Student Success Officer

The Role

Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued.

We are seeking a student centred collaborative and impact driven Student Success Officer committed to advancing partnership and belonging across the University. The postholder will play a central role in embedding and advancing a culture of student partnership and belonging across Maynooth University. Building on the work of the Thrive student success initiative the role will support institution wide approaches that strengthen student transitions and dialogue ensuring that student feedback informs ongoing enhancements to the student experience.

Working within Student Skills and Success the postholder will collaborate closely with students the Maynooth Students’ Union academic colleagues and professional services to ensure that student voice belonging and partnership are embedded across the student lifecycle.

Principal Duties

Administrative and other duties

This will include:

Student and Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with students and colleagues in Student Skills and Success the Maynooth Students’ Union and the wider University Community to embed a partnership approach to student success and sustain and build on the impact of Thrive initiatives

• Support the development co creation and scaling of student led initiatives and partnership projects strengthening and enhancing student belonging and success

• Build and sustain strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with national best practice in student success belonging and partnership

Project Management Planning and Coordination

• Provide leadership for the ongoing development embedding and sustainability of the THRIVE initiative within MU

• Continuously review the student lifecycle identifying key intervention points to enhance transitions and student success

• Lead the development and continuous enhancement of the MU digital onboarding orientation programme in collaboration with relevant stakeholders ensuring it is accessible engaging data informed and aligned with best practice

• Coordinate StudentSurvey ie at an institutional level and develop structures that amplify the student voice in decision making processes

• Serve as a key stakeholder within the MyMaynooth Orientation Task Force working closely with the Student Engagement Officer and MU colleagues to deliver a warm welcome and embed best practice in the first year transition

Quality Enhancement and Impact

• Lead the review and evolution of Thrive identifying priorities for embedding scaling and advancing relevant funding opportunities

• Develop and implement an evaluation framework for Thrive student success initiatives providing regular activity reporting and insights to key stakeholders to inform monitoring planning and enhancement of student success

• Champion a data informed approach to student success integrating institutional data survey insights and qualitative feedback to enhance decision making and resource allocation whilst ensuring appropriate feedback loops

• Represent and advocate for this work across internal and external forums communicating its impact and contributing to the advancement of best practice in student success

Other Duties

• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as required to support the evolving priorities of the Student Skills and Success team

The ideal candidate will have

• A minimum of a relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience

• At least three years of demonstrable experience in supporting student success belonging engagement or transition in a Higher Education context

• Relevant experience working effectively with academic and professional higher education staff in a third level environment

• Experience supporting the development implementation and evaluation of initiatives that enhance student experience

• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills with the ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues faculty staff students and external stakeholders

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to prepare reports and present information clearly to a range of audiences

• Excellent organisational and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver activities within agreed timelines

• Ability to plan monitor and report on budgets ensuring responsible and effective use of resources

• Ability to work proactively and independently using initiative while also contributing effectively within a team environment

• Strong facilitation and engagement skills including experience supporting workshops consultation processes or student dialogue forums

• Well developed analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to collect interpret and present data to inform decision making programme development and continuous improvement

• Student centred with a strong understanding and awareness of the student lifecycle including key transition points and the diverse needs perspectives and experiences of students

• Knowledge of relevant contemporary research national policies and initiatives in addition to the current best practices relating to student belonging engagement partnership and success

• Excellent IT and digital communication skills including experience using online collaboration tools and digital platforms to support engagement and project management

Student Skills and Success

Student Skills and Success plays a central role in enabling Maynooth University students to fulfil their potential by partnering with them to understand their experiences and perspectives The unit supports students in navigating the complexities of university life fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging them to embrace the full range of opportunities that MU offers Through this support students are empowered to thrive make the most of their time at MU and imagine and create a better future This unit comprises Student Success and Engagement including Orientation Academic and Programme Advisory Academic Skills Development and the Careers and Employability Service

Office of the Vice President Students and Learning

The Office for Students and Learning champions student engagement and co creation ensuring that the student voice underpins the strategic direction of educational activities It also provides strategic guidance through the Centre for Teaching and Learning driving educational enhancement initiatives grounded in research and best practices Additionally it oversees the University’s teaching and learning function supporting staff in teaching assessment and student support The office is the university driver for student employability and success through Student Skills and Success which includes the Careers and Employability Service It works very closely with other teams across the University to support students and is committed to the health and well being of students leading the development of comprehensive support systems collaborating closely with the Maynooth Students’ Union and championing a positive student experience

The University

Maynooth University is a very distinctive university a collegial institution focused on science and engineering humanities and social sciences and equally committed to research teaching and community engagement Located in Ireland’s only university town its distinctive features and character owe much to its unique history and heritage It provides a high quality educational experience to over 17000 students on a campus with 18th century roots and 21st century dynamism

Maynooth University is a place of lively contrasts a modern institution dynamic rapidly growing research led and engaged yet grounded in historic academic strengths and scholarly traditions We offer a range of programmes at undergraduate postgraduate and doctoral level in the humanities science and engineering and social sciences including business law and education along with a range of international programmes and partnerships

The strategic trajectory and accomplishments of Maynooth University since its establishment as an autonomous public university are exceptional and a source of great pride to the university community staff students and alumni Maynooth University ranked in the top 90 global Times Higher Education THE Young University rankings in 2024 Maynooth University’s growing global reputation is based on the originality quality importance and impact of its research and scholarship commitment to teaching and learning the quality of academic programmes and its leadership in widening participation in higher education The sources of success are the dedication of its staff and the energy and engagement of its students

Maynooth University’s Values

Our values define who we are what we believe in and how we act as a community They underpin our future success and guide our expectations of ourselves and each other Our values apply to everyone in the University community

• Integrity

• Collegiality

• Responsibility

• Freedom of expression

• Ambition

Salary Administrative Officer I : €59,812– €85,339 p.a. (9 points) Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions.

Hours of work A 35-hour working week is in operation in respect of full-time positions (pro-rated for part-time positions). This can be reviewed or adjusted from time to time through national agreements.