Head of Student Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,485 to £55,295 with potential progression once in post to £62,098

Role Summary

The Head of Student Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Student EDI team will play a key role in supporting the University to deliver our founding civic ambitions of equality of opportunity for all. This involves leading and supporting projects that contribute to the targets established in the University’s Access and Participation Plan, EDI Scheme, and relevant charter marks. You will undertake work under the direction of the Assistant Director of Student Affairs (Postgraduate and EDI). 

You will oversee a range of initiatives to enhance students’ participation and experience of university life. Particularly, you will focus on supporting those from marginalised, disadvantaged, or underrepresented communities, and fostering cohesion among different groups of our campus population, such as race, LGBTQ+, or inter/intra-faith affairs. You will be responsible for developing and coordinating the University’s Birmingham Scholar programme, the EDI Student Ambassador programme, the Student EDI training programme, and future projects. You will drive the visibility, delivery, and success of these activities. This will be achieved through influencing and establishing partnerships across Academic Services and with relevant Professional Services departments, academics, and students, to ensure a coherent approach to contribute to the University’s EDI objectives and ambitions. 

You will line manage and develop a small and dedicated team, and supported by EDI Student Ambassadors, to enhance awareness of our student EDI activities on campuses. You will develop strategies to promote culture change, inclusive practices, and good campus relations for our diverse and changing student population. You will draw from your lived experience, understanding about other communities, and guidance from the Assistant Director of Student Affairs (Postgraduate and EDI), to navigate EDI issues that could be emotionally invested by stakeholder groups with dispersed viewpoints.

Main Duties

• Leading the Student EDI team, its functions, activities, resources, and engagement with key stakeholders to ensure the alignment of activities and the effective delivery of student EDI initiatives; 
• Deputising the Assistant Director of Student Affairs (Postgraduate and EDI) as appropriate to coordinate the planning and delivery of relevant student EDI activities undertaken by Academic Services and wider Professional Services departments, Schools, and Colleges;
• Building business resilience, service innovation, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement of the activities of the Student EDI team;

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience - where no equivalent qualification is held, a significant level of relevant practical experience and expertise in the higher education sector will be required;
• Significant knowledge of EDI in the broader context of UK higher education and ability to understand the wider landscape in EDI rather than a single-issue advocate;
• Skilled in navigating sensitive, political, or challenging topics and gaining trust from stakeholders of dispersed and intense viewpoints;

Informal enquiries to Sammy Li, email: s.li.4@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 19^th March 2025

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