Welcome to our Recruitment page!
Thanks for your interest in working and / or volunteering with UWS Students’ Union. We currently have the following voluntary role available at our Students' Union:
- Institutional Associate Trainer (IAT)
- External Trustee
This roles play an important part in shaping the future of the Students’ Union, particularly as we implement new democratic structures and develop our next Strategic Plan.
External Trustee 
UWS Students’ Union is seeking External Trustees to join our Board.
This is an opportunity to contribute at a critical point in our development. We are building on a period of strong performance, significant democratic reform and record student engagement, while preparing to develop our next Strategic Plan.
As an External Trustee, you will play a key role in shaping the future of a values-driven, student-led organisation.
About the role
External Trustees are responsible for supporting the governance and strategic direction of the Students’ Union.
You will work alongside elected student officers, student trustees and staff to:
Trustees are not involved in day-to-day operations, but play a key role in ensuring strong governance, accountability and long-term sustainability.
Who we’re looking for
We are seeking individuals with significant senior leadership experience who are comfortable operating at Board or senior decision-making level.
Following a recent review of Board skills, our priority areas are:
We welcome applications from a wide range of sectors and are particularly interested in those motivated by social impact, widening access and improving outcomes for under-represented groups.
About us
UWS Students’ Union represents over 19,000 students across five campuses. We are proud to work alongside a widening access university, with a diverse student population including a high proportion of mature, first-in-family and international students.
Recent democratic reforms have strengthened how student voice shapes decision-making, and our Board structure has been updated to ensure strong governance, continuity and student leadership.
Time commitment
Eligibility
As a charity and company, Trustees are both charity trustees and company directors. You must not:
How to Apply
Download the External Trustee Recruitment Pack for more information about the role and Person Specification and email an up-to-date CV with a covering letter, completed Trustee Declaration and the Diversity Monitoring Form to recruitment@uwsunion.org.uk.
📧 recruitment@uwsunion.org.uk
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sinéad Daly, Chief Executive, at sinead.daly@uws.ac.uk.
Institutional Associate Trainer (IAT)
About the Role:
This is a temporary contract ending 30th June 2027, IAT’s will be tasked with delivering Rep Training in person on campus or live online, this includes collecting feedback on training effectiveness.
Who we're looking for:
This role will suit any student who is confident in public speaking and passionate about student engagement and representation. Ideally you'll have some experience of being a rep or facilitation skills.
Eligibility:
There are 2 key requirements to undertake this role
- You must be an enrolled student during Academic Year 2026-27 up to June 2027.
- You must be able to attend in full compulsory paid training with SPARQS at Queen Margaret University from 1pm on Monday 24th August through to 4pm on Thursday 27th August (accommodation and travel is paid for, any other expenses will be reimbursed).
How to apply:
To apply, download the IAT Application Pack and complete the online Application Form on MS Forms (opens new window) and the online Diversity Monitoring Form on MS Forms (opens new window).
- Closing Date: Wednesday 29th July at 12pm
- Interviews: Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th August
Please note we cannot accept CVs as part of the application process.
If you have any questions please contact recruitment@uwsunion.org.uk
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact claire.lumsden@uws.ac.uk
Institutional Associate Trainer (IAT)
About the Role:
This is a temporary contract ending 30th June 2027, IAT’s will be tasked with delivering Rep Training in person on campus or live online, this includes collecting feedback on training effectiveness.
Who we're looking for:
This role will suit any student who is confident in public speaking and passionate about student engagement and representation. Ideally you'll have some experience of being a rep or facilitation skills.
Eligibility:
There are 2 key requirements to undertake this role
- You must be an enrolled student during Academic Year 2026-27 up to June 2027.
- You must be able to attend in full compulsory paid training with SPARQS at Queen Margaret University from 1pm on Monday 24th August through to 4pm on Thursday 27th August (accommodation and travel is paid for, any other expenses will be reimbursed).
How to apply:
To apply, download the IAT Application Pack and complete the online Application Form on MS Forms (opens new window) and the online Diversity Monitoring Form on MS Forms (opens new window).
- Closing Date: Wednesday 29th July at 12pm
- Interviews: Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th August
Please note we cannot accept CVs as part of the application process.
If you have any questions please contact recruitment@uwsunion.org.uk
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact claire.lumsden@uws.ac.uk
About our Union
Our teams cover everything from student representation and democracy to events, digital content, volunteering, advice services and commercial operations. When we recruit, we look for people who care about students, understand the value of community, and want to make a real difference.
Be the first to hear about future roles
If you’d like to know when we’re hiring:
Why work with us?
Working at UWS Students’ Union means:
- Supporting students to shape their university experience
- Being part of a committed team with a strong values base
- Opportunities to develop new skills and take on meaningful projects
- A friendly, supportive workplace that cares about wellbeing and inclusion
What it’s like to work at UWS Union?
Working for a Students Union is like no other job! There is never a dull moment in our sector and you will never have the same day twice. We care about the Students who are our members and we work with our partner institution to improve the student experience for them across all of UWS’s campuses.
We also care about our staff and strive to ensure that you feel supported in your role, have opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills, are able to network with other professionals across the Student Union movement and have a chance to have a lot of fun along the way.
What’s in it for me?
In addition to having competitive salaries, we provide a number of benefits to our staff team including:
- Generous Annual Leave (including 2 weeks off at Christmas)
- Contributory Pension
- Flexible working opportunities
- Commitment to supporting your continued professional development
- Good working environment, friendly colleagues and lots of opportunities.
- NUS Totum discount card and access to Perks at Work
- 10% discount at our Student Union outlets
- Access to Health Assured employee assistance programme.
What to do next?
Follow the instructions for the role that you wish to apply for, and make sure that you send the relevant paperwork by the required deadline.
We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities and are committed to having a team that is made of diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We particularly welcome applications from disabled candidates, black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Candidates and LGB, Trans and non-binary candidates.