Chief Executive www.UCSunion.org Recruitment Information UCS Union Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ 01473 338160 su.chiefexec@ucs.ac.uk

March 2016Contents

1. Introduction from the Elected Sabbatical Officers 2015/16

2. Information on UCS and Welcome from the Provost

3. Job Description including main duties and responsibilities

4. Person Specification

5. Recruitment Process

1. Introduction

Thank you for showing interest in becoming the Chief Executive of University Campus Suffolk Union.

UCS Union is the representative organisation for students of University Campus Suffolk. It is the role of the Union to campaign for student rights in education; our aim is to represent, support, inspire and empower all our 5,000 students at UCS. As well as providing an independent source of advice and representation, UCS Union is the sole provider of sports, activities and societies at UCS, services that have seen a considerable increase in student involvement and engagement this year. The Most Active Students programme, supported by Sport England, offers a wide range of activities, ranging from climbing to kayaking and snowboarding. The Union also operates a number of trading outlets on the main Ipswich campus.

For the past two years, University Campus Suffolk Union has been recognised by the NUS as one of the best Students’ Unions in the UK. It is a registered charity, and is overseen by a Board of Trustees.

Our institution has recently launched its new strategic vision and has recently been awarded degree awarding powers. With an ambition to expand and as Suffolk’s only provider of HE, UCS is looking at a bright and exciting future.

We wish to recruit a Chief Executive with exceptional skills to guide us into the future, who will be focused on the growth and development of UCS Union through its next phase. The Chief Executive will lead our permanent staff, student staff and volunteers to help all UCS students to have an excellent experience whilst they study and live in Suffolk.

The successful candidate will work closely with the sabbatical officers, the Trustee Board and the Union staff, as well as being an important face of UCSU to members of the University, including the Provost and all UCS Senior Management. Their external links will include NUS, other Students’ Unions, Trade Unions, and Charity Commissioners.

Part of UCS Union’s income is provided by our commercial outlets, including a campus shop. It is important that these services offer the Union financial support as well as continue to offer quality products at student-friendly prices. The successful candidate will be ultimately responsible (through the management structure) for the development of these commercial services.

The application form is available on our website www.ucsunion.org/your-union/work-for-us

As elected Sabbatical Officers, we are looking forward to appointing a new leader for our growing Students’ Union. We look forward to receiving your application.

Jordan Bambridge, President 2015/16 and Megan King, Vice President 2015/16

2 Welcome to UCS University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is a unique institution and one of the newest education institutions in the UK. Founded through the collaboration of the Universities of East Anglia and Essex, UCS was launched in 2007, to offer quality higher education and raise aspirations in Suffolk and beyond. Since our beginning, the Ipswich campus has been created including the opening of our iconic Waterfront Building on the Neptune Marina, the extensive refurbishment of legacy buildings.

UCS is a company limited by guarantee jointly owned by the Universities of East Anglia and Essex whose Vice Chancellors are on our board alongside UCS Students’ Union President Jordan Bambridge. (http://www.ucs.ac.uk/About/Structure/UCSBoard.aspx.)Our unique structure provides freedom from many of the constraints that are a feature of many more traditional institutions. We embrace working in partnership with UCS Students’ Union and put the student experience at the heart of what we do.

UCS is comprised of the main Ipswich campus, with UCS centres in Colleges in Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, and at Suffolk New College. UCS offers an attractive portfolio of courses within the Faculty of Arts, Business and Applied Social Science and the Faculty of Health and Science. Degrees range from Foundation, Honours and Postgraduate, to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses. UCS currently employs around 200 academics who ensure the institution continues to provide students with a high quality and innovative teaching and learning experience.

The two Faculties are supported by the Offices of Academic Development and Research and Enterprise. Support to the Faculties is also provided by the Directorates of Academic Services, Estates, External Relations and Marketing, Information Technology and Planning and Partnerships.

In sum, the increasing diversity of student body, the high profile staff UCS is recruiting, and the commitment of existing staff make UCS an exciting place to be. UCS works very closely with UCS Union and has a clear student focus – in which role the Chief Executive of UCS Union plays a critical part. This

appointment is therefore a very important one for UCS.

Richard ListerProvost and Chief Executive of University Campus Suffolk

3. Job Description

University Campus Suffolk Union was established in August 2007, and exists to represent and support over 5,000 students that currently study at UCS across four centres based in Suffolk and Norfolk. The Union is student-led and provides sports and social activities for its members, and operates a number of retail outlets and other services on the main Ipswich campus.

Chief Executive Location: University office, Library Building, University Campus SuffolkGrade: 9 Salary: £40,950Reports to: UCS Union Trustee BoardResponsible for: All staff of UCS Union, through appropriate line structures

This job description outlines the major duties associated with the post. It is not intended to be exhaustive, and it should not be assumed that other duties of a similar level/nature appropriate to the role of senior manager are excluded simply because they are not itemised. Similarly, it should be recognised that the duties of the post may alter due to changes in legislation or policy. Where such changes occur, training may be given to enable the post-holder to undertake the new or varied work.

The Chief Executive is a key advocate for the Students’ Union and is expected to display the highest levels of personal and professional integrity at all times, and always to act in a way which reflects positively on the Students’ Union.

The Chief Executive will be provided with a mentoring support package to aid the successful delivery of these tasks.

Purpose of Job To provide strategic direction and management for UCS Union, and staff leadership and support, to enable the Union to deliver continuously improving services to the students of UCS, on behalf of the elected sabbatical officers and the Board of Trustees.

HoursThe Union offices are open from 08.45 to 17.15 Mondays to Fridays. The Chief Executive will be expected to work outside of these hours from time, as demanded by the nature of the duties involved, for which no overtime is payable. Time off in lieu may be taken in consultation with the Chair of the Trustee Board.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To lead on the implementation of the long-term strategy for the Students’ Union, in consultation with the Trustee Board and sabbatical officers. To ensure the establishment of annual plans and goals to achieve this vision, and the effective delivery of these plans.

2. To lead and support the Union staff team. To be responsible for the effective recruitment, training, appraisal and development of staff, including the handling all disciplinary and grievance issues within the staff team. To support each member of staff in the achievement of their own goals.

3. To be both the principal agent of change and of continuity for the organisation. This includes developing plans alongside the Sabbatical Officers and Senior Management, bringing forward proposals and plans to the Trustees, and following agreed initiatives.

4. To be responsible for the production of the annual budget for the Union, including plans for the development of such additional income as may be required, and the negotiation with UCS for their annual block grant. To ensure that appropriate systems are in place to ensure that budgets are met.

5. To ensure the production of accurate management accounts and timely financial reports for the Trustees, and to be responsible for the effective delivery of financial targets.

6. To support the full time sabbatical officers and part time officers in the representation of students to the university, the town and beyond through the development of appropriate relationships within the University and the wider community.

7. To be responsible for the development of standards and performance measurements for the Union to monitor delivery of quality services to all users.

8. To ensure effective communication of all Union activities and services to the student membership and others as appropriate.

9. To be responsible for all statutory returns and compliance, and liaison with all key statutory bodies.

10. To be ultimately responsible for health and safety within UCS Union.

11. To ensure the Union is a sustainable and ethical organisation.

4. Person Specification

Essential DesirableEducation/QualificationsA Good Level of general education to A-Level or equivalent

X

A Degree or equivalent XA formal management or similar professional qualification

X

Evidence of continuous professional development XManagement ExperienceExperience of managing staff (minimum 2 years) XDemonstrable Project delivery experience XProject Design and delivery experience XPrevious experience of development and production of strategic plans, and the successful implementation of strategic plans

X

HR – An understanding of issues and legislation relating to best practice

X

A willingness to be “hands on” working with a small team

X

Financial ExperienceExperience of interpretation of management accounts

X

Experience of production and the effective monitoring of budgets

X

Demonstrable evidence of previous delivery against agreed budgets

X

SkillsLeadership - Demonstrable evidence of leadership skills and understanding of management styles

X

Organisation - Strong personal organisational skills XCommunication – Good verbal and written communication skills, able to communicate to people at all levels, from Provost to student

X

IT – Demonstrable IT skills in word-processing and spreadsheet use

X

Interpersonal – Demonstrably strong interpersonal skills

X

KnowledgeHE - Understanding of the current issues facing HE institutions and students

X

Diversity - An understanding and appreciation of the value of diversity and a champion of equal

X

opportunities in the workplaceStudents’ Unions – Direct experience of UK Students’ Unions

X

Democracy – A commitment to working within a democratic organisation

X

Charities – An understanding of legislation and issues facing the charity sector in England

X

Governance – A working understanding of good governance (including Nolan Principles). A working knowledge of the statutory returns required from the organisation

X

Health and Safety – A working understanding of the legal requirements within an organisation

X

5. Recruitment Process

Applicants should download the application form from our website: http://www.ucsunion.org/your-union/work-for-us

The Application form is in 2 separate parts. These parts should be completed in full, using examples to illustrate how you satisfy the requirements of the role and the person specification. Please complete the application form and email it as a single email to su.chiefexec@ucs.ac.uk

The deadline for applications is 12pm on Friday 1st April 2016.

Confirmation will be sent once your application has been received.

We will contact all applicants by 5pm Friday 1st April 2016 to advise whether or not you have been shortlisted for interview.

Interviews will be held on Friday 8th April 2016.

The process provides an opportunity for the candidates to meet the sabbatical officers, other trustees and staff, and to get a better understanding of the operation and organisation of the Union. The process will include a financial exercise, a presentation and a panel interview.

If you would like an informal chat about the role or if you have any queries regarding your application please contact the current post holder Tom Newman on 01473 338160 or su.chiefexec@ucs.ac.uk. We will be unable to reimburse travel expenses.

Further information about University Campus Suffolk Union and our services can be found on our website www.ucsunion.org/your-union/work-for-us