JOB DESCRIPTION

  1. MAIN DETAILS

Job Title / Research & Policy Officer (Liberation)
Grade / SO1
Place of Work / NUS HQ
Hours of Work / 36 hours per week plus additional hours as required. Additional hours may be required which will be compensated by pro-rata time off in lieu or over time payments.The post holder will be paid an allowance in recognition unsociable hours- occasional weekend and evening work.
  1. PURPOSE OF JOB

To provide research and policy support and advice on issues pertaining to the representational and campaigning needs of NUS’ four Liberation campaign areas (black students, disabled students, LGBT students and women students). The role requires a range of imaginative solutions or responses and involves application of original and innovatory thinking.

  1. Main Duties and Responsibilities
  • To provide specialist in-depth knowledge in the field of Liberation
  • To undertake or commission primary and secondary research on the above issues on behalf of NUS for the NEC, students' union officers and external organisations
  • To contribute to NUS’ policy development
  • To provide NUS written briefings on Liberation issues.
  • To provide presentations on aspects of Liberation for the NEC, students' union officers and external organisations as requested.
  • Developing external links and attending meetings on Liberation as requested.
  1. Job Activities

Developing Specialist Knowledge Base

  • Maintain detailed knowledge of Liberation issues
  • Maintain a general understanding of post-16 education and NUS policy as it relates to the areas of job holder’s responsibility.
  • Monitor government policy where it applies to areas of job holder's responsibility and maintain understanding of how this may affect students and the work of NUS.

Primary and Secondary Research

  • Assist NEC to formulate research objectives and strategies as part of NUS campaigns.
  • Conduct primary and secondary research on issues pertinent to NUS policy, campaigns and information provision
  • Provide briefings and ad hoc advice for students' unions on designing, implementing and analysing research.
  • Research issues in depth, synthesise materials, produce clear and concise text.
  • Design research instruments, and determine research objectives and parameters within available resources.
  • Commission primary and secondary research from external sources as required to inform NUS campaigns, policy and information provision, in liaison with the Social Policy Team Leader
  • Arrange data inputting for primary research.
  • Analyse data and information and write reports for different audiences
  • Organise any publication process, from design to distribution

Strategy & Partnership Projects (OPTIONAL AND BY APPLICATION)

  • Assisting the Liberation Officers to ensure there is an effective Liberation Development Strategy in place with appropriate performance measures
  • Assisting the Liberation Officers to ensure there is an effective programme of partnership projects with external organisations, including:
  • Developing and maintaining contacts with external organisations
  • Working with the Officers to develop ideas for partnership projects with other organisations
  • Assisting in the negotiation of project arrangements, including finances and branding
  • Recording and evaluating partnership projects to ensure that they meet the needs of members
  • Liaising with the students' unions to develop good practice in partnership projects within students’ unions
  • Co-ordinate resources, budgets, staff and materials of partnership projects as required

Policy Development

  • Advising the Liberation Officers and the NEC on issues regarding political context, recent developments, implications of issues etc,
  • Assisting in policy development by identifying areas requiring policy (re)development and collect information/conduct research to support,
  • Preparing written materials for presentation, information etc for the Liberation Officers (or other NEC by negotiation)
  • Preparing NUS responses to both government and non-government policy consultations and preparing policy development papers for submission to government.

Information and Publications

  • Contribute articles for NUS publications and websites on specific areas of Liberation, aimed at students’ unions and students, media and the public
  • Produce specific written material, based on research for NUS, for the membership and external organisations as required
  • Undertake technical editing checking/monitoring of internal and external publications relating to Liberation for content accuracy.

Presentations & Training

  • Contribute to NUS officer training programme.
  • Provide presentations and workshops for external organisations on Liberation. These may include requests from other campaign and representation organisations.
  • Assist the officers (and other NEC by negotiation) by writing presentations on Liberation issues as requested.

Liaison

  • Arrange and co-ordinate bilateral meetings with external organisations, as directed.
  • Co-ordinate work with other staff in the organisation as required
  • Assist with other areas of NUS work if required including but not limited to press, parliamentary, campaigns and training.
  • Develop and maintain contacts with representatives of other organisations relevant to your area of work.

5.General

  • To assist Liberation Campaigns and Committees in the running and coordination of their conferences, committee meetings and other events
  • Maintain a high standard of customer care in service delivery
  • Attend events and meetings as required.
  • To use IT applications (word processing, email etc) to service the posts administrative needs.
  • To operate as a member of the Directorate Team attending and contributing to meetings and maintaining confidentiality where appropriate.
  • To work towards the achievement of organisational goals and quality standards
  • To take part in organisational projects as required
  • Attend to all correspondence and calls and ensure they are answered and dealt with in a prompt and efficient manner
  • Be responsible for all equipment, stock and resources dedicated to this post.
  • To assist in the organisation and administration of tasks of special events, to provide support at external events as required.
  • Any other duties analogous with the post as determined from time to time.
  • To undertake any travel that may be necessary to provide the service
  1. Additional

The post holder may be required to perform other duties analogous to the post, and to carry out duties on behalf of NUS where specialist skills or knowledge apply.

  • As the post holder may be a point of contact for many external organisations, individuals, media and the membership she/he is expected to remain conversant with and aware of developments within NUS's work.
  • The post holder may be required to attend training events and National Conference to undertake such duties are required to ensure the smooth running of the event
  • As the post may require handling, processing and recording of restricted information, strict confidentiality is required to be maintained at all times.
  • As the post holder will often be representing the policies of NUS and the NEC to CMs and wider public, an absolute priority is the need to do so with discretion that ensures the proper balance between the respective roles of elected officers and members of staff.
PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

  • Experience of policy and / or campaign work
  • Experience of conducting primary and secondary research
  • Demonstrable knowledge of liberation movements, diversity and related issues.
  • Experience of writing for publication
  • Experience of managing projects
  • Performance of a range of administrative tasks
  • Experience of working in or with students’ unions
  • Experience of developing content for electronic publication
  • Experience of managing and motivating a team*
  • Experience of writing submissions in response to policy papers
  • Experience of commissioning research or other freelance projects

*Optional and by application

Skills & Knowledge

  • Negotiation skills
  • Highly developed diplomacy skills
  • Ability to manage projects effectively, ie on time, in resources and to a high standard
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to analyse and synthesize subjectively presented and complex information accurately; Analytical and critical thinking
  • Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Ability to meet deadlines and organise own workload
  • Ability to work with and learn a range of IT systems. Ability to use MS Word MS Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and be familiar with accessing web-based information.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team to develop the range of services offered by NUS.
  • Ability to use SPSS and/or similar database software for research and recording
  • Complex document formulation skills
  • Ability to use a range quantitative and qualitative research methods and analyse data rigorously
  • Demonstrable knowledge of the four liberation movements, diversity and related issues.
  • Willingness to develop specialist knowledge as outlined below;
  • Familiarity with students’ unions and their structures;
  • Familiarity with methods of statistical analysis
  • Understanding of how to develop, use and evaluate campaign strategies

Personal Characteristics & Behaviours

  • Flexible team member.
  • Desire to provide excellent customer service.
  • Ability to prioritise own workload in a pressurised environment.
  • Commitment to the creation of an environment that promotes equality of opportunity whilst recognising and valuing diversity