Branch Development Organiser

University and College Union have a new opportunity for a Branch Development Organiser to join their South West team

Job Reference No: BDO1

Location: Exeter, UK

Salary: £43,881 per annum

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time (35 hours per week)

About Us:

The University and College Union (UCU) represents over 123,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK.

We also have members in the private sector, for example in private training agencies and language schools, as well as members working on a freelance basis. Students training to teach in post-school education also belong to UCU.

Branch Development Organiser – The Role:

The Bargaining, Organising, Representation & Operations department, at UCU, is seeking a Branch Development Organiser to join the South West team.

In this exciting role, based in our Exeter Office, and reporting to the Regional Official, South West, your main duties will include:

- Supporting the effective implementation of national organising priorities and associated regional organising and recruitment plans across the region

- Assisting with the development of regional organising plans

- Organising and developing union membership, in conjunction with local branch strategies

- Providing advice and support to branch officers to develop their representation, campaigning and organising skills

- Working with local branches and regions to develop effective communication strategies to support their campaigns and bargaining objectives

Branch Development Organiser – You:

- Educated to GCSE level (inc. maths & English) or equivalent

- Experience of a similar working environment and/or understanding of working for a trade union or other not-for-profit organisation

- You will need a good knowledge of the post-compulsory education sector

- Ability to lead and develop individuals and teams and experience of campaigning and organising in a trade union environment

- Excellent interpersonal skills

- Able to organise and deliver training and be prepared to travel within the region

Branch Development Organiser – You:

Benefits to support your wellbeing:

- Generous holiday entitlement of 35 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, and 8 closure days with a pro-rata entitlement for part time staff

- Disability leave arrangements

- Special leave arrangements

- A range of family friendly policies and procedures with enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave schemes

- An Employee Assistance Programme that provides access to 24-hour confidential counselling

- Access to advice and face-to-face intervention from a Senior Chartered Physiotherapist through the award-winning Physiotherapy Advice Line service

- Health Assessment

- Flexitime scheme available by agreement where employees can vary their start and finish times or lunch breaks within the set parameters of the Work Life Balance policy

Benefits to support you financially:

- All employees are contractually enrolled into the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) where currently the employee contribution is approximately 9% of salary and the employer contribution is approximately 21% of salary

- We will pay 50% of the net cost of childcare provision for children. The scheme is currently available to employees up to and including Grade G

- Interest free season ticket loans to cover the cost of a second-class season ticket between home and the office

- UCU will assist with the cost of an eyesight test and the purchase of a basic pair of glasses, where these are required for DSE use

Benefits to support your training and development:

- Training and developmental support

- Access to over 300 eLearning modules through UCU’s online Training Room

Branch Development Organiser – Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Opportunities:

We need your support to make sure our employees come from a variety of backgrounds, so we especially welcome applications from disadvantaged communities. Even if you are not selected, it would be really helpful if you could complete the diversity & inclusion data when you apply for this role, because we can make sure we are encouraging a diverse mixture of candidates to apply. Thank you very much.

UCU is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 20th February 2024 at 10am. Interviews will then be held on Monday 18th March 2024.

To submit your application for this exciting Branch Development Organiser opportunity, please click ‘Apply’ now!