Working as a member of the Student Services Senior Management Team you will strategically lead the provision of mental health, counselling, pastoral and spiritual support to around 16,000 students (and 2,500 staff for pastoral and spiritual support) in a way that complements their academic experience and promotes their sense of wellbeing and belonging at the University of Plymouth.
Day-to-day, this includes leading three busy teams and balancing strategic planning with operational support, for instance supporting robust risk management within the multi-disciplinary team. Part of the leadership responsibility includes supporting staff to be motivated and happy in their roles, facilitating innovation within the team and devising a long-term departmental plan in conjunction with our many and varied stakeholders. Often the role will require analysing data, producing reports and engaging in conversations up to and including Board level, about student mental health and wellbeing.
Student Services has a strategy for supporting students in 'fewer steps in every sense' and as part of that, we are committed to being a sustainable, inclusive, digital and student-led department. These priorities follow through to the role of Student Wellbeing Services Manager and onwards for 21/22 and we are looking forward to making good use of technology, improving efficiency of processes, seeking input from students in the delivery of services, and improving our reach to underrepresented student groups.
The right candidate brings innovation and creativity with excellent leadership and motivational skills, honed through experience of leading teams and delivering change through others. We are looking for a candidate who has experience of student wellbeing (in particular mental health), and who has considered what they believe to be the right approach for the University of Plymouth over the next 5-10 years, thanks to being well-informed about the sector and the variety of approaches to student wellbeing.
Supporting the University strategy and that of Student Services, you will be leading three teams within the Wellbeing department and ensuring these deliver an excellent student experience. Understanding the student journey and student wellbeing is essential, as well as an ability to manage increasing demand upon services and competing priorities. You should be confident in analysing data and preparing reports, as well as use of technology to manage services, such as how to streamline processes and facilitate automation/student self-service.
You will be an excellent team player and able to problem-solve and plan work at a strategic level, working sometimes on projects outside of your own area of responsibility or expertise. You will be comfortable working under pressure and role modelling self-care, recognising that teams are busy throughout the year, particularly at certain points in the academic calendar. Finally, you should be an inclusive leader, committed to equality and diversity and championing the voices of underrepresented groups.
This is an exciting time to join Student Services as we move out of the pandemic and modernise services based on what we have learnt through the past 18 months. The University itself has ambitious plans and you will find yourself joining a collaborative, committed team across professional services and academia.
You will work primarily on the Plymouth city centre campus, occupying offices on a rota shared with other members of the management team. Whilst most of your time will be spent on campus, you will work from home in a way that is balanced with the needs of the role, usually for part of your working week. We work in a very digital way, using online meetings and platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, but we also prioritise face-to-face contact for collaboration and teambuilding.
Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Alice Ludgate by email Alice.ludgate@plymouth.ac.uk
This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a permanent basis.
Flexible working options including job share will be considered.
Interviews are likely to take place on Thursday 30th September 2021 and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted or not.
A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.
We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.
Please note, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the University is currently implementing a number of safety measures as per Government advice therefore the successful applicant may be required to work from home in the first instance.
The University of Plymouth is a diverse, welcoming community where everyone makes a difference and is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. To find out more about our inclusive community, initiatives such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter and our range of benefits / support mechanisms such as flexible working, staff networks and enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages
We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups at the University of Plymouth, such as BAME/BIPOC and LGBT+.
Job Description