Edinburgh University Students' Association is looking to recruit for the Head of Student Opportunities to join our Student Opportunities team.

Edinburgh University Students’ Association is an award-winning organisation, which exists to provide diverse services, representation, and welfare support to the community of over 49,500 students at the University of Edinburgh. By providing opportunities, helping to create change and offering support, we're here to help students get the most out of their time in Edinburgh.

The Student Opportunities team supports over 300 student-led societies; encourages a range of volunteering opportunities for students to participate in; and manages the Peer Learning and Support programme across the University.

We are a registered charity and all the income we generate from our commercial activity goes back in to supporting our members. We’re also an organisation with a strategic commitment to support and empower all our staff, and have some exciting plans for the future. There's never been a better time to apply and join our organisation.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. Edinburgh University Students’ Association is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

We are looking for an experienced manager with a positive and enthusiastic outlook. They will be experienced in supporting a diverse range of volunteers and developing them through their volunteering journey, as well as being skilled in successful transformation projects within a member/volunteer led organisation. They will have demonstrable experience in managing the delivery of co-curricular and extra-curricular student opportunities.

The ideal candidate will contribute to our strategic commitment to support and help build student communities, as well as support students’ personal and professional development. To do this, they will be responsible for achieving the Student Associations’ ambitious plans around increasing engagement and interaction with student leaders and volunteers. This will require prior experience in developing and delivering cross-departmental projects, as well as proven success in engaging with key stakeholders to inform planning and decision making.

Please see the Job Description & Person Spec PDF for more information.

About ENSA

Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) exists to enable our 20,000 student members across Edinburgh and around the globe to make the most of their university experience. We do this by representing, supporting and developing Edinburgh Napier University students to be successful in their studies; to try out new things; to engage in, and contribute to, university life; to be healthy and happy; to bring about positive change; and to have fun.

About the role

As our Chair has now come to the end of her term in office, we are looking to recruit a new Chair with the skills and experience to lead the Board of Directors, promoting good governance and providing effective and empowering line management to support our CEO. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who has the strategic focus, governance understanding, leadership experience and time to support and develop a committed Board and ensure ENSA delivers the best experience for students.

Please see the Job Description and Person Spec for full details.

About ENSA’s Board of Directors

The Board is collectively in charge of ENSA, for upholding its values and aligning it to the Association’s charitable aims. It has overall responsibility for ENSA’s governance: budget-setting and financial reporting, health and safety, human resources and legal compliance.

The Board is made up of 12 Directors: six External Lay Directors (including the Chair) appointed through a competitive process for their professional expertise; three Student Lay Directors who are registered students of Edinburgh Napier University and appointed through a competitive process; and three Sabbatical Officers who are elected by the student body.

In line with charity law, all ENSA’s Directors (elected and appointed) have equal status. Directors have a variety of experience and skills which offer different perspectives, and are all, jointly and severally, liable for the governance of the charity. Directors are expected to take their responsibilities seriously, attend meetings, and manage any conflicts of interests appropriately.

We have three 12 month, fixed term contract opportunities within our Knowledge and Learning team within the Scotland Directorate.

These are exciting opportunities to join our small team as a Knowledge and Learning Officer, working on a variety of projects to provide informed insight on a range of grant-making themes.

As part of our Knowledge and Learning Team here in Scotland, you will work alongside Funding, and Communication and Engagement teams, as well as Knowledge and Learning colleagues across the UK. The role is flexible and varied, responding to the needs of colleagues and stakeholders to lend research or policy expertise, facilitating engagement events and sharing findings and recommendations.

A key aim of this work is to gather and analyse qualitative and quantitative data from our funding programmes and the policy landscape to shape funding decisions and priorities.

You will be able to see the ‘bigger picture’ of our grant-making work and apply creative approaches to identify and embed learning across geographic and thematic areas.

You will have sound critical thinking, thematic analysis and research skills and an ability to convey effective, impactful information for a variety of audiences.

You will be sensitive to ethics in research design and implementation.

As part of the role you will host and facilitate learning events, both in person and online, and therefore you’ll have sound facilitation and networking skills. Occasionally you will have the opportunity to work with grant-holders, external partners and other funders, requiring excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

You will be collaborative in nature and enjoy working proactively and in partnership with colleagues across the fund. An open, supportive and flexible team working approach is necessary.

You will be adept at managing a busy and varied workload.

You will often be responding to short notice requests for information and guidance, while balancing longer term research/report writing and presentation.

You will be curious to explore and test new ideas and ways of working, to ensure our funding reaches those at greatest need. As such an awareness of public policy, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and participation methods would be useful.

Familiarity with digital communication tools would be advantageous.

Interview Date: Week commencing 22nd April in Glasgow

Location: This role is based in our Glasgow office, however we have a flexible, hybrid approach to working. The role will entail occasional travel and potentially overnight stays. Should you have a question on work pattern, please ask.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role specifically, please contact: Lucy McDonald, Head of Knowledge and Learning, lucy.mcdonald@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Any questions about the recruitment process, please email: recruitment@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Essential criteria

Experience of gathering and sharing evidence to inform learning, including applying qualitative research methods and techniques.

Strong communication and facilitation skills, with experience of holding discussions that enable a range of people to share and discuss ideas.

Excellent report writing skills, and an ability to present information in an engaging and creative way.

A supportive, and responsive, team player with experience of working collaboratively and in partnership to deliver objectives.

Desirable Criteria

An understanding of quantitative research methods, and how they can be used to support qualitative analysis of data.

Familiarity with digital tools that support and enhance how information is captured and conveyed.

Relationship management skills and ability to develop a range of stakeholders and networks to widen the reach of your work.

Knowledge or awareness of the context of the third sector, and key policy and contextual trends which impact communities across Scotland and the UK.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why the National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)