Appointment detailsDirector of Student Experience

Aston University is committed to equality and valuesthe diversity of its University Community. TheUniversity encourages applications from all groupsof people represented in the wider community (at alocal, national and international level). The Universityis a Positive about Disabled People Symbol user.

November 2011

Contentsu Executive Summaryu Welcome from the Chief Operating Officer u Aston University Student Experienceu Organisational Structureu Job Descriptionu Person Specificationu How to apply and the selection processu Terms and Conditions of Employment

u Executive summaryAt a time of significant change within the Higher E ducationsector, with more emphasis being placed on wideningparticipation, graduate employment, the student experienceand the impact of research on society, Aston looks forward tothe future with confidence.

Aston’s vision is to be the UK’s leading University forbusiness, enterprise and the professions, whereoriginal research has a positive impact on the worldaround us. Aston’s strategy ‘Forward to 2020’describes Aston as a top research-led internationalUniversity renowned for developing future leaders ofbusiness and the professions.

We already ‘punch above our weight’ and have high, yetrealistic, aspirations for 2020 that include:

> Ranked within the top 1% of universities in the world, andconsistently in the Top 20 in the UK

> In the Top 5 for Graduate Employability in the UK and Top40 worldwide

> Focussed on the needs of business and the professions,with all Aston undergraduate students taking part inintegrated work experience

> Carrying out world class research that leads to the creationof practical and applicable solutions for the challenges ofthe future, and contributes to the development of researchleaders and entrepreneurs

> Providing an inspiring, challenge-based education forstudents, equipping them to develop into global citizens,with the skills, knowledge and confidence they will need toachieve their goals and reach their full life potential

> Engaging with our community and city, recruiting studentswith talent regardless of income and background, andpartnering with business, the professions and the publicsector

> Putting sustainability at the centre of all we do, ensuringthat Aston is one of the greenest and most sustainable ofall UK universities, in the Top 5 of the People and PlanetLeague.

Students are at the heart of everything we do within Aston’ssmall and friendly community – in the way we think and in theway we act. We believe in partnership in all aspects of Astonlife – the student experience is distinctive and unique at Astonbecause it is built and lived by students and staff as equalpartners in the relationship. Our students are engaged in allaspects of their academic and social lives at Aston; our staffare genuinely interested in their students, their success andtheir welfare, and are universally approachable and friendly.At Aston, we know each other.

Aston is committed to enhancing the complete studentexperience and now seeks to appoint a dedicated Director ofStudent Experience. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officerand working closely with the Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, thesuccessful candidate will play a central role in delivering thestrategy, policy and processes that underpin AstonUniversity’s non-academic ‘student life’ experience, as well ascontributing to the academic improvement of the studentexperience.

For details of the appointment, including further informationabout student support at Aston University, job description,person specification, the terms of the appointment and howto apply, please contact Jane Farrell on j.f.farrell@aston.ac.uk.The closing date for applications is Wednesday 30 November2011.

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Dear applicant

I am delighted that you are considering applying for this position at what is a particularly exciting time forAston University, and an incredibly challenging time for the Higher Education (HE) sector. The HE sector iscurrently experiencing an unprecedented scale and pace of change, combined with a high degree ofambiguity and uncertainty.

Whilst there are some ‘knowns’ - HEFCE funding for both teaching and capital investment has experienceddramatic reductions, the impact of the UK’s new visa regime on international student numbers - there areequally important ‘unknowns’ - to what extent will student expectations rise as a result of the increasedfees. Universities who are able to adapt swiftly to a changing and increasingly competitive market willthrive.

I believe that Aston is very well positioned for an unpredictable future. Our vision ‘EmployableGraduates; Exploitable Research’ not only inspires and motivates students, but speaks to business andgovernments, who will increasingly look to Aston for ideas, partnership and Aston graduates of the futurewho are equipped for success in a changing world.

This new role of Director of Student Experience is quite simply to help ensure that the Aston studentexperience is of exceptional quality, is distinctive, and is worthy of recommendation by our students. Ouraim is to be consistently in the Top 20 UK universities in the annual National Student Survey (NSS) and UKLeague Tables. We will continue to deliver an outstanding student experience to all students.

The Director of Student Experience will work closely with me, the Senior-Pro-Vice-Chancellor and seniorsupport and academic staff, to provide leadership to and inform Aston’s student experience strategy.

I very much look forward to receiving your application, and learning more about how you perceivecontributing to our continuing success.

Adèle MacKinlayChief Operating Officer

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Welcome from Adèle MacKinlay

u Organisational StructureThe Executive Team

Aston’s student experience is underpinned by academicexcellence and a professional and efficient support servicewithin a friendly and caring community – a home from home.

Our student experience is built on two principles:

> Our teaching is delivered by outstanding and enthusiasticlecturers and in many cases world-leading researchers

> The students we are developing into professionals andglobal citizens study and live within a professional globalcommunity which is a key aspect of their learningexperience.

