THE ROLES

 

Below you will find the roles available to you, along with a description of the type of person we are looking for, along with a description of duties.  

SU PRESIDENT

So you fancy yourself as being the Leader of the SU?

Sounds impressive doesn’t it? But what does it actually mean to be the SU President, is it something anyone can do?

Yes any University of Essex students can apply and all of our past SU Presidents started out just like you!

But what does it mean to be the SU President?

You would be the President of the University of Essex Students' Union (SU), which is a large  charity across has three campuses. You would be the Chair of the Trustee board and the Executive Managers Board, as well as Line Manager to the 6 other elected members of the Student Leadership Team. You would be the public face of Essex SU.

We are looking for someone who:

  • Has a passion for improving the lives of other students
  • Is happy to work with a variety of different people in very different roles
  • Has an understanding of the Higher Education  environment and is responsive to  current issues effecting students
  • Is a leader
  • Is creative and determined
  • Can act as an advocate for students in university & SU meetings
  • Is looking to develop new transferrable skills
  • Is social media savvy

 

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

 

Download full Job Description here.

VP STUDENT EXPERIENCE

So what does a VP Student Experience do?

You will be responsible for working with students in the following areas: V-Team, Sports, Societies, Just Play, RAG, and Rebel. You will sit on the Essex Sports Board, be the President of the Essex Blades and sit on the Trustee Board.

We are looking for someone who:

  • Is passionate about sport in the Higher Education sector
  • Understands the importance of sport to students health and wellbeing
  • Understands the importance of extracurricular experiences
  • Is passionate about societies
  • Is passionate about volunteering in the wider community
  • Is a team player
  • Is comfortable talking in front of people and with people from a variety of backgrounds
  • Is social media savvy

 

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

 

Download full Job Description here.

VP COMMUNITY & ENGAGEMENT

This role is a relatively new role to the SU. It was created to highlight how important it was for the SU to work with the different communities that make up our Essex community.

In this role you will work with and mentor the Student Community Officers (SCOs). You will be responsible for the engagement of students across three campuses in communities, sit on different university committees and be a member of the Trustee Board.

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Passionate about empowering our students
  • Committed to ensuring that minority and liberation groups are heard
  • A team player  and happy to work in a collaborative way with SCOs
  • Compassionate
  • Willing to learn about new cultures and communities
  • Happy to be an ally for all our communities
  • Social media savvy

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

 

Download full Job Description here.

VP WELFARE

VP Welare is responsible for ensuring the structures in place to assist our students in their welfare are working and providing the right information and support.

As such, in this role you will work closely with SU Advice, the student conduct team and SWIS. You will work closely with VP Student Experience where issues overlap with students in clubs and societies and with your Student Community Officers and VP Community & Engagement where welfare and community concerns overlap. You will also be a member of the Trustee Board.

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Compassionate
  • Willing to learn and understand communities outside of their own
  • Happy to work in a team
  • Able to represent the welfare of the student body in university committees
  • Social media savvy

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

 

Download full Job Description here.

VP EDUCATION

In this role you are responsible for ensuring that students across all three of our campuses are getting the very best education that they can here at Essex.

You will sit on lots and lots of boards and committees. This is a job for a detail orientated person.

You will work alongside the Education Student Representaties and the SU Education Team. You will also be a member of the Trustee Board.

We are looking for someone who:

  • Is detail orientated
  • Loves to read papers that are the same size as war and peace
  • Understands the Higher Education environment and is responsive to current issues
  • Is a team player
  • Is great at relationship building
  • Is passionate about our students getting a great education
  • Can work with live student feedback
  • Is social media savvy

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

 

Download full Job Description here.

VP INTERNATIONAL

This role will involve a lot of event planning. You will be responsible for delivering major cultural events such as One world Essex and Diwali and Holi. You will work with International Student Association and be involved in recruitment, ensuring international students issues are heard and addressed. You will also be a member of the Trustee Board.

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Open to learning about other cultures
  • Passionate about sharing experiences
  • Organised
  • A team player
  • Great at project planning
  • Social media savvy
  • Responsive to current events that may impact international students

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

 

Download full Job Description here.

VP SOUTHEND

This role will be based at our Southend campus. You will ensure that students in Southend are not left out and that the campus needs are accounted for.

You will be expected to visit Colchester several times a year.

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Determined
  • Confident
  • Happy to work independently and also as part of a team

We don’t expect our elected representatives to arrive with tonnes of experience. We will provide training on areas that you might need support with such as people management, chairing meetings, public speaking and how to be a great Trustee.

Download full Job Description here.

NOMINATE YOURSELF

 

EXPECTATIONS OF THE ROLE:

  • You will need to be prepared to do this job full-time – it is not a part time position
  • You will need to take a year out of your studies (unless you graduate this summer)
  • You will be elected by students and so be held to account by them  
  • You will be a trustee for a successful charity
  • You will receive various types of leadership training to support you in your role
  • You will be the public face of the Students’ Union
  • You will work with senior staff inside the university

TO NOMINATE YOURSELF, YOU WILL NEED TO:

  • You would need to be a current University of Essex Student at the time of nominating
  • You will need to read and sign the rules
  • You will need to read and sign the data protection document
  • You will need a photograph by the close of nominations
  • You will need to write a manifesto, following the rules
  • You will need to write a 30 word summary, by the close of nominations
  • You will need to watch the candidate briefing
  • You will need to watch the Trustee briefing

NOMINATE YOURSELF