Exec Officer Roles
General Secretary
Role Description
The General Secretary is the lead student representative in the SU, and acts as the main liaison between the University and students. This vital role chairs the SU Trustee Board and sits on the University’s Board of Governors, ensuring that student voice is heard at the highest levels of both the University and the SU. The General Secretary ensures that the SU and the other Executive Officers are supported and able to represent the over 40,000 students at the University effectively. This is a very broad role and gives you the space to focus on your priorities for the SU – so whatever you’re passionate about, if you want to see a better SU and University for students, this role is for you!
The General Secretary represents students on:
- The University’s Board of Governors and senior leaders
- The SU’s involvement in national issues, including the National Union of Students
- Ensuring the SU is effectively representing students
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A society leader
- A staff member
- A volunteer with student media
- A JCR/RA representative
- A Part-Time Officer
- A campaigner
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
As the primary liaison between the SU and the University, the General Secretary spends a lot of time meeting with the University. In committee meetings, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to many of the major decisions taken by the University about a wide range of issues, as well as the chance to push forward your own priorities for students. You’ll also be heavily involved in the ongoing development of the SU, working closely with the Chief Executive to oversee strategic planning and agree major changes to the SU.
In a week, you might:
- Attend a University committee meeting to discuss University finances and spending plans
- Meet with the SU democracy staff team to agree plans to improve student engagement in SU decision making
- With the Education and Postgraduate Officers, meet with senior teaching staff at the University to discuss plans to develop teaching
- Attend a meeting with the University’s senior leaders to discuss any challenges facing the University
- With the Welfare & Community Officer, meet with Manchester’s city leaders to lobby for improvements for students living in the city
Women’s Officer
Role Description
The Women’s Officer leads on campaigns, projects and policy supporting gender equality and making meaningful change for women students at the University. This role covers a range of gender-related issues, from tackling discrimination, to safety and support for women, to championing women’s participation in academic life. You’ll have the opportunity to plan and run your own campaigns and projects, to host events for women, and to lobby and negotiate for changes in the University and city. This is an amazing role for you if you’re passionate about gender equality and women’s rights!
The Women’s Officer represents students on:
- Gender equality at the SU and University
- Women’s participation in university life
- Welfare and inclusion issues affecting women students
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A Liberation Part-Time Officer
- An Access Part-Time Officer
- A Reclaim the Night volunteer or supporter
- A JCR or RA representative
- In a women’s or campaigning society
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
As the Women’s Officer, you’ll work closely with student officers and groups to organise different campaigns and projects to improve the inclusion and experiences of women students at the University. With support from the campaigns staff team you’ll be the voice of women students lobbying the university and the city on a range of issues.
In a week, you might:
- Meet with the SU campaigns staff to develop your plans for a new change campaign
- Brief the Liberation Part-Time Officers on your priorities
- Update the SU staff team on your plans for the Reclaim the Night campaign
- Attend a student safety committee meeting with the University and lobby for improvements to safety on campus
- Lobby city representatives about access to women’s services in the community
- Attend an event hosted by the Women’s Part-Time Officers
Postgraduate Officer
Role Description
The Postgraduate Officer is the lead representative for postgraduate students at the University, speaking up for students on a range of issues from wellbeing and support, to the quality of postgraduate research. With nearly 15,000 students on a postgraduate course, this role is vital in ensuring postgraduate students are recognised and supported by both the SU and University. Whether you’re a proud postgraduate student who wants to plan activities and deliver support for your fellow postgrads, or you’ve experienced a postgraduate course and there’s meaningful change you want to lead on, this role is for you!
The Postgraduate Officer represents students on:
- Activities and support for postgraduate students at the SU and the University
- Postgraduate teaching and research
- Developing an effective academic representation network of postgraduate students
- Research quality
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A postgraduate student rep
- A Faculty Part-Time Officer
- A member of an academic society
- An Access All Areas volunteer
- A member of the PGR Association
- A peer mentor or PASS leader at the University
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
The Postgraduate Officer is a member of many University committees where key decisions affecting postgraduate students are debated and agreed. In this role, you’ll be connected with hundreds of postgraduate student reps in every School across the University to help you understand the needs of the postgraduate student community and champion their voice to the University. You’ll also deliver campaigns and projects to lobby for improvements in welfare and support for postgraduates.
