Head of Community & Voice

National Union of Students; Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave

Up to 2 weeks' additional paid timeoff

Birthday day off

Enhanced Maternity and Partner Leave

4% employer pension contribution

Wellbeing days

Professional development days

Conferences attendance

Collaborative leadership with senior U

Job summary

National Union of Students is seeking a proactive Head of Community & Voice to lead UCASU’s work on student voice, democracy and community across campuses. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on, student-facing delivery and travel between campuses across Surrey, Canterbury and Maidstone TV Studios.

You will lead the Community & Voice team, shape the new role, work closely with the CEO and elected officers, and deputise when required.

Qualifications

• Leading and developing teams.
• Developing and delivering strategies, operational plans or programmes.
• Working within a Students' Union, higher education or membership organisation.
• Outreach, community development or community-building.
• Representation, democracy or membership-led activity.
• Developing and delivering campaigns.
• Leading elections or democratic processes.
• Partnership working and influencing stakeholders.
• Using insight and data to drive improvement.
• Budget management and financial responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of UCASU's Strategic Direction and Annual Operating Plan with measurable outcomes.
• Lead democratic structures, elections, and student leadership pathways.
• Drive community-building, belonging, outreach and student engagement across UCA.
• Embed community organising to enable student leadership and change.
• Provide strategic leadership for Welcome, Move-In and Graduation milestones.
• Develop opportunities to enhance students' skills and networks.
• Oversee campaigns, communications and marketing strategies.
• Build relationships with University colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Use data and impact measurement to demonstrate UCASU's impact.
• Lead and develop Community Organisers and Marketing & Campaigns Manager.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively.

Skills

Team leadership

Strategy development

HE sector experience

Community-building

Democratic processes

Campaign development

Elections leadership

Partnerships

Data-driven improvement

Budget management

Job description

Job Description

Head of Community & Voice

Salary: £42,000-£45,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Based across our Epsom and Farnham campuses in Surrey, with regular travel to Canterbury and Maidstone TV Studios

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Direct reports: Community Organisers and Marketing & Campaigns Manager

Application deadline: Monday 5 October 2026 at 09:30

About UCASU

University for the Creative Arts Students' Union (UCASU) is an independent charity representing and supporting over 4,000 students across UCA's campuses in Epsom, Farnham, Canterbury and Maidstone TV Studios.

Our vision is a creative community where every student belongs, guided by our values of Creativity, Connection and Community.

As we move into year two of our three-year strategy, we're building on a sector-leading 10% increase in our National Student Survey score and the highest student election turnout in the Southern Region (29.6%).

Through our new community organising model, we're deepening our work of going to students, listening to what matters to them and supporting them to connect, organise and create change.

About the role

The Head of Community & Voice is a new, hands-on leadership role providing strategic and operational leadership for UCASU's work on student voice, democracy, academic representation, community and belonging.

You will lead our new Community & Voice team, bringing together representation, democracy, student leadership, community-building, campaigns and communications.

This role combines strategic leadership with practical, visible and student-facing delivery. You will work across UCA's locations, ensuring that the Union goes to students rather than expecting students to come to the Union.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Elected Officers and colleagues across the University, you will contribute to organisational leadership and decision-making and deputise for the CEO where appropriate.

There is significant opportunity for the successful candidate to shape and develop this new role and our approach to Community & Voice.

Key areas of responsibility

You will:

• Lead delivery of UCASU's Strategic Direction and Annual Operating Plan, translating strategy into measurable outcomes and student-facing activity
• Lead and continuously improve UCASU's democratic structures, elections, academic representation and student leadership pathways
• Lead our approach to community-building, belonging, outreach and student engagement across UCA
• Develop and embed our community organising approach, enabling students to organise, lead and create change
• Provide strategic leadership for key student milestones including Welcome, Move-In and Graduation
• Lead the development of opportunities that enhance students' skills, employability and access to professional networks
• Provide strategic oversight of UCASU's campaigns, communications and marketing activity
• Build effective relationships with University colleagues and external stakeholders, ensuring student voice influences institutional decision-making
• Use insight, data and impact measurement to drive improvement and demonstrate UCASU's impact
• Lead, manage and develop our Community Organisers and Marketing & Campaigns Manager
• Manage budgets and resources effectively

About you

We're looking for someone who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery and who genuinely enjoys working with students and travelling between campuses.

You will be comfortable moving between senior-level conversations, team leadership and visible engagement with students.

We are looking for experience including:

• Leading and developing teams
• Developing and delivering strategies, operational plans or programmes
• Working within a Students' Union, higher education or membership organisation
• Outreach, community development or community-building
• Representation, democracy or membership-led activity
• Developing and delivering campaigns
• Leading elections or democratic processes
• Partnership working and influencing stakeholders
• Using insight and data to drive improvement
• Budget management and financial responsibility

You will also bring strong communication, facilitation, relationship-building, project management and organisational skills, alongside a commitment to inclusion, accessibility and community-building.

This opportunity would particularly suit someone looking to develop their career towards future senior leadership or Chief Executive roles.

What we offer

UCASU is a small organisation where staff have the opportunity to contribute ideas, take ownership and see the direct impact of their work.

Alongside a salary of £42,000-£45,000, we offer:

• 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Up to 2 weeks' additional paid time off during our winter office closure
• An additional day off for your birthday
• Enhanced Maternity and Partner Leave
• 4% employer pension contribution
• 5 wellbeing days each year
• 5 professional development days each year
• Opportunities for professional development and learning, including attendance at conferences
• The opportunity to work closely with senior University leaders, Elected Officers and Trustees, developing experience and skills for future senior leadership roles