JOB DESCRIPTION

1.  Main Details

Job Title / HE Policy Assistant
Grade / Grade 6
Directorate / Campaigns and Strategy
Department / Education & Quality
Responsible to / Head of Education & Quality
Responsible for / N/a
Place of Work / London HQ
Hours of Work / 36 hours per week Monday to Friday plus additional hours as required.
Extra hours will be expected as necessary to carry out the requirements of the post.
The post holder will be paid an allowance in recognition unsociable hours- occasional weekend and evening work

2.  Purpose of Job

The job is based in NUS’ Education & Quality Team, which serves the research, policy and information needs of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and students' unions in all matters relating to Higher and Further Education.

The main purposes of the job are:

·  To organise events, conferences and training in liaison with Head of Education and Quality

·  To provide specialist knowledge in the field of education, specifically HE and including such areas as quality, plagiarism, international students, part-time students, HE in FE and other areas of HE policy as they arise.

·  To contribute to NUS’ policy development in liaison with other policy staff by:

-  advising and supporting the NEC and other NUS departments on issues related to education; and

-  keeping abreast of policy and legislative changes that may effect students and post-16 education; and

-  writing written submissions to government and non-government consultations

·  To provide NUS written briefings and update the NUS external and internal websites on higher education issues.

·  To provide presentations on aspects of higher education for the NEC, students' union officers and external organisations as requested.

·  Developing external links and attending meetings on education as requested.

3.  Main Duties and Responsibilities

i. Event Organisation and training

In liaison with the Head of Education & Quality to organise events, conferences and training. This will include, but not limited to:

·  Quality Matters Conference (Sept)

·  HE Zone Conference (Oct)

·  International Students Training event (Oct)

a.  Contribute to NUS officer training programme. Activities may include:

§  Assisting in the formulations of training objectives, content and materials

§  Delivering presentations and workshops

§  Suggesting external speakers

b.  Provide presentations and workshops for external organisations on HE issues. These may include requests from other campaign and representation organisations.

c.  Assist the VP Higher Education (and other NEC by negotiation) by writing presentations on education issues as requested.

ii. Developing Specialist Knowledge Base

a.  Maintain knowledge of education issues, with particular reference to quality plagiarism, international students, part-time students, HE in FE and other areas of HE policy as they arise.

b.  Maintain a general understanding of post-16 education and NUS policy as it relates to the areas of job holder’s responsibility.

c.  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.

iii. Policy Development

Support the VP Higher Education and the wider NEC to develop NUS policy by:

a.  Advising the VP Higher Education and the NEC on issues within your areas of work regarding political context, recent developments, implications of issues etc,

b.  assisting in policy development by identifying areas requiring policy (re)development and collect information/conduct research to support,

c.  preparing written materials for presentation, information etc for the VP Higher Education (or other NEC by negotiation),

d.  preparing NUS responses to both government and non-government policy consultations and preparing policy development papers for submission to government.

iv. Information and Publications

a.  Contribute articles for NUS publications and websites on specific areas of education, aimed at students’ unions and students, media and the public

b.  Produce specific written and online material, based on research for NUS, for the membership and external organisations as required

c.  Undertake technical editing checking/monitoring of internal and external publications relating to education for content accuracy.

v. Liaison

a. Arrange bilateral meetings with external organisations, as directed by the Head of Education & Quality. This may include:

§  co-ordinating, or assisting in co-ordinating the logistical requirements of meetings

§  attending and participating in meetings within NUS and externally,

§  representing NUS policy in discussions and negotiations externally,

§  recording, producing and circulating minutes and conducting any further follow up as required.

b. Co-ordinate work with other staff in the organisation as required

d.  Assist with other areas of NUS work if required including but not limited to press, parliamentary, campaigns and training.

e.  Develop and maintain contacts with representatives of other organisations relevant to your area of work.

4. Responsibility for Resources

Be responsible any physical resources (including offices, furniture, equipment and IT) allocated to the post, including:

·  Ensuring that any equipment allocated to or purchased by the post is maintained in good order and ensure health and safety standards are maintained in accordance with legislation and NUS procedure.

General

·  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.

·  To undertake administrative activities such as booking travel for volunteer committee members and colleagues, and organising room bookings, meetings and mailings to sector bodies and students' unions on behalf of the Education and Quality unit

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' work.

·  The post holder may be required to attend training events and Annual 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.

·  All aspects of the job should be undertaken emphasizing the priority of customer care.

HEPA - temp.doc

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