The student experience is a focus that runs through each ofthe strategic aims in ‘Going Forward to 2020’. The superiorquality teaching and learning programmes, combiningthorough and supportive assessment and feedback withexcellent resources, and an historic and increasingly strongrecord of graduate employability, are all centred on giving eachAston student an outstanding experience of University andbeyond.

Aston’s Student Experience Group, led in partnership by theUniversity and the Guild Executive Team, keeps the studentexperience a priority for Aston. The student voice underpinsour focus.

We continually celebrate and support our very diverse studentpopulation by encouraging intercultural activities that bringstudents from different backgrounds together, and helpingthem to cross boundaries and expand their horizons.

4 x Deans ofSchools

3 x Pro-Vice-Chancellors

Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Chief FinancialOfficer

Marketing Strategy &CommunicationsDirector

Alumni RelationsDirector

Vice-Chancellor

Director ofStudentExperience

LibraryInformationServices

Students’Guild

Governance HumanResources

Health &Safety

Diversity &Wellbeing

Nursery

ChiefOperatingOfficer

The Hub(StudentSupport)

CampusServices

Security Sport Aston Residences

The Chief Operating Officer’s Division

u Aston University Student Experience

Chief OperatingOfficer

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Director of Student Experience

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the new role ofDirector of Student Experience is an important strategicleadership position, and will play a central role in deliveringstrategy, policy and processes which enhance AstonUniversity’s non-academic ‘student life’ experience, in additionto inputting to strategy development of the academic aspectsof the student experience:

> Development and delivery of an enhanced and distinctivestudent experience- The successful candidate will be responsible for leadingthe development of Aston University’s student experiencestrategy, ensuring its implementation through closecollaboration across the four Schools and SupportDepartments, monitoring its performance through studentsatisfaction surveys and league tables, and developing anenvironment and approach of continual process andservice improvement.

> Leadership of the professional student support services- Direct management of the Hub, Residential Services,Sport & Recreation, Campus Services and Security

- Strong collaboration with the Students’ Guild- Collaborative working relationships with the Library, ISA,Registry, the International Office, Careers andEmployability and the Schools.

The post holder will deputise, when required, for the ChiefOperating Officer on all non-academic student related matters.

The key objectives of the role are:

> Developing and supporting the delivery of a holistic,outstanding, and distinctive student experience so thatstudents have a seamless and integrated high qualityUniversity experience

> Ensuring that the non-academic student experience alignswith the academic and vice versa, through good teamworking and communication channels so that all studentscan reach their full potential

> Making a major contribution to the University’s competitivepositioning through delivery of excellence and innovation inthe student services for which the post holder is responsible

> Leading cross-University work on development of Aston’smulti-cultural and intercultural community

> Drive a culture of excellence and customer focus boththrough the student support services and across theorganisation

> Keeping up to date with relevant strategic, policy andservice innovations in order to inform best practice andcontinually drive excellence

> Working closely with members of the Executive Team toensure a coherent approach to providing an excellentstudent experience

> Facilitating communications and systems (formal andinformal) to ensure that the University fulfils its duty of careto the welfare (personal and financial) of individual students

> Supporting the recruitment, development and motivation ofstaff, creating a high performing culture and ensuringpersonal and team development, innovation, good moraleand staff retention

> Promoting collaborative working between Schools andsupport services, ensuring a culture of continuousimprovement and customer service

> Encouraging and enabling a friendly, warm, inter-cultural andhospitable campus culture

> Building effective relationships with local providers of privatestudent accommodation and ensuring that the studentexperience in off-campus locations meets studentexpectations

> Working with the Guild to develop an effective strategy forengaging students who live at home

> Collaborating with the International Office on the continualimprovement of our International Student Strategy

> Ensuring that the Campus is maintained at a high level ofquality and is a safe and secure environment for students,staff and visitors

> To establish and maintain clear and measurable plans,budgets and operational procedures;

> Networking with appropriate people at other HigherEducation Institutions, and as part of the Association ofManagers of Student Services in HE

> To ensure that relevant legislation affecting student supportservices is addressed in policy and practice and that theUniversity is compliant

> To ensure effective management of statutory compliance, inparticular in relation to Health and Safety and Equality andDiversity

> Undertaking other such activities as the COO may requirefrom time to time.

u Job description

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u Person specification> Experienced manager seasoned in operating andinfluencing at senior organisational levels

> An action orientated individual who can engage with othersto drive change

> Winning combination of strategic thinking with provenoperational excellence

> Strong intellectual ability with high emotional intelligence

> Outstanding ‘customer focus’ with strong attention to detailand high standards

> A graduate calibre individual with a track record ofachievement in management and leadership roles, in theprivate or Higher Education sectors

> A collaborative and people-centric working style

> Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage withpeople across the spectrum of responsibilities andexperiences

