Belonging and Community Coordinator

Bath; Bath; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Generous employer contributory pension

Cycle to work

Staff gym discount

Development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Bath is seeking a proactive Belonging and Community Coordinator within Student Support and Safeguarding to help thousands of students build connections, with a focus on international students arriving in the UK.

You will plan a diverse programme of welcome events, wellbeing activities and community initiatives, working with the Students’ Union and colleagues across the university to ensure new arrivals feel valued, connected and supported from day one.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering events, projects or community initiatives.
• Culturally aware and confident supporting diverse students.
• Passion for inclusive communities where students thrive.
• Strong relationships with students, colleagues and partners.
• Using feedback and data to drive improvement.
• Highly organised with multiple priorities.
• Strong communicator who can inspire others.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver a programme of welcome events for international students.
• Develop and evaluate an annual programme of activities for wellbeing, connection and community.
• Coordinate student networks, buddy schemes and the International Student Group.
• Gather and use student feedback and data to improve services.
• Work with stakeholders across the University to co-create events meeting needs.

Skills

Event planning

Community building

Cross-cultural awareness

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Organisation

Communication

Job description

Job title Belonging and Community Coordinator

Department Student Support and Safeguarding

Salary Starting from £31,861, rising to £38,448

Do you have a passion for creating communities where people feel welcome and belong? Are you excited by helping international students adapt to life in the UK and build meaningful connections? Do you have experience delivering events, projects and initiatives that bring people together and help people get the most from their experience?

This is an opportunity to make a real difference to student life at the University of Bath.

About the role

We're looking for a proactive and organised coordinator to help students build connections, develop a sense of belonging, and successfully transition into university life with a particular focus on the international experience.

Based within Student Support, you will coordinate a diverse programme of activities, projects and events for thousands of students each year, designed to foster community and enhance the student experience, with a particular focus on international students. Working across the University, wider community and in partnership with The Students’ Union you will develop initiatives that help students feel connected, engaged and part of the University community from the moment they arrive.

You will be responsible for:

• planning and delivering a programme of welcome events for international students, helping them settle into life in the UK, including our airport collection service and Living in a New Culture programme.
• developing and evaluating an annual programme of activities that support wellbeing, connection and community, including Be Well Weeks, cultural celebrations, and our Winter and Summer at Bath programmes.
• coordinating and developing student networks, buddy schemes, the International Student Group and other initiatives that help students build meaningful connections.
• gathering and using student feedback, insight and data to improve services and initiatives, particularly for international students, distance learners and other groups who may face barriers to engagement and belonging.
• working in partnership with students and stakeholders across the University to co-create events, projects and interventions that meet student needs.

You'll be part of a team that welcomes more than 6,000 new students each year and delivers a range of wellbeing, engagement and communication initiatives across the student lifecycle. You will play a key role in this work, with a particular focus on supporting approximately 1,500 new international students from over 130 nationalities as they transition to life at Bath.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. One day you might be analysing student feedback and developing a new community initiative. The next, you could be welcoming students to campus, facilitating an international student support group, or delivering an event that helps students feel part of the University community.

About you

Were looking for someone who:

• has experience delivering successful events, projects or community-building initiatives
• is culturally aware and confident supporting students from diverse backgrounds
• is passionate about creating inclusive communities where students feel welcome, connected and able to thrive
• can build strong relationships and work collaboratively with students, colleagues and external partners
• uses feedback and data to evaluate impact and drive continuous improvement
• is highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities in a busy environment
• is a strong communicator who can engage and inspire others
• is proactive, adaptable and motivated to turn ideas into action

Further information

For an informal discussion about the role plase contact Rob Heyes, Wellbeing Promotion & Induction Team Leader at [e-mail]

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff benefits include discounted postgraduate tuition and language courses, alongside a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities such as apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning, and more
• Local discounts, including free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Employee assistance services through Health Assured, including access to the Wisdom app

We’re committed to creating a health-supporting working environment where everyone can thrive and be at their best. We offer a range of resources to enable you to do that from your first day here, including:

• Staff support groups and networks
• A network of Staff Wellbeing Champions
• A suite of tools, resources and frameworks that enable you to be at your best and thrive

Right to Work in the UK:We do not assess immigration or right to work status until offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.

Anonymous shortlisting:We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name, may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.