In a week, you might:
- Alongside the Education Officer, host a student rep drop-in to answer queries direct from students
- Attend a social event for postgraduate students to network
- Meet with the SU education staff team to be briefed on an academic issue affecting postgraduate students
- Attend a University committee meeting to discuss the University’s research plans
Education Officer
Role Description
The Education Officer leads on academic matters with the University, championing student voice and feedback on everything related to teaching and learning. Having an amazing learning experience and gaining a Manchester qualification is top of most priorities lists for students, and this role can challenge the University to make sure students get that. Manchester is a large university, so you’ll work with nearly 1,000 student reps from every School in the University to drive real changes to the way students learn at the University. Are you passionate about academic issues and the learning experience at Manchester? Then this role is for you!
The Education Officer will represent students on:
- The quality of teaching
- Learning resources (e.g., Libraries)
- Developing an effective academic representation network at all levels of the University
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A student rep or Faculty Part-Time Officer
- A member of an academic society
- An Access Part-Time Officer
- An Access All Areas volunteer
- A peer mentor or PASS leader at the University
- A Student Partner Intern or Student Consultant
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
As the Education Officer, you’ll be a member of many University committees, where the key decisions about teaching and learning are debated and agreed. These are the spaces where you’ll be pushing forward the priorities for students and arguing for any changes that will improve the academic life of students. You’ll be connected to nearly 1,000 student reps in every School and course across the University to help you understand the needs and experiences of the entire student body.
In a week, you might:
- Attend a Teaching and Learning Group committee meeting with senior teaching staff from across the University
- Meet with the SU Education staff team to organise an upcoming event for student reps
- Alongside the Postgraduate Officer, host a student rep drop-in to answer queries direct from students
- Hear from the SU Advice staff team about academic issues students are raising to them and lobby for improvements with senior University leaders
- Brief the Faculty Part-Time Officers on your priorities for teaching and learning for them to raise with Faculty Board committees
Activities & Development Officer
Role Description
The Activities & Development Officer is the lead officer cheering on student-led activity and student personal development in the SU. With hundreds of societies, a brilliant student media group, and hundreds of student-led events every year, this role has the unique opportunity to collaborate with the thousands of students who make Manchester such an exciting place to live and study. This role also leads on the SU’s sustainability plans and environmental campaigning. If you have experiencing of leading a society, volunteering with local initiatives, or contributing to student media, this role will be an amazing opportunity to champion all student-led activity.
The Activities & Development Officer represents students on:
- Championing student-led activities and societies
- Green Impact and sustainability
- Supporting student media
- Personal development and employability
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A society leader or in a society
- A JCR/RA representative
- A volunteer with student media
- A climate campaigner
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
The Activities & Development Officer works closely with a huge number of student groups, helping to organise and attend events, hearing and sharing feedback from student leaders, and helping students access different student activities in the SU. This role is a great opportunity to plan and lead on different projects and events, leaving you able to adapt to what the student body needs throughout the year. Depending on your priorities for the role, there will also be opportunities to work with the University and local community on projects and initiatives.
In a week, you might:
- Meet with the SU societies staff team to discuss an upcoming training event for society leaders
- Attend a society event to support the committee
- Attend a University committee to challenge them on their climate and sustainability plans
- Meet with the SU events staff team to plan your upcoming event to launch your new project
Welfare & Community Officer
Role Description
The Welfare & Community Officer is the lead student championing a number of issues and student rights outside of teaching. With over 40,000 students studying at the University of Manchester, this role is vital in ensuring every student has access to the right health and wellbeing services, to a secure home, and to feel safe in the city. As the lead representative for students in the community, you’ll work closely with the police, landlords groups, other students’ unions and local representatives, as well as student officers and groups in our own University. Whether you have experience campaigning to improve student rights, or you’re passionate about the city we study in, this is an amazing role for you!
The Welfare & Community Officer represents students on:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Access to health services
- Housing
- Community relations between students and the city
- Feeling safe on campus and in the city
- Money and finances
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A Liberation Part-Time Officer
- An Access Part-Time Officer
- A Community Part-Time Officer
- On a JCR or RA
- A Student Angels volunteer
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
As the Welfare & Community Officer, you’ll have a wide remit but plenty of opportunities to work with students and different projects across the University to make meaningful change to the lives of students. If you enjoy running campaigns and projects, this is a great role for you – you’ll have plenty of opportunities to lobby and organise changes for students, whether it’s with the University’s support services, the Mayor, or with landlords in the city.
