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President Job Role

Check all the important information about the role of the President.

President

The President is a passionate leader who drives policy-making, campaigning, representation and acts as one of the public spokespeople for the organisation. The President is responsible for ensuring good governance within the Union and also acts as chair of the Trustee Board.

Salary: £23,144

Term: June 2024 to June 2025 (start date TBC)

Time Commitment: 35 hours per week (Full Time)

Useful Skills: Supportive, Decision Making, Relationship Building, Negotiation, Public Speaking

Newly elected Full Time Officers are required to be available for handover and induction in June.

This role will:

  1. Be the main representative for University of Strathclyde students.
  2. Facilitate input to University strategic initiatives and ensure student voice is heard in in corporate governance meetings.
  3. Proactively engage and consult with the student body, identify issues leading campaigns on issues affecting all students.
  4. Be the chair of Strath Union’s Trustee Board.
  5. Collaboration with different members of the Executive team.
  6. Be responsible for overall financial and political management of the Union, including the presentation of the budget to University committees and signing contracts on behalf of the Union, with consultation of the Executive team, as appropriate.
  7. Oversee commercial events and publicity as well as ensuring the effective management and development of Union trading concerns.

Board of Trustees

This position is also a member of the Board of Trustees, which holds overall financial, legal and strategic responsibilities for the Association. For more info on being a Trustee, read OSCR’s (the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator) guide.

Key Relationships

  • Strath Union: Full-Time Exec Officers, Non-Exec Officers, Staff including Senior Management, Advice Hub, Central Services, Commercial, Communications and Marketing, Sports Union and Student Engagement teams
  • University: The Principal, the Vice-Principal, the Associate Principal & Executive Dean of each Faculty, the Associate Principals, the Chief Commercial Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the University Secretary, the Director of Strategy and Policy, and the Director of HR.
  • External Organisations: National Union of Students’ (NUS), Public Officials, Full Time Officers at other institutions.

Key Meetings

These are not an exhaustive lists.

Union

  • Trustee Board
  • Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
  • Student Parliament
  • Exec
  • Executive Committee

University

  • University Court
  • University Senate
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusions Committee
  • Student Experience Committee
  • Employability Committee
  • Start of the Academic Year (SOTAY) Group
  • Estates Group

Role Specific Training

  • Extensive training and support will be provided to ensure that you are fully equipped for the role.
  • Full Time Officers are required to attend the handover and induction period which takes place in June.
  • Newly elected Full-Time Officers should check with Student Union staff before making any summer holiday plans as a lot of training is scheduled over the summer period.
  • Additional training and ongoing support are provided throughout the academic year.
If you take on the role with positive objectives and a good attitude, then a strong legacy will be left for students.

Charandeep Singh, VP Equality & Diversity 2010/11 and Union President 2011/12

Being in an Exec role really develops your confidence, improves your interaction with other people, your ability to present.

Jo-ann Robertson, Union President 2000/01

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