president

How many graduate training schemes will make you the president of a registered charity with a £3m turnover in your first year?

How about on your first day?

Communication.

Communication.

Communication.

It might sound a bit Blairite, but it's worth saying three times.

As Association President, the first group of people you'll need to communicate with will be the people who run the University. Alongside the Director of Representation and the Rector's Assessor, you'll be one of  three student voices on the University Court (the highest governing body of the University). You'll also be in regular contact with the Principal's Office - a group of eight people led by Dr Louise Richardson to make the key decisions about the future of St Andrews.

The second group you'll be communicating with will be the town and the outside world. Keeping the locals on our side means we've more chance of getting permission for events like Starfields. Keeping the press on side - and knowing how to deal with them - means our achievements, messages and complaints won't get lost amid other stories. Knowing how to deal with the policy makers and politicians who make the decisions that shape Scottish education, and networking with other Students' Associations across the country, means that we as students can use our strength in numbers to influence the problems we face that are bigger than these three streets alone.
The third and most important group you'll communicate with will be the student body. It can be easy to forget that speaking on behalf of students, raising their concerns, celebrating their achievements and articulating their views is only half the job. The other half is keeping them up to date and consulting as widely and regularly as possible. The President is the public face of the Students' Association and should be in regular contact with the student body, whether it's by email, holding surgeries, speaking to The Saint and STAR or anything else you can think of.

So, you'll need to be a good communicator. You'll also need to be a good leader. None of the sabbaticals is the others' boss, nor do they get paid any differently, and although the ethos and approach of the sabbatical team is a joint responsiblity, the best Presidents have made the effort to pull the team together and ensure excellent communication with students, the University and the outside world across the board. The other student volunteers will benefit hugely from your help, guidance and encouragement - assistance with training and planning are key.

The President, from 2011 onwards, will also act as "director of campaigns," taking responsibility for shaping policy and crafting the Association's message in relation to accommodation, welfare, environmental and equality issues. You'll be responsible for leading the Officers elected to those portfolios, convening the Senior Student Forum, and publishing the How to Rent guide.

Finally, you'll be the person to take the lead on the biggest strategic operation the Students' Association has undertaken for more than thirty years - the redevelopment of the building. As you read this, briefs and designs are being taken to architects, but it will be up to you and the next  few sabbatical teams to take this project from architectural plans to construction. All in all, it's an exhilarating job.

If you're interested in becoming the next President, or just want to find out more about the job, contact Owen on pres@st-andrews.ac.uk.