> Clear and high quality verbal, written and presentationcommunication

> A high level of people management and leadership qualities,inspiring multi-functional professional teams to reach newlevels of performance whilst instilling an ethos ofaccountability and innovation

> Substantive experience in delivering high levels of customerservice, underpinned with performance improvement andcultural change by using benchmarking, KPIs and review

> A good all round commercial aptitude with evidence of astrong business development involvement and soundfinancial management acumen

> Knowledge of the role of IT in service delivery, and fullyproficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel andPowerpoint

> An approachable manner, a positive and optimistic outlookand the ability to encourage, influence and persuade othersin the pursuit of University objectives, and act as a trueambassador internally and externally

> Commitment to, and understanding of, equal opportunitiesissues relating to staff and student matters within a diverseand multicultural environment.

u How to apply and the selection processPlease visit our website http://www.aston.ac.uk/jobs for further information and to apply online. If you do not have access to theinternet telephone 0121-359-0870 quoting reference number R110327.

Applications to be received by no later than midnight (GMT) on 30 November 2011.

Closing date for applications 30 November 2011

First stage interview 5 or 7 December 2011

Final stage panel interview 10 January 2012

The person specification details the necessary requirements for the position and applicants are assessed against each of thecriteria.

If you are invited to attend for interview we will contact you by email confirming the arrangements.

Please contact Adèle MacKinlay, Chief Operating Officer, for an informal discussion about the post. Tel: +44(0) 121 204 4793 Email: a.mackinlay@aston.ac.uk

If you would like information on the progress of your application, advice on any aspect of the appointment process, or aconversation about our terms and conditions of service, please contact:

Jane Farrell HR Manager+44 (0) 121 204 4595J.F.Farrell@aston.ac.uk

Aston University welcomes applications that include requests for flexible working arrangements.

Catherine EvansHR Advisor+44 (0) 121 204 4596c.m.evans@aston.ac.uk

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u Outline terms and conditions of the appointmentTerms of appointment: Continuing appointments are offered.

The starting salary for this post is between £65,000 and £75,000 per annum depending on previousexperience.

Holiday entitlement: Holiday entitlement is 30 days per year in addition to Bank Holidays and Aston University Closuredays.

Pension: Eligible staff are offered a defined benefit pension with the University Superannuation Scheme.

Performance related pay: In addition to the basic salary, the University currently operates a Performance Related Pay (PRP)scheme. Awards are determined on an annual basis.

Qualifications: Successful candidates will be required to produce evidence of their qualifications.

Relocation: Newly-appointed staff are required to establish their homes within reasonable daily travellingdistance to and from the University. The University operates a relocation scheme to assist newly-appointed staff in meeting this requirement. Full details of the relocation scheme are included withthe offer of appointment.

Medical examination: It is a condition of appointment that newly-appointed staff receive medical clearance from theUniversity’s Health Centre.

Eligibility to work in the UK: Candidates who are not citizens of the United Kingdom, or of another EEA member country, shouldensure that they meet the requirements of one of the 5 tiers of the immigration points basedsystem. Candidates should check their eligibility to enter or remain in the UK in advance of makingany job application, using the points-based calculator on the UK Border & Immigration Agency(UKBA) website. If you do not meet the minimum points required, you will not be able to work inthe UK and any application for employment would be unsuccessful.

u Document checks:As a result of the implementation of sections 15 to 26 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality 2006 Act on 29 February 2008,the University requires all prospective and, in some cases, current employees, to provide documentation to verify their eligibility towork in the UK. Further information about these requirements can be found on the UK Border Agency website.www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Full details of the salary scales, terms and conditions of service and associated policies and procedures are available on therecruitment website (http://www1.aston.ac.uk/staff/hr/).

u Equal Opportunities StatementAston University promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We aim to ensure, through our admissions policies forstudents, and our staff recruitment and selection processes that we encourage applications from all groups represented in the widercommunity at a local, national and international level. The University will endeavour not to discriminate unfairly or illegally, directly orindirectly, against students or potential students, staff or potential staff. This commitment applies to all functions of the Universityand to any stage of an individual’s career at Aston. For further details of policies and codes of practice on race, gender, disability,religion and belief, sexual orientation and age go to http://www.aston.ac.uk/staff/equalops/An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is included with the application form.

u Data Protection Act 1998Your application will only be used to inform the selection process, unless you are successful, in which case it will form the basis ofyour personal record with the University which will be stored in manual and/or electronic files. Information in statistical form onpresent and former employees is given to appropriate outside bodies.

Data you provide on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be included in a general database, for statistical monitoringpurposes, enabling the University to monitor the effectiveness of its Policy, Code of Practice and Guidelines on Equal Opportunitiesin Employment. Individuals will not be identified by name.

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www.aston.ac.uk

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Aston UniversityEmployable GraduatesExploitable Research