Activities Manager

The University of Sussex Students’ Union is looking for a passionate and empathetic leader to become our Activities Manager, joining the management team to lead and support staff in developing and managing student clubs, societies and student media groups in line with strategic objectives.

In this role, you will oversee our sports, societies, and student media groups through a lens of a duty of care and safety. You will be the first point of contact for receiving disclosures, providing support and signposting, facilitating mediation between our student leads, and leading investigations into sensitive complaints. A key focus for us over the coming year is to ensure that student groups operate democratically and have processes and training that create positive cultures.

You will also have strong budgetary control, highly developed organisational and interpersonal skills, confidence, and a positive approach to change management.

The focus of the role is to deliver the above activities in line with the new Students’ Union strategy, driving student engagement. The role is directly responsible for three members of staff, and oversees the support and development of a team of student staff,as well as thousands of student volunteers who engage with the Students’ Union through sports, societies and student media

ABOUT US

We are looking for skilled, friendly and highly motivated people who share our (https://sussexstudent.com/abou...) and values. With our vibrant environment and organisational culture, the Students Union is a dynamic workplace only a few places could match. Led by students we are all about working with students to help them get the most out of their time here at the University of Sussex or Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Whilst being located on Sussex Campus - close to Brighton & Hove - we are separate from the University, something that is crucial to our campaigning and lobbying work. Although we have different departments we think of ourselves as one big team and are often working all together on projects or helping each other out at big events such as Freshers week or Elections. Working on Sussex Campus and for the SU has lots of perks: Our staff receive one day off each fortnight as part of our nine-day-fortnight working trial and access to enhanced time off, which normally amounts to an extra 6 days leave in addition to 20 days of annual leave per year, and bank holidays. We also allocate funding for staff socials, learning and development opportunities for all our roles, as well as create a supportive workplace through regular 1 to 1s, an employee assistance programme and professional health services. You can read up more about our benefits below or on our benefits package

(https://docs.google.com/docume...). If this sounds like the workplace you’d like to join, we would love to receive your application and get to know you! Sussex Union jobs (https://sussexstudent.com/abou...)

Key Information

Job Title: Activities Manager

Responsible to: Head of Student Experience

Rate of pay: £35,267 full-time equivalent, per annum, pro rata)

Contract: Fixed term 9 Months (10th Aug 2026 - 10th May 2027)

Hours of work: Full-time (36.5 hours per week). Hours to be worked on a flexible basis to meet business requirements and will include working evenings and weekends

Applicants: Open to internal and external applicants*

Please note that applications from full time students will NOT be considered for full time positions, as it exceeds the recommended hours of work for individuals in higher education. This applies to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

*We are also open to exploring a secondment option both internally and externally. If you're an external applicant looking for a secondment opportunity, you must discuss it with your current employer first.

This post is open to all internal applicants

We understand that this is a difficult time for staff at risk with the ongoing organisational change process. Please contact tarek.k@sussexstudent.com if you are currently at risk and would like more information as it applies to your particular circumstances. Any applications from staff at risk will be automatically offered an interview providing they are currently on the same grade as the advertised position or one grade above or below.

For more details please see the full Job Description and Person Specification.

KEY DATES

Applications close: 8th July 2026 at 10 am.

Shortlisting: 9th and 10th of July 2026

Interviews: 20th and 21st of July 2026

Start Date: 10th of August

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

We really welcome applications from abroad for all of our vacancies.

Due to legal regulations we have to ensure that everyone is eligible to work in the UK and this would be done by us checking and making a copy of the correct original identification/documentation before your first day of work. You may also be limited in the number of hours you would be allowed to work.

Find out more information about applying to work in the UK.

In any case, we would encourage anyone to apply for a job in one of our friendly departments to give yourself the chance of being selected, and we would look to see the appropriate original documents before your first day of work

GETTING PAID

Everyone working in the UK needs a National Insurance number in order to get paid. If you are a UK citizen you will automatically have this, however if you are not a UK Citizen you might want to apply for an NI number at the same time as you apply for a job so there is no delay in your payments. You can do so using this link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number. Please note you cannot apply for a National Insurance Number until you're in the UK, but this should not stop you from completing your application for this role.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

We are really committed to maintaining a diverse workforce because we know how important it is to have decision makers and collaborators with varied lived experiences and backgrounds that reflect the range of needs from our diverse student community.

We welcome applications from everyone, and we want to strongly encourage applications from; people with an ethnic minority or Chinese background, people with a disability, people with dependents, and people who identify as LGBTQ+. We conduct anonymous shortlisting and all of our interview panels have Unconscious Bias Training in order to support the above. We also consider flexible working for those with care commitments. If you have any suggestions as to how we could improve our language or application process please let us know.

As a representative body one of our key aims is to increase applicants that identify as Black, Asian or a minority ethnic to work in the Students' Union. To support this we will ask you an optional question about your ethnic origin. Not providing this information will not adversely affect your application for the role. This information will be hidden during the application process. Staff that identify as Black, Asian or minority ethnic are also welcome and supported to join our BAME Staff Network.

STAFF AND APPLICANTS WITH LONG TERM CONDITIONS

The Students’ Union aims to implement reasonable adjustments for all staff and applicants with disabilities, creating a culture of cooperation, shared responsibility and proactiveness to ensure equitable access to jobs. We want to make sure everyone is supported in our selection processes, and are equipped to work safely and get as much as possible out of their role as possible. For more information about the support we have available follow this link: (https://docs.google.com/docume...)