Deputy Director of Student Services (Health and Wellbeing)

If you have ssignificant leadership and management experience gained in a higher or further education setting, excellent leadership and organisational development skills and the strategic ability to shape and guide planning and decision making, Manchester Metropolitan University could be your ideal next career move.

About us
We are a great, modern university, in a great global city, here to make an impact on Manchester, our nation and beyond. Our campus is designed around the student experience, providing high quality teaching in a friendly and supportive environment, with some of the best learning facilities in the UK. Our Student Services Department is is responsible for delivering high-quality, student-focused support services that enable our students to achieve their full academic potential and career ambitions. We place students at the heart of what we do and ensure they have timely access to a range of professional support services including Inclusion and Disability, Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing services, MMU Sport, Academic Study Skills, Student Engagement, Chaplaincy and so much more. We also offer fantastic opportunities for both academics and those in support roles.

About the role
The Student Services Directorate is looking to appoint two outstanding Deputies to the Director of Student Services.  The Deputy Director vacancies are new positions within the Directorate and will work closely with the Director to provide leadership across a range of Student Service activities, priorities, processes and functions.  The Deputy Director Student Services (Health and Wellbeing) will lead our Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Inclusion and Pastoral Services (including safeguarding) and MMU Sport; principle responsibilities include:

• Evaluating and developing a sector leading Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing Service that meets the needs of those students that require specialist support.
• Leading work to develop innovative Mental Health services, for those students living in University Halls of Residence.
• Development and implementation of a highly effective Sport for Wellbeing strategy to enhance student and staff engagement.
• Leading work to further develop and enhance the University’s Inclusion and Pastoral provision; particularly in relation to Sexual Harassment, Hate Crime, Sexual Violence and Report and Support.
• Evaluating and Developing effective strategies to support those students affected by the cost of living crisis.

This role will also be responsible for:

• Acting as a Deputy Safeguarding Officer.
• Representing the Director, the Service and/or the University at internal and external meetings, groups, bodies and conferences – delivering presentations, keynotes, preparing and presenting proposals/papers/reports for committees, and influencing the strategic agenda on Student Service provision at the university.
• Providing senior-level management support across the Student Services department, as required.

About you
To succeed, you’ll need a good understanding of the issues and context that the UK higher education operates in.  You will also need an excellent understanding of Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Inclusion and Pastoral Services (including safeguarding) and Sport within the HE sector; and be able to articulate a sector leading vision for these departments.

This position requires you to have an excellent track record of managing a diverse range of appropriate Student Services within a HE setting; excellent and flexible leadership and organisational development skills as well as an in-depth understanding of change management.

Interview Date – Friday 25 November

To make an initial informal enquiry, please contact the Director of Student Services at [email protected] .