Student Adviser

About the role | Job Description | Person Specification | Pay & Terms | How to apply

About Student Adviser

Membership Services and Engagement

The Membership Services and Engagement section of SUSU exists to develop our engagement with students; enhancing their experience at the University of Southampton by supporting extra-curricular opportunities, independent advice and information, alongside supporting and campaigning for improvements in their lives. All of this involves the closest working relationship with all of our elected officers.

In addition to the Advice & Representation department, there are 2 other departments within the section:

• Democracy Department - Ensuring our decision making process is transparent and accessible to all our members and that all students have access to our leadership and representative opportunities
• Student Activities Department - Supporting the 70 sports clubs, 180 societies, Community Volunteering, Junior Common Rooms (JCRs), Student Enterprise and Raise and Give (RAG) student groups

About the Advice & Representation (A & R) department

With the pending increase in tuition fees, it is critical that SUSU consistently and effectively delivers on its role of ‘watchdog’, representing student interest and delivering on well thought through campaigns that impact where they need to. The A & R department has recently been restructured to deliver on this aim, ensuring SUSU effectively delivers the best possible service to our members in the challenges of the political and economic climate whilst empowering students to benefit from the best possible student experience.

The new department will deliver on the following key aims:

• Support for the elected officers in delivering a powerful student voice culminating in real change
• Development and maintenance of a strong platform on which our representatives are fully supported and inspired to carry out their role with courage and conviction
• Provision of an independent and confidential quality advice and support service on welfare and academic issues which is easily accessible to all students, wherever they may be, firmly placing students at the centre of everything we do
• Understand and promote change for better student life
• Proactively support our representatives in the research, creation and implementation of policy
• Provision of a constantly evolving research library to inform campaigning
• Development and provision of a system to ensure tight and efficient cross referral of issues across the Union
• Plan and deliver effective campaigning for change
• Deliver a pro-active and responsive service, dedicated to overcome barriers to success

The A & R Department consists of the following staff:

• Advice and Representation Manager
  • To manage the Advice & Representation department
  • To ensure the Advice & Representation department delivers the departmental Plan
  • To support the elected officers to deliver an effective student voice
• Policy & Representation Co-ordinator
  • To provide and co-ordinate support, advice and training for student academic representatives
  • To support officers, student representatives and student groups in the delivery of well researched, engaging and relevant campaigns
  • To support the officers in the development and implementation of Union policy
• 3 other Student Advisers
  • To provide an information, advice and representation service to students
  • To monitor, research, analyse and advise on relevant local, national and global policy
  • To maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and procedures
• 2 Administrative Assistants with Student Staff as required
  • To provide a professional welcome for visitors to the Advice & Representation Department
  • To provide administrative support for the Advice & Representation department
  • To maintain files and records of Advice and Representation processes

The Job – Student Adviser

In order to deliver on the goals of the newly structure department, we are increasing our Student Adviser capacity. You will have a passion for advising and support students, along with detailed and current knowledge of student finance and knowledge of other issues affecting students. The main purpose of the role is:

• To provide an information, advice and representation service to students
• To monitor, research, analyse and advise on relevant local, national and global policy
• To maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and procedures

You will be passionate about ensuring students receive the best experience at University whilst also being committed to having an impact on making real change for all students. You will have experience of carrying out research and an ability to make a connection from issues affecting individual students to issues affecting all students