22 June 2022 - UCISA are looking for a Representation and Policy Manager
Who we are and what we do
Founded in 1992, UCISA is the member-led professional body for digital practitioners in education. We are a registered charity working on a not-for-profit basis. The work we do and the services we offer to our members is continuously developing and we are also growing as a team.
Open and inclusive, we work together to use our collective technical knowledge and digital expertise to help transform teaching, learning and research by supporting operational efficiency and an excellent student experience.
Our community collaborates, networks, and shares their inspirational thinking, practices and procedures so that we can all learn more, advance faster and be more effective. We also work closely with technology and digital service suppliers to the sector – helping them better understand the sector’s requirements so that they can deliver the solutions needed within member institutions.
The role
One of UCISA’s strategic goals is to represent the digital community in the Education Sector authentically and authoritatively.
The Representation and Policy Manager is a new role, working closely with our CEO. You will manage UCISA’s responses to sector issues, such as technological changes and licencing contracts, bringing together corporate suppliers and UCISA members, creating platforms for collaboration and creation of constructive solutions, driving forward the interests of our digital community by harnessing the power of their collective voice and expanding the breadth and depth of engagement with UCISA.
You must have technical nous, demonstrate a strong command of sector priorities and issues and be able to respond pro-actively and rapidly to emerging issues.
Key terms
- Annual salary: £38,000-£45,000 (depending on experience)
- Permanent and full-time. Flexible working will be considered for the right candidate
- Oxford based, with home and office working, with a requirement to attend our office site at Lumen House, Harwell, Oxford around twice a month {plus UK travel to support UCISA member activities}
- 30 days holiday & 8 bank holidays
- Defined Contribution scheme (6.7% employer contribution, voluntary employee contribution 0-6.7%)
Key role duties
- Develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans with strategic partners
- Represent UCISA members views in discussions with corporate suppliers
- Work in partnership with vendors and our corporate members to deliver meaningful and tangible outputs to the benefit of the professional community and wider institutions
- Create platforms for and encourage collaboration between institutions, corporate members, government and sector bodies to mutual benefit (representation role) and to resolve issues impacting on the sector
- Monitor the matters raised by UCISA’s digital community and actively listen to our members’ needs
- Provide thought leadership, challenge our members, the wider sector and external organisations where necessary to achieve positive change
- Champion the enhanced profile and visibility of Directors of IT / CIOs within Educational institutions
- To keep abreast of internal and external environmental and political issues impacting our sector
- Provide liaison with sector bodies and peer organisations
- Carry out data, research and feedback to identify common trends and undertake contextual and comparative analyses reporting of these trends to inform working practices and policies
- Provide briefings, debriefs, reports, research and where appropriate attend UCISA groups, committees and other meetings to inform and strengthen sector voices
- Target communications initiatives, including enhancing our social media presence
The skills and experience you need
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Essential |
Desirable |
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Degree level or equivalent experience |
Experience in a similar Higher/Further education sector role |
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Substantial experience of enabling successful representation, advocacy and/or mediation in a similar role |
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The ability to rapidly develop an excellent understanding of role specific knowledge (digital technologies) |
Excellent understanding of digital technologies |
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The ability to command respect at all levels within our digital community, with corporate suppliers and with key stakeholders and partners |
Excellent understanding of digital technologies |
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Good knowledge of higher and further education sector policy, trends and horizon scanning |
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Excellent IT skills including Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the use of online purchasing tools) are required |
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Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills |
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Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure |
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Highly responsive, flexible and very able to ‘think on your feet’ |
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High level communication skills, oral and written |
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A strong eye for detail |
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Please see job description and personal specification document for details of what the role involves and the person we are looking for here: Representation and Policy Manager Job Description
To apply for this role, please email your CV to: jo.cairns@sereniti.co.uk by 5pm on Friday 22 July 2022.
Interviews are scheduled to take place on either 8, 9, 10 or 11 August at Lumen House, Harwell and will include a relevant skills test/presentation. Virtual selection will be considered on candidate request.
Start date: To be agreed
