The Student Voice Representative is a volunteer role that serves as a vital link between students, Sunderland Students' Union and the University. You'll have the unique opportunity to work closely with key stakeholders to enhance the quality of education and the overall student experience. This role offers you an invaluable platform to advocate for change and to develop your professional skills, furthering your employability.

We are looking for Student Voice Representatives for the following Schools: 

• Business and Management x2
• Tourism x1
• Computer Science x1
• Medicine x1 ( 3rd year +)
• Pharmacy x2 (Mpharm + Pharm)
• Psychology x2
• Health Sciences x1
• Nursing x1
• Art and Design x2
• Education x1
• Media and Comms x1
• Psychology x2
• Social Sciences UG x1

How to apply:

Please note that you must be a student at the University of Sunderland for the academic year 25/26 to apply for this role. You cannot apply for this role if you graduate in the summer of 2025. To express an interest in this role, please view the job/role description for further details and provide the following:

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a brand-new role at Your SU. A review of our democratic structures indicated the need for Your SU to make a clear shift from the more traditional styles of SU democracy, facilitating instead, a community organising model.

Community Organising within a Students' Union context is the mobilisation of students to collectively address common issues or areas of passion e.g. catering on campus, housing crisis, environmental sustainability, and transport. It aims to foster a sense of community, belonging, and self-advocacy, both on and off campus.

Student Communities Officers will work with staff and student volunteers to deliver the vision of engaging students through community organising and mobilisation within their faculty, resulting in an expansion and deepening of engagement between the broad range of students at our institution and Your SU.

These roles will work closely with other student leaders, including the President (Sunderland), and Student Voice Reps, Course Reps and academic society leaders within the relevant faculty - and beyond - to listen to students' experiences and bring people together to effect positive change to the student experience.

There are three positions available:

- Student Communities Officer (Business and Technology)

- Student Communities Officer (Education, Society and Creative Industries)

- Student Communities Officer (Health Sciences and Wellbeing)

These positions are only open to students whose studies are based in Sunderland. You are only eligible for the position relevant to your faculty. 

Working hours:

Part-time, up to 15 hours on average per week, term-time. Some hours may need to be worked during vacations for training and student inductions. This role can be delivered flexibly around your studies and other commitments, though attendance at certain events and meetings will be expected.

Support and training:

You will receive thorough training, along with ongoing support through meetings with your line manager and mentoring.

Successful candidates will be required to attend training on the following dates:

• 2nd - 3rd July 2025 in Sunderland - Student Officer Training with Coole Insight
• 8th July 2025 online - Campaigning and Social Change Training
• 17th July 2025 in Sunderland - All Staff Knowledge Exchange Day
• 12th August 2025 in Sunderland - Casework Training.

Student Communities Officers will also be required to attend graduation ceremonies on 7th and 11th July 2025.

Application process:

Please apply by completing the Application and EDI form. Shortlisted applications will be invited to an interview, which can take place in person or online. The interview panel will consist of 3-4 students, supported by an SU staff member.

If you have any questions about the role, please email yourcommunities@sunderland.ac.uk

How to apply:

To apply, you must be a current enrolled student at the University of Sunderland in the academic year 25/26 - once you graduate, you can no longer be a Student Communities Officer.

You must be a current student to apply, studying in the academic year 25/26; no further experience is required, and training will be provided.

Your role will be for two years, with the opportunity to extend this by another two-year term (as long as you continue to be a student for the duration of the role). You will no longer be able to be a trustee once you graduate.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Prince Ikechi, the Chair, or Kayleigh Tague, External Trustee via centralservices@sunderland.ac.uk

To apply for this role, please provide:

• A covering letter (max 1 side of A4) that sets out your motivating factors in your application. Please include what course you are studying and your start and finish date of your university course.
• A personal statement (max 2 sides of A4) that demonstrates how you meet the experience requirements set out in the Person Specification.
• An up to date, detailed CV including all relevant employment history and expertise.
• A completed EDI Monitoring form (see below).

Please send this documentation to centralservices@sunderland.ac.uk, either by clicking on the 'Apply Now' button below or emailing directly.