Student Advocacy Co-ordinator

The University of St Andrews Students’ Association presently has over 10,000 members at Scotland’s top university, ranked first in the UK by the Guardian and Times/Sunday Times. We provide a range of services including advice and representation, student societies and activities, a catering service on two sites, and three bars and a nightclub. We are the primary entertainments venue for St Andrews’ students, and support a thriving student activities scene with over 140 affiliated societies. 

The University of St Andrews Students’ Association is committed to promoting diversity and equality for all and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We particularly aim to include perspectives from applicants with disabilities, from BAME backgrounds, and those with diverse sexualities or gender identities.

Description of Specific Duties

• Undertake one-to-one advice work in a range of areas in the University and beyond including appeals, complaints, student conduct, fitness to practice, and accommodation, in line with our agreed Code of Practice for advice work and with best practice in the sector. 
• Inform St Andrews students of their rights as students of the University, and as private tenants.
• Keep confidential records of casework and produce anonymised statistics for casework as requested. 
• Maintain and update advice pages on yourunion.net website.
• Build and maintain good working relationships with relevant University staff, particularly those in academic Schools and service units who play a role in referring students to the Service. 
• Contribute to the development of information and guidance resources for students.
• Participate in officer and School President training to publicise the Service.
• Develop new ways of publicising the Service and delivering advice by getting key information to clients at critical times through the most relevant channels. 

To contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Association

• Actively participate in meetings, personal development, and training events where there is a clear link to our strategy, your role or personal development.
• Ensuring that statutory and legal obligations are met.
• Ensure our financial sustainability by adhering to all financial procedures and processes of the Students’ Association.
• Contributing to the positive image of the Students’ Association with students, the University and the local community.
• Working across the Association to share skills, improve capability or capacity and in support of service delivery.
• Be flexible in your approach to work, including potentially work at non-standard locations and times on occasion as required. 

The job description may be altered at any time in the future in line with the level of the post to meet changing requirements, in full consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

• Education and Qualifications: technical, professional, academic qualifications and training required
  • Desirable: Educated to degree level or equivalent, assessed through application form.
  • Desirable: Formal training or qualifications in advice work, assessed through application form.
  • Desirable: Training or qualifications in tenant’s rights, assessed through application form.
• Knowledge and Experience: examples of specific experience and knowledge sought
  • Essential: Experience of Higher Education as a student or as a staff member, assessed through application form and interview.
  • Essential: Knowledge and understanding of student issues including mental health, disabilities, finance, accommodation etc, assessed through application form, interview, and presentation.
  • Desirable: Experience/knowledge of advice work as volunteer or professional, assessed through application form, interview, and presentation.
  • Desirable: Experience of Students’ Associations, assessed through application form and interview.
• Competencies & Skills: e.g. effective communication skills, initiative, flexibility, leadership etc.
  • Essential: Able to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing, assessed through application form, interview, and presentation.
  • Essential: Effective creative problem-solving skills, assessed through application form, interview, and presentation.
  • Essential: Strong attention to detail, assessed through application form, interview, and presentation.
  • Essential: Commitment to professional development, assessed through application form, interview, and presentation.
  • Essential: Effective time management and prioritisation skills, assessed through application form and interview.

Essential criteria

Requirements without which a candidate would not be able to undertake the full remit of the role.  Applicants who have not clearly demonstrated in their application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be rejected at the short listing stage.

Desirable criteria

Requirements which would be useful for the candidate to hold.  When short listing, these criteria will be considered when more than one applicant meets the essential requirements.