Democracy Coordinator
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Democracy Coordinator
Responsible to: Democracy Manager
Salary: Grade 4 – from £25,423 to £26,920 per annum (dependent on experience)
Hours: Part-Ɵme, 30 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
LocaƟon: Aberdeen University Students' AssociaƟon
Job Purpose
The Democracy Coordinator supports student voice, representaƟon and democraƟc engagement across Aberdeen University Students' AssociaƟon.
The role works with student representaƟves, Elected Officers and University colleagues to ensure students have opportuniƟes to shape their academic and wider student experience. The postholder coordinates key democracy acƟviƟes including elecƟons, Class RepresentaƟves, representaƟve forums and student leadership development, helping students to parƟcipate, influence change and make the most of their representaƟve roles through an inclusive lens.
Core ResponsibiliƟes
Student RepresentaƟon and Engagement
Support the recruitment, inducƟon and ongoing development of student representaƟves.
Help deliver an effecƟve Class RepresentaƟve system across the University.
Build posiƟve relaƟonships with student representaƟves and encourage parƟcipaƟon in representaƟve acƟviƟes.
Support representaƟves to raise issues, share feedback and make posiƟve change for students.
Help create opportuniƟes for representaƟves to connect, share experiences and learn from one another.
ElecƟons and Democracy
Support the planning and delivery of Students' Union elecƟons.
Provide guidance and support to candidates and elected representaƟves.
Maintain accurate records relaƟng to elecƟons, nominaƟons, voƟng and representaƟve acƟvity.
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Help promote democraƟc opportuniƟes and encourage students to get involved.
Support the review and improvement of democracy acƟviƟes to increase parƟcipaƟon and engagement.
RepresentaƟve Forums and Governance
Support the organisaƟon and delivery of representaƟve meeƟngs and forums, including liberaƟon groups and a newly developed ExecuƟve CommiƩee.
Coordinate meeƟng arrangements, communicaƟons and related administraƟon.
Support student representaƟves to prepare for and parƟcipate effecƟvely in meeƟngs.
Assist with the delivery of the Students' Union Annual General MeeƟng and other democraƟc processes.
Ensure accurate records and documentaƟon are maintained.
Student Leadership Development
Support the delivery of training and development opportuniƟes for student representaƟves.
Help students build confidence, leadership skills and experience through their representaƟve roles.
Encourage good pracƟce and acƟve parƟcipaƟon across representaƟve structures.
Support the recogniƟon and celebraƟon of representaƟve achievements.
Campaigns, Events and CommunicaƟon
Support campaigns and iniƟaƟves led by Elected Student Officers and Student Leaders.
Assist with the planning and delivery of representaƟve events, training sessions and engagement acƟviƟes.
Work with colleagues to promote democracy and representaƟon opportuniƟes to a diverse group of students.
Contribute to communicaƟons that increase awareness and parƟcipaƟon.
Data, ReporƟng and Improvement
Collect and maintain informaƟon relaƟng to representaƟon and democracy acƟviƟes.
Monitor parƟcipaƟon and engagement across representaƟve structures.
Produce reports and staƟsƟcs to support planning and evaluaƟon.
IdenƟfy opportuniƟes to improve the student representaƟve experience.
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General ResponsibiliƟes
Demonstrate and uphold Students' Union values: student-focused, inclusive and helpful.
Support key organisaƟonal prioriƟes including ElecƟons, Welcome Week, campaigns and student engagement acƟviƟes.
Provide informaƟon, guidance and signposƟng to students where appropriate.
Build and maintain posiƟve relaƟonships with students, officers, staff, University colleagues and external stakeholders.
Represent the Students' Union at relevant meeƟngs and commiƩees as required.
Support the development and effecƟveness of Elected Student Officers and student representaƟves.
Deliver training and development sessions where appropriate.
Work collaboraƟvely across teams to support the student experience.
Maintain confidenƟality and professionalism at all Ɵmes.
Work in accordance with Students' Union policies, procedures and financial regulaƟons.
Undertake training and conƟnuing professional development as required.
Carry out other duƟes as reasonably required by the line manager.
AddiƟonal InformaƟon
The role may require occasional evening and weekend work to support elecƟons, meeƟngs, training and events.
Time off in lieu will be provided where appropriate.
Annual leave should normally be taken outside peak Students' Union periods, including ElecƟons and Welcome Week.
All staff are expected to take reasonable care of themselves and others in accordance with Health and Safety requirements.
The postholder will be expected to undertake conƟnuous professional development to ensure their skills conƟnue to meet organisaƟonal requirements.
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Key RelaƟonships
The Democracy Coordinator will work closely with:
Students
Class RepresentaƟves
Student RepresentaƟves and Student Leaders
Elected Student Officers
Students' Union staff teams
University academic staff
School administraƟon and registry teams
University professional services staff
SPARQS
NaƟonal Union of Students (NUS)
External partners and stakeholders
Person SpecificaƟon
EssenƟal Criteria
Experience
Experience supporƟng volunteers, representaƟves, members or student leaders.
Experience organising meeƟngs, events, training sessions or engagement acƟviƟes.
Experience providing administraƟve support and maintaining accurate records.
Experience working with mulƟple stakeholders and building posiƟve working relaƟonships.
Experience using digital systems and databases to manage informaƟon and reporƟng.
Skills and Knowledge
Strong organisaƟonal and administraƟve skills.
Good wriƩen and verbal communicaƟon skills.
Ability to plan and prioriƟse a varied workload.
Strong aƩenƟon to detail and accuracy.
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Ability to build posiƟve relaƟonships with a diverse range of people.
Ability to use MicrosoŌ Office and other digital systems effecƟvely.
Ability to analyse informaƟon and idenƟfy opportuniƟes for improvement.
Understanding of the importance of student voice, representaƟon and democraƟc engagement.
Personal QualiƟes
Friendly and approachable.
Well organised and reliable.
ProacƟve and willing to take iniƟaƟve.
SupporƟve team player.
Professional and adaptable.
CommiƩed to providing a posiƟve experience for students.
Desirable Criteria
Experience
Experience working in a Students' Union, higher educaƟon insƟtuƟon, membership organisaƟon or charity.
Experience supporƟng elecƟons, governance processes or democraƟc structures.
Experience working with volunteers, elected representaƟves or commiƩees.
Experience delivering training or development programmes.
Skills and Knowledge
Understanding of Students' Union structures and democraƟc processes.
Knowledge of higher educaƟon and student issues.
Experience using survey, engagement or reporƟng tools.
Understanding of governance, commiƩee or consƟtuƟonal processes.
Experience analysing parƟcipaƟon or engagement data.