6 | LEADERSHIP
THE ROLE | 7
The Role Director of Student Services
The Director of Student Services leads a team of around 45 staff within the wider Directorate of Student and Academic Services, delivering services to ensure that our students are safe, supported and able to thrive in their academic environment.
Main Tasks and Accountabilities • To direct and manage the strategic
• To build effective internal networks with relevant staff and with students across the University, including close links with the Students’ Union, Keele Postgraduate Association, other professional directorates and members of the University’s senior management team. • To represent Keele externally and engage with relevant sector, local and regional groups, in order to capture best practice, develop key partnerships and maintain awareness of sector changes and their impact. • To develop and implement policies for student safeguarding in line with best practice and legal requirements, and to act as the institutional operational lead for the Government’s Prevent initiative. • To comply with all relevant statutory responsibilities including those relating to equal opportunities, data protection and health and safety.
• To contribute to the development, maintenance and review of the University’s incident planning procedures, working with relevant professional colleagues to ensure the effective management of serious incidents relating to student welfare both during and outside working hours. • To ensure equality of opportunity for students and to promote diversity in the provision of relevant services, support and associated behaviours. • To lead and manage staff within Student Services, fostering a shared commitment to the delivery of excellent service and ensuring that staff are effectively supported, developed and motivated. • To determine and oversee operational plans and budgets for teams within Student Services, promoting value for money and ensuring that services operate effectively and efficiently within financial constraints. • To chair a range of internal groups and be a member of relevant University committees, including chairing the Faith at Keele group and Chaplaincy Management Committee, and membership of the Healthy University Group, Keele Communities Together and Student Voice Committee.
development of Student Services, in line with the wider ambitions of the Directorate of Student and Academic Services and the University’s strategic plan. • To support the formulation and implementation of strategy and specific projects for enhancing the student experience, including the holistic delivery of student support across the campus, a coordinated approach to student communications across professional services and the further development of ‘one-stop-shop’ service provision. • To review, evaluate and report on performance within Student Services, ensuring the provision of relevant data and analysis and benchmarking against sector best practice in order to recommend and deliver consequent improvements. • To ensure the delivery of high quality, personalised and responsive services to students and other users from across the Keele community. • To actively seek and respond to student feedback and ensure that students’ changing needs are taken into account in service development and delivery.
The Director will be responsible for a Student Services budget of over £1.5m, including student hardship funds, as well as taking shared responsibility for oversight of institutional bursary expenditure.
The Director reports to the Academic Registrar and will be expected to deputise and act on her behalf when required. In order to be effective in a wide-ranging role, the Director will need to develop and maintain strong working relationships with senior academic and professional colleagues across the University, with the Students’ Union and with student representatives. They will also be expected to engage with cognate professionals at other institutions through AMOSSHE and other networks, and with relevant voluntary and third-sector organisations, in order to stay informed of key developments in the sector and capture best practice.
The Director of Student Services has particular responsibility for teams encompassing student welfare and support; disability and dyslexia support; counselling, mental health and wellbeing, and the University Chaplaincy. The Director also oversees the University’s Student Services Centre, as a ‘one stop shop’ for student information, support and guidance. The Director will lead, encourage and foster a culture of student- centred, personal and personable service delivery. They will champion and develop innovative practice to enable the University and its students to achieve their ambitions,
and to ensure a transformative experience for students whilst safeguarding their health and wellbeing.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs