The Insight & Influence Coordinator supports the delivery of Students’ Union research and transforming this into insight reps, communities and the organisation can use to influence change. Activity, helping the organisation understand students’ experiences, needs and priorities.
 

Using community organising principles, the postholder will gather, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative evidence. They will combine data with students’ lived experiences to identify trends, explore emerging issues and produce clear insights that support representation, campaigning, service development and organisational decision-making.
 

1. Research & Evidence Gathering
2.Data Analysis & Insight Generation
3.Student Voice & Storytelling
4.Student Researcher Support & Development
5. Collaborative Working
 

Research & Evidence Gathering
•Design and deliver inclusive research activities, including surveys, focus groups and consultations, to understand student experiences, needs and priorities.
 •Gather and manage evidence from a range of sources, ensuring research is representative, ethical and compliant with data protection requirements.
 •Build a robust evidence base that supports community organising, representation and organisational decision-making.
 •Support the Union in responding to University consultations through evidence gathering and consultation write ups.
 •Keep up-to-date with local or national consultations or policy changes relating to the student experience and sharing this with relevant stakeholders.
 
Data Analysis & Insight Generation
•Analyse quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, themes, emerging issues and opportunities.
•Transform data into clear, meaningful insights through reports, dashboards, presentations and briefings.
•Monitor key measures of student experience and support evidence-informed decision making across the Students' Union.

Storytelling & Communication
•Combine data, research findings and student stories to create a rich understanding of the student experience.

•Translate complex evidence into compelling, accessible narratives for a range of stakeholders ranging from students to key University stakeholders and strategic projects.
 •Ensure student perspectives and lived experiences are accurately represented through insight outputs and communications.
 •Deliver insight to elected representatives and student communities for evidence-based influence in decision-making spaces.
 •Work with the Communications Coordinator to incorporate insight-based storytelling into communications pieces for students.
 
Student Researcher Support & Development
•Provide day-to-day line management, supervision and support for Student Researchers.
 •Agree project tasks, priorities and deadlines within the Insight & Influence priorities set by the Advice, Insight & Influence Manager.
 •Hold regular one-to-one meetings and provide feedback on research quality, progress and development.
 •Support the recruitment, induction and training of Student Researchers.
 •Coach researchers in qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis, ethical practice and insight generation.
 •Review research outputs and support consistent standards across projects.
 •Monitor workload, wellbeing and performance, escalating significant concerns to the Advice, Insight & Influence Manager.
 •Support the researchers to plan their work independently and develop their research skills.
 

Collaborative Working
•Build relationships with other Union departments, helping them identify Insight & Influence needs.
•Sharing briefings, presentations and reports with Union colleagues.
•Work with Union departments to understand how they use and collect data and feedback, providing tools for them to turn it into insight.
 

Qualifications and Experience  
· Must have a degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field.      
· Must have experience of qualitative and quantitative research.  · Must have experience of data analysis, insight generation and reporting.                             
·Must have experience of supporting, supervising or developing others either through work or voluntary experience.                       
·Must have experience of engaging with students, volunteers, customers, or service users.                     

· Must have experience of gathering, interpreting, or working with feedback and opinions.

· Must have experience of supporting projects, campaigns, events, or improvement initiatives.                                

·Must have experience of working collaboratively as part of a team.                          

·Desirable to have experience of line management.  
·Desirable to have  experience in a Students' Union, higher education, charity or membership organisation.                  

· Desirable to have experience of participatory or community-based research.                  
 

Knowledge    

·Must have an understanding of the importance of listening to and representing diverse voices.                                

·Must have awareness of how feedback and insight can be used to influence decision-making.                                

·Must have an understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion principles.      

·Must have knowledge of research methods, data analysis and insight generation. 

·Must have knowledge of research ethics, confidentiality and data protection. 

·Must have knowledge of higher education and student experience issues.         

·Desirable to have knowledge of community organising, student voice and representation.                     
 

Skills    

·Must demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills.  ·Must demonstrate the ability to translate data and research findings into clear, engaging narratives.                        

·Must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
·Must demonstrate strong organisation, project management and stakeholder relationship skills.                                
·Must demonstrate the ability to support and develop others.
·Must demonstrate confidence in presenting findings clearly
·Must demonstrate the ability to build positive working relationships with a range of people.                  
·Must demonstrate good organisational and time management skills.                    
·Must demonstrate strong IT skills including Microsoft 365.           
·Must demonstrate experience of managing projects and competing priorities.
·Desirable to have skills in data visualisation and dashboard development. 
·Desirable to have skills in facilitation, coaching and mentoring skills.            
·Desirable to have skills in presentation and report writing formatting e.g. Canva)                          

Qualities
·Must be willing to demonstrate the Union's values in approach to work

·Must be friendly, approachable, and confident in engaging with others.

·Must be curious and interested in understanding different perspectives.             

·Must be proactive and able to use initiative.                             

·Must be reliable and well organised.                             

·Must be a collaborative and supportive team member.                   

·Must be committed to improving the student experience.          

·Must be adaptable and willing to learn new skills and approaches.         

 Additional Information
· Tuesday 1st September: Shortlisting
·Wednesday 9th September: Interviews – Candidates will need to perform a task in readiness for the interview and will be given the interview questions in advance.
·Monday 14th September: Communication of outcome of interviews