s most student-centered organisation.

Join the vote like a student movement and help us to make this happen.

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