Associate Officer for Student Engagement

Grade UE06 - £32,982 - £38,205 per annum, pro rata

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences - Scottish Graduate School for Social Science 

Part time - Guaranteed Hours - 2 hours per week 

Fixed term contract - 2 years 

 

**Open to ESRC funded PhD researchers from any SGSSS aligned university ** 

SGSSS are seeking to appoint a current ESRC funded PhD student to the role of Associate Officer for Student Engagement. SGSSS Associate Officers represent the voices of the student community and are consulted on for their advice and expertise as PGRs.  

The role holder will join an existing team of student Associate Officer and, as a key members of the SGSSS Directorate, contribute significantly to the development of social sciences postgraduate research and the formation of research leaders in Scotland and beyond. Work topics that Associate Officers focus on are identified through the strategic objectives of the SGSSS and funders, emergent issues identified by the Associate Officers based on their experiences, and information received from the wider PhD population. 

The role is a “guaranteed hours” contract (averaging two hours per week, with a minimum of 35 hours per year). Roles will start as soon as possible in the 24/25 academic year and will be appointed for a two year term, including a review for both role holder and SGSSS at the one year anniversary. 

This role is available to any current ESRC funded PhD student registered at an SGSSS partner university. (Given the existing team composition, the current vacancy is only available to students funded by the ESRC; future opportunities may be open more widely.) 

 

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• have a passion for supporting colleagues and students, and for contributing to the continuous improvement of SGSSS;
• be adept in planning and completing their own work activities (with suitable support and guidance) and be able to provide evidence-based recommendations for ideas; and
• be a strong collaborator and able to engage clearly and effectively with other students, SGSSS colleagues and other stakeholders such as event facilitators.

 

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The role will be undertaken from the role holder’s home university, but some in-person presence is expected at relevant meetings, training events, student activities etc. These will be planned in advance and all expenses for travel etc. will be covered. 

SGSSS previously worked with a network of volunteer student representatives. In response to ideas and work undertaken by these reps, a wide consultation was undertaken about how best to represent PhD students and how to utilise the skills and experience of students within SGSSS work. The outcome was the creation of the Student Associate Officer role, which existing student representatives helped design and develop. The Student Associate Officer role was considered by all layers of SGSSS governance, and a remunerated role agreed upon in order to ensure that the work and contribution of students taking on these roles was recognised and correctly rewarded. The first Associate Officers commenced their role in January 2024. 

 

As a valued member of our team you can expect: 

• A competitive salary of £32,982 - £38,205 (pro-rata per hours worked)
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits 

 

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

SGSSS has a strong commitment to accessibility, equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe a diverse team bring the best range of experience, skills and perspectives. Applications are therefore particularly welcome from groups traditionally underrepresented within Higher Education. 

If you believe you would add value to the SGSSS team but do not feel you meet the criteria, please consider getting in touch to talk about the role and your application (see contact details below). 

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equal