In a week, you might:
- Meet with the SU Advice staff team to organise a new campaign to educate students about house-hunting
- Meet with staff from the local health services to agree better access to health support for students
- Attend an event run by halls JCRs
- Brief the Community Part-Time Officers about your aims for the semester
- Host an event launching your new welfare campaign with students and officers
Liberation and Access Officer
Role Description
The Liberation & Access Officer is the lead student championing equality, diversity and liberation in the SU and the University. In this role, you’ll be responsible for working with under-represented student groups, challenging the barriers and inequalities they face, and campaigning for meaningful change and a more equitable student experience for all students. The under-represented groups you’ll work with include students who face barriers to getting to and succeeding in higher education, and liberation groups – women, LGBTQ+ students, trans students, disabled students and BME students. If you’re passionate about liberation and equality, and tackling injustices in education, then you should run for this role!
The Liberation & Access Officer represents students on:
- Equality, diversity and liberation at the SU
- Developing a representative network of under-represented students
- Campaigns advocating for the SU’s liberation groups
- Widening participation and access to the University
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A Liberation Part-Time Officer
- An Access Part-Time Officer
- An Access All Areas volunteer
- A Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador
- A liberation activist
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
As the Liberation & Access Officer, you’ll work with a number of elected Part-Time Officers who represent a range of different under-represented student groups from across the University. You’ll be leading on campaigns and events on your priorities, whether it’s about challenging inequalities in academic life, pushing for better access to support, or tackling prejudice and discrimination. You will also be invited to University committees to represent students and lobby for a more equal, fair University.
In a week, you might:
- Host a liberation history month event with the Liberation Part-Time Officers
- Attend a University committee meeting about widening participation and supporting access to higher education
- Meet with the SU campaigns staff to plan a campaign to tackle discrimination
- Work with the SU education staff team on a project about educational inequalities
- Brief the Access Part-Time Officers on your priorities for under-represented student groups
International Officer
Role Description
The International Students’ Officer leads on support and activities for the University’s international students, helping to make Manchester a truly international university. This role has the scope to work on a range of international students’ issues, whether it’s teaching and research, welfare and support, or creating a truly multi-cultural student experience. If you’re a proud international student, or proud of our multi-cultural university, and want the opportunity to deliver events and campaigns, then you should run for this role!
The International Students’ Officer represents students on:
- Welfare and support for international students
- Academic issues for international students
- Experiencing multi-cultural events and activities
This role is open to any student and we would encourage all students to nominate themselves. Whether you are already involved with the SU (in some of the roles below) or not, this is your chance to know the SU more and what you can do for the interest of students, by running for this position.
- A Community Part-Time Officer
- A member of a national or cultural society
- A member or volunteer with the International Society
What’s a typical week like?
During a normal week, you’ll work in the office in the main SU Building (Steve Biko Building) on campus. You’ll work alongside the other Executive Officers and the SU’s staff team in the bustling, fast-paced office.
As the International Students’ Officer you will lead on a range of events and campaigns to support international students and help all students to have a diverse, multi-cultural experience at University. You also represent international students at a number of University committees where you’ll be pushing forward the priorities for international students and ensuring their voices are heard.
In a week, you might:
- Host an event with the International Part-Time Officers
- Attend a cultural society event to support the society committee
- Meet with the SU campaigns staff to discuss a campaign about access to health services
- Attend a University committee meeting to discuss international students’ fees
- Lobby local community representatives to understand the impact of international students in the city
Part-Time Roles
All of these positions are part-time, voluntary roles that you can carry out alongside your studies. These roles last for one academic year, starting in June 2020. For most of these groups, you may only run for positions if you are part of the relevant student group (for example, if you are part of that Faculty)
Liberation Officers
BME | Disabled | LGBTQ+ | Trans | Women
Liberation Officers will direct their respective campaigns through creating policy, hosting events and consulting with their members.
Faculty Officers
Undergraduate | Postgraduate Taught | Postgraduate Research
Each Faculty has two undergraduate and two postgraduate (PGT and PGR) Officers. They will influence and make key decisions on Faculty committees. They run faculty-specific campaigns and work with a wealth of students reps to effect necessary change.
Student Community Officers
International | Environment and Ethics | City Centre | Fallowfield & Withington | Rusholme & Whitworth Park
These roles are designed to represent students outside in the wider community. They will campaign on issues such as environment, transport, housing and safety.
