What you'll do

• Help inform academic policy, student experience strategy and stakeholder relationships within the Students’ Union and University on behalf of members.
• Oversee the Student Rep system in collaboration with the SU Education team to recruit, support and represent Student Reps in student voice work.
• Work closely with the SU Education Team and the Convenors to represent students, affect policy change, lead campaigns and develop student experience at Essex.
• Represent students' academic interests to the university, including policies, curriculum, assessment, and student experience.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders across the University and Students’ Union to assert authority as the point of contact for student representation on academic experience.
• Represent the Students’ Union on relevant university committees, including but not limited to Senate, Education Committee, Research Committee, Ethics Committee, Strategic Partnerships Advisory Committee, Academic Quality and Standards Committee, Rules of Assessment Advisory Group and various project groups.
• Co-Chairing the Student Experience Strategy and Action Group with the PVC Education to ensure there is a clear strategy for student experience at Essex with synergy between curricular and extracurricular student experience, and ensure action is taken to improve student experience on key student issues.
• Address academic issues impacting education quality for members. Working to improve teaching standards, feedback systems, and overall educational quality. Collaborating on relevant projects to achieve these aims.
• Raise awareness of educational issues and student experience issues that link to the learning experience, gather feedback, and ensure members' needs are met.
• Influence university decisions on academic quality, experience and resources for members.
• Support member participation in educational surveys, raise profile of student feedback to the SU & University, and act on their feedback.
• Collaborate with the University to ensure responsible and lawful use of student data.
• Keep the Students’ Union updated on educational activities and policy developments within the University.

As an Essex Student Leader, you'll also:

• Adhere to the Union’s governance, bylaws, policies, and accountability procedures.
• Represent the Students’ Union on any relevant committees. Specifically, committees that will directly or indirectly impact our student communities and international students.
• Represent the voice of student communities and international students on all relevant committees.
• Monitor and implement SU policy while upholding the Students’ Union’s reputation.
• Fairly represent SU members’ opinions and interests internally and externally.
• Encourage member participation, lead campaigns, and support initiatives based on student feedback.
• Attend relevant meetings, report activities, and represent the Students’ Union on internal and external committees.
• Sit on Council and update annual plans.
• Collaborate with staff to achieve goals set by the Trustee Board and Student Council.
• Fulfil duties as a Union trustee and work towards organisational objectives.
• Collect issues and concerns from the Student Community Officers and relay them to the appropriate individuals within the University and Students’ Union to ensure that they are dealt with swiftly and effectively.
• Ensure that there is regular, clear, and engaging communication with our members in relation to engagement and communities’ activities and events.
• Agree targets and remit of the Students’ Union annual plan with Students’ Union staff.
• Inform and influence the process of feedback collection as part of the creation of the Annual Plan.
• Play an active part in the creation and delivery of central campaigns where relevant.
• Foster good working relationships with key individuals and departments within the university. Including but not limited to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team, Inclusivity Champions, Staff Forums and Networks, Faith Centre.
• Have flexibility in working hours to ensure that events held in the evenings are fully attended and covered as required within the role.
• Participate in Union wide projects such as events and campaigns throughout the year.
• Prepare a comprehensive handover document for your successor.