Head of Community & Voice

Job Description Head of Community & Voice

Salary: £42,000-£45,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Based across our Epsom and Farnham campuses in Surrey, with regular travel to Canterbury and Maidstone TV Studios

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Direct reports: Community Organisers and Marketing & Campaigns Manager

Final date to receive applications: Monday 5 October 2026 at 09:30

University for the Creative Arts Students' Union (UCASU) is an independent charity representing and supporting over 4,000 students across UCA's campuses in Epsom, Farnham, Canterbury and Maidstone TV Studios.

Our vision is a creative community where every student belongs
, guided by our values of Creativity, Connection and Community
.

As we move into year two of our three-year strategy, we're building on a sector-leading 10% increase in our National Student Survey score and the highest student election turnout in the Southern Region (29.6%).

Through our new community organising model, we're deepening our work of going to students, listening to what matters to them and supporting them to connect, organise and create change.

The Head of Community & Voice is a new, hands-on leadership role providing strategic and operational leadership for UCASU's work on student voice, democracy, academic representation, community and belonging.

You will lead our new Community & Voice team
, bringing together representation, democracy, student leadership, community-building, campaigns and communications.

This role combines strategic leadership with practical, visible and student-facing delivery
. You will work across UCA's locations, ensuring that the Union goes to students rather than expecting students to come to the Union.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Elected Officers and colleagues across the University, you will contribute to organisational leadership and decision-making and deputise for the CEO where appropriate
.

There is significant opportunity for the successful candidate to shape and develop this new role and our approach to Community & Voice.

You will:

• Lead delivery of UCASU's Strategic Direction and Annual Operating Plan, translating strategy into measurable outcomes and student-facing activity
• Lead and continuously improve UCASU's democratic structures, elections, academic representation and student leadership pathways
• Lead our approach to community-building, belonging, outreach and student engagement across UCA
• Develop and embed our community organising approach, enabling students to organise, lead and create change
• Provide strategic leadership for key student milestones including Welcome, Move-In and Graduation
• Lead the development of opportunities that enhance students' skills, employability and access to professional networks
• Provide strategic oversight of UCASU's campaigns, communications and marketing activity
• Build effective relationships with University colleagues and external stakeholders, ensuring student voice influences institutional decision-making
• Use insight, data and impact measurement to drive improvement and demonstrate UCASU's impact
• Lead, manage and develop our Community Organisers and Marketing & Campaigns Manager
• Manage budgets and resources effectively

We're looking for someone who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery and who genuinely enjoys working with students and travelling between campuses.

You will be comfortable moving between senior-level conversations, team leadership and visible engagement with students.

• Leading and developing teams
• Developing and delivering strategies, operational plans or programmes
• Working within a Students' Union, higher education or…