Access Officers
Student Parent | Student Carer | Part-time Student | Mature Student | Distance-Learner Student | Living at Home | Widening Participation Officer
These positions work specifically on issues of concern to a particular section of the student community, to remove barriers and boundaries to learning these students are more likely to face.
NUS Delegates
The National Union of Students (NUS) runs a National Conference every Spring where delegates from Students’ Unions across the country gather and discuss national policy and campaign issues. We have 11 delegate places to elect, and if elected you will need to be available to attend National Conference on the 6th-8th April 2021.
Online Training Sessions
Are you thinking about standing in the election? Come along to our training sessions, running from January until nominations close on 21st February. These online training sessions are open to anyone.
Your Elections Journey
In this introductory session we will talk you through every step of the elections journey, from writing your nomination to listening to the results.
Thursday 14th January (2-3pm) - Training Link
Wednesday 20th January (2-3pm) - Training Link
Thursday 28th January (6-7pm) - Training Link
Tuesday 2nd February (6-7pm) - Training Link
Thursday 4th February (2-3pm) - Training Link
Building a Manifesto
Your manifesto should get voters excited about you and your ideas - in this session we'll talk you through how to write a creative, ambitious manifesto that you'll actually be able to deliver if you win.
Tuesday 26th January (6-7pm) - Training Link
Wednesday 3rd February (2-3pm) - Training Link
Volunteer to Officer
Volunteering or being part of a society committee could be just the first step in your leadership journey! Learn more about the life cycle of an officer, and how to take the next steps on your path to leadership.
Monday 1st February (1-2pm) - Training Link
Know your SU
This session with the SU Chief Executive will give you an overview of the SU Structure
Tuesday 2nd February (2-3pm) - Training Link
Officer Role Overview
What exactly does an Officer do? In this session we’ll take through how to make the most of the Officer role.
Tuesday 2nd February (3.30-4.30pm) - Training Link
Current Student Issues
Need some inspiration for your manifesto? This session will give you an overview of key student issues coming up this year.
Thursday 4th February (5-6pm) - Training Link
The Higher Education Picture
Understand more about the current political landscape and how it might affect the SU and officer roles over the course of the year.
Wednesday 3rd February (4-5pm) - Training Link
Know the University
This session with the SU Chief Executive will give you an overview of the University of Manchester structure.
Wednesday 3rd February (5-6pm) - Training Link
Day in the Life of a Candidate
Come and meet some previous candidates that were in your shoes not that long ago. In this session, they will go through what they did during their campaign including some valuable hints and tips of the trade!
Tuesday 16th February (2-3pm) - Training Link
Being a Trustee & Director
As an Executive Officer, you’re not only a student representative but you’re also a Trustee and Director of the SU. In this session we’ll talk you through these important roles and what’s involved.
Wednesday 10th February (3-4.30pm) – https://zoom.us/j/93922448299
Wednesday 17th February (4-5.30pm) – https://zoom.us/j/93922448299
Accessible online campaigning
As a candidate, you want your messages to reach as many students as possible. To do this, your online campaigning has to be accessible. Come along to learn some tips and tricks for how to make your online campaigning both effective and accessible!
Wednesday 3rd March (2-3pm) - Training Link
Making use of social media
Best practice for using social media as a candidate and officer.
Friday 26th February (3-4pm) - Training Link
Poster Design Guide
How to make an eyecatching poster or artwork for your campaign.
Wednesday 24th February (11am-12pm) - Training Link
Last semester your Students’ Union received a petition and signatures for a proposed all-student referendum. This is a mechanism available to any student under our rules. We can confirm that it met the threshold number of signatures to trigger the referendum and as your Students’ Union, we will be facilitating that on behalf of our membership.
The referendum is on whether you agree with the following statement:
This student body has no confidence in Vice Chancellor Nancy Rothwell and other University leaders*
*Named University leaders are Deputy Vice Chancellor Luke Georghiou, Registrar, Secretary and COO Patrick Hackett, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students April McMahon, and Director for the Student Experience Simon Merrywest.
You will have the following options;
Yes
No
Abstain
The timeline for the all-student referendum is;
Campaigns launch on Monday 8th February
Voting opens Monday 8th March and closes on Thursday 11th March
The results will be announced on Friday 12th March
We call for any students to form campaign groups to run either Yes or No campaigns for this referendum. If you are interested in running or supporting either campaign, you need to contact [email protected]
