Interviews are due to take place week commencing 10th June.
ABOUT US
The Students’ Union at Essex is on a mission…
We’re on an adventure to become the world’s most student-centred organisation.
It sounds bold, and it is. But we believe that every single one of our 16,000+ members is amazing and that they deserve nothing less.
Over the course of this journey we regularly review the needs of our members and act on them through the Annual Big Plan, information on this can be found at http://www.essex.su/bigplan
Every single ounce of our energy and every job in the Union (including the Head of Facilities, Health and Safety) is dedicated to achieving the Big Plan. We promise not to let up until we’ve have achieved this.
OUR TATTOOS If the SU was a person, these are the things that we’d believe in so much that we’d have tattooed on our body:
• Powered by students – everything we do comes from our members• Shoulder to shoulder – 16,000+ students and 450 staff, standing together• No bullshit – we promise to tell it like it is, no spin and no red tape• Work hard, play hard – because life’s about both• Always challenge – the Essex spirit is in our DNA and we’ll fight to uphold it
You’ll become part of an unconventional family who will support you through every stage of your journey.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The department is responsible for all aspects of SU Health and Safety, maintenance, building projects and cleaning of our front facing venues and offices.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Reporting to the Director of Commercial Services and Business Development, leading a team of facility staff, you will be responsible for the oversight and management of the UESUs Health and Safety, maintaining the standards of the facilities including cleaning, repair and maintenance and project management of small building projects as necessary.The role will work closely to support all union staff and students to ensure all activities are compliant with current health and safety, utilising best practice and building relationships and working with relevant University Estate Management staff.
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
• To work collaboratively with the Directors and the Senior Leadership team in leading the Students’ Union towards our vision of becoming the World’s Most Student-centred organisation• Develop budgets to support delivery of the SU’s strategic aims and to manage those budgets ensuring best value for money in all areas of your work.• Set, monitor and deliver measurable KPIs, in line with SU’s mission that demonstrate the departments’ impact and justify any significant deviations from those KPI’s• Be an effective leadership role model within the organisation and provide support, appraisal, and development opportunities for all direct reports• Ensure effective communication between directors, managers, staff and volunteers and to cascade information as required• Maintain all policies and procedures that relate to your area(s) of responsibility ensuring they are regularly reviewed and updated as required.• Responsible for ensuring GDPR compliance within the department, including the maintenance of an up to date Data Map, the routine deletion of personal data in line with the department’s data retention schedule and to adhere to all GDPR related policies & procedures• Responsible for the maintenance of an up to date departmental Risk Register and operational Business Continuity Plan• Run allocated projects in accordance with the Union’s procedures• Undertake regular and appropriate CPD activities• Ensure that all casual staff in their department are fully trained and supported
• All staff are expected to display a ‘can do, hands on attitude’ and participate in SU wide projects such as Elections, Events & Campaigns throughout the year to support the achievement of organisational targets
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Review and develop all aspects of the SU's Health and Safety Policy and activity, and ensure that it is implemented consistently across the Union• Monitor, evaluate and review existing, new and upcoming Health and Safety legislation and ensure that the SU has systems and procedures in place to meet legal compliance.• To liaise with University Estates Department on day-to-day issues and Building /Services Projects including statutory testing programmes.• Advise Union Management on Health & Safety issues through the Health & Safety Committee Meetings.• Be proactive in taking action and/or making recommendations on any Health & Safety issue affecting the safety of staff.• Act as project lead for any future Building projects• Assist with Health & Safety induction training for new staff• Work on relevant quality benchmarks• To ensure that the SU Premises Staff are delivering and regularly meeting or exceeding the agreed benchmarks relating to performance, quality service and standards to departments, membership and visitors and take appropriate action if standards, operational procedures, and targets are not met.• Work proactively with managers and other key staff to establish and maintain a programme of continuous improvement in the management of Health and Safety within their areas of responsibility, which includes conducting regular audits.• Ensure Operational Procedures for cleaning and maintenance are regularly reviewed.• Order appropriate equipment and materials to ensure the cleaning operation is effective.• Ensure maintenance of Students' Union cleaning equipment Produce rolling programme of cleaning and maintenance for SU facilities throughout Colchester Campus.• Advise and support Southend and Loughton campuses on any relevant issues related to maintenance and health and safety.• Ensure the facilities cleaning standards are maintained through the daily cleaning program.• Monitor services provided by the University and ensure adequacy for the Union• Provide training in the classroom and at worksite• Reacting efficiently to all technical issues as they arise.• All staff will be involved in key Union projects outside of their day to day remit.
Within this role there is a development opportunity to oversee the IT function of the SU, manage two IT support coordinators, work with external IT providers for the SU such as till and membership systems, whilst maintaining a relationship with the University’s IT department who manage much of our infrastructure. Should you be interested in this development opportunity this can be discussed at interview or further into your employment, at a later date. If you would like further details on this before applying we can arrange an informal conversation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
HEAD OF / SENIOR MANAGER SPEC
Essential
Desirable
Strong management experience in a relevant field at a middle or senior level
X
Holds a professional or management qualification or degree in a related area, or willing to undertake
Experience of leading and inspiring others in achieving organisational objectives
Experience of all aspects of Line Management, including recruitment, development, team motivation, performance management and appraisal
Previous experience of project management and evaluation
Previous experience of setting and managing budgets and producing financial and statistical reports
Evidence of successfully achieving against organisational targets
Operational knowledge of risk assessments, health and safety and safeguarding
considerations in relation to relevant activities
Ability to ensure departmental compliance with all relevant legislation and internal policies & procedures
Excellent written, oral communication and presentation skills
Excellent problem solving, negotiating and influencing skills
Ability to build and maintain effective networks internally and externally
Evidence of continuing professional development at a senior level
Good IT skills i.e. word, access, excel
JOB ROLE SPEC
Relevant Health and Safety Qualification (e.g. NEBOSH
Experience in managing Health and Safety in a multi-site environment
Experience in implementing Health and Safety Legislation, production of policies, training and monitoring of compliance at a departmental level
Significant experience working in a role with senior responsibility for managing Health and Safety
Experience in management of building developments and refurbishment projects
Experience of managing a Premises Cleaning department
Experience of training employees to manage, monitor and improve health and safety standards
WHAT YOU’LL GET
You’ll get to be part of a vibrant and exciting organisation that thinks the place you work should be amazing.
You’ll be joining an unconventional family where everyone is passionate about doing the best for our members and achieving our ambitious vision of becoming the world’s most student-centred organisation.
We believe in creating a workplace where you can be the very bestand if you‘re the sort of person who wants to get stuck in to everything they do, then you’re really going to shine here.
You’ll get a competitive salary of £41,732 to £46,974, dependant on experience, in return for working an average 35 hours per week, and generous opportunities to take time off. We are looking for someone who is able to work flexibly as hours will fluctuate based on the time of year.
We’re a very social organisation, running everything from staff sports teams to regular fun activities focused on staff well-being.
With a generous pension scheme, we’ll invest in your future as well as your present. We offer a comprehensive range of family friendly policies so that you can get that all important work/life balance right. Don’t forget one of our Tattoo’s in Work Hard, Play Hard and we mean it! We’ll even give you your birthday off, for free.
If all this sounds like the sort of the place you want to be a part of then we’re really excited to hear from you.
You find loads more information about who we are and what we do on our website www.essexstudent.com so have a good look, or feel free to give the HR team a call for an informal chat on 01206 863211 before you apply.
The Students' Union is committed to Equality and Diversity