Regional Official

University and College Union (UCU); West Midlands; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Health and wellbeing support

Training and development

USS pension

Job summary

University and College Union (UCU) is recruiting a Regional Official for the East Midlands region. Based in Birmingham, you will lead the regional team, drive bargaining objectives, and secure recognition for UCU with employers across the region.

You will have experience in trade unions or not-for-profit settings, demonstrated team leadership, and a track record in collective bargaining and disciplinary representation.

Qualifications

• GCSE level or equivalent including maths and English.
• Experience in a trade union or other not-for-profit organisation.
• Experience managing a team of staff.
• Experience of collective bargaining with employers.
• Experience of representing individuals in disciplinary and grievances cases.

Responsibilities

• Lead the East Midlands regional team and implement regional and national bargaining objectives.
• Line manage regional office staff, including appraisal and development.
• Support and conduct negotiations with employing institutions in line with bargaining objectives.
• Ensure recognition of UCU is secured and maintained in the region.
• Collaborate with the Head of Bargaining & Representation on regional strategy.

Skills

Team leadership

Collective bargaining

Disciplinary representation

Union organising

Planning under pressure

Education

GCSE level or equivalent

Job description

University and College Union have a new opportunity for Regional Official – East Midlands.

The full job description covers all associated skills, previous experience, and any qualifications that applicants are expected to have.

Reference Number: ROEM

Salary: £72,414.00 p.a

Hours: 35 per week

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Location: Birmingham, B3 3AS

Closing Date: Monday 9 November at 10.00 am

About Us

The University and College Union (UCU) represents over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK. We also have members in the private sector, for example in private training agencies and language schools, as well as members working on a freelance basis. Students training to teach in post-school education also belong to UCU.

Regional Official – The Role

UCU is seeking a Regional Official to lead our East Midlands regional team. In this rewarding role, based in our Birmingham office and reporting to the Head of Bargaining & Representation, your main duties will include:

• Implementation of national and regional strategic planning in the region
• Line management of the regional office staff, including appraisal and development
• Implementation of national agreements, national benchmarks and other nationally agreed bargaining objectives at branch level
• Conducting and supporting negotiations with employing institutions in accordance with nationally, regionally, and locally agreed bargaining objectives
• Securing and maintaining recognition of UCU in the region

Regional Official – You

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (incl. maths & English)
• Experience of a similar working environment and/or understanding of working for a Trade Union or other not-for-profit organisation
• Experience of managing a team of staff
• Experience of collective bargaining with employers
• Experience of representing individuals in disciplinary and grievances cases
• Experience of trade union organising
• Experience of effective planning and organising under pressure

Further information

We welcome applications from any candidate but are particularly keen to receive applications from women and global majority candidates, who are currently underrepresented at this grade in UCU; if this is you and you are interested in the post, we invite you to join an online briefing about the post and what it’s like to work at the union, on Monday 2 November from 1pm which will also be an opportunity to ask the recruiting manager questions.

Benefits Of Working For The University And College Union

• Supportive Family Policies: Embrace family life with enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, and Shared Parental Leave schemes
• Health and Well-being Support: Access to confidential counselling 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme; advice and face-to-face intervention from via our Physiotherapy Advice Line; healthcare assessment
• Flexible Working: Take advantage of our Flexitime scheme, allowing you to tailor your work hours within our Work Life Balance policy
• Financial Assistance: Benefit from being enrolled in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), childcare support, interest-free season ticket loans, and assistance with the cost of eyesight testing and glasses for DSE use
• Training and Development: Elevate your skills with tailored training, developmental support, and access to live and on demand courses available through our online training platform

Note: working arrangements

UCU requires its employees to work from their office/in the field for at least 60% of their working week. They may apply to work from home for the remaining 40% but UCU cannot guarantee that this will be agreed.

Diversity & Inclusion Monitoring

We need your support to make sure our employees come from a variety of backgrounds, so we especially welcome applications from disadvantaged communities. Even if you are not selected, it would be really helpful if you could complete the diversity & inclusion data when you apply for this role, because we can make sure we are encouraging a diverse mixture of candidates to apply. Thank you very much.

Equal Opportunities

UCU is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We are happy to accept applications in alternative formats.

Interview date: Wednesday 2 December 2026