Strategic Leader, Student Communities & Belonging (Flexible)

Reading Students' Union; Reading; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Unique working environment on campus

Job summary

Reading Students’ Union is seeking a strategic leader to drive Student Communities, ensuring inclusive, sustainable opportunities for students to connect, lead and participate. You’ll oversee sports clubs, societies, volunteering, student media and emerging community opportunities, shaping a sense of belonging across campus.

You will lead governance, training, and support for student leaders, manage budgets and deliver major projects with partners across the University and external groups,

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading and developing student communities, membership services or comparable provision.
• Experience managing teams, performance, budgets and operational delivery.
• Experience leading large-scale projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of governance and accountability within student‑led, volunteer‑led or membership organisations.
• Experience managing complex governance, conduct, complaints or high‑risk operational matters.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and partnership‑building skills.
• Experience using insight, evidence and performance data to drive service development and improvement.
• Excellent organisational, project management and decision‑making skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Student Communities, overseeing community development, student leadership to governance, major projects and partnerships.
• Ensure our student community offer remains inclusive, sustainable and responsive to changing student needs.
• Lead the development of the Student Communities strategy and ensure opportunities for connected, inclusive participation.
• Oversee training, development and support frameworks for student leaders and volunteers.
• Develop and maintain relationships with University departments and external partners.
• Ensure safeguarding, health and safety, welfare and risk management across student-led activity.
• Hold accountability for major projects and events including Welcome and SU Awards.
• Oversee governance frameworks for student groups, including constitutions, elections, financial controls and accountability arrangements.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Project management

Team management

Communication

Performance management

Job description

Reading Students’ Union is seeking a strategic leader to drive Student Communities, ensuring inclusive, sustainable opportunities for students to connect, lead and participate. You’ll oversee sports clubs, societies, volunteering, student media and emerging community opportunities, shaping a sense of belonging across campus.

You will lead governance, training, and support for student leaders, manage budgets and deliver major projects with partners across the University and external groups,