Post Title: Senior Student Support Adviser - Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Sexual Violence and Safeguarding
SBU/Department: Dean of Students Office, Student Wellbeing Services
FTE: 1.0 FTE (37 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Permanent
Annual Leave: 30 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: College Lane Campus, Hatfield
The Dean of Students Office provides a coordinated, student-centred approach to supporting health, wellbeing, inclusion and student success. As part of Student Wellbeing Services, this role sits at the forefront of the University's commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful community where all students can thrive.
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Student Support Adviser to lead our specialist Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Sexual Violence and Safeguarding Service. This is an exciting opportunity to manage a skilled team, shape institutional approaches to student support, and play a key role in ensuring the University's operational compliance with Office for Students (OfS) Condition E6 requirements relating to harassment and sexual misconduct.
Main duties and responsibilities
You will lead the University's operational implementation of OfS Condition E6, overseeing compliance monitoring, mandatory training programmes, policy development, reporting and governance requirements.
You will provide specialist advice to students and staff, develop and deliver training and awareness programmes, coordinate events and campaigns, and establish effective partnerships with external agencies such as the Police, Sexual Assault Referral Centres and specialist support organisations
Skills and experience required
Experience of leading staff, delivering training to diverse audiences and working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders is essential.
You will demonstrate sound professional judgement, the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries and confidentiality, and a commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. Knowledge of OfS Condition E6 requirements, safeguarding responsibilities and equality legislation is essential.
Qualifications required
You will hold a minimum of a degree (or equivalent Level 6 or higher qualification) or significant relevant professional experience. Accredited Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) qualifications are essential, together with relevant professional or academic qualifications, or significant knowledge and skills, applicable to the role.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT
DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE
This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as amended. The University requires that the successful applicant who is offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required and this will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. The University of Hertfordshire complies with the ‘Code of Practice for Registered Persons and other recipients of Disclosure Information’.
Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad
Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total), in the last 10 years, will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct’ from each of those countries.
Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self service portal.
We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Viju Patel, Deputy Director (Student Wellbeing), v.patel38@herts.ac.uk
Closing Date: 29 November 2026
Interview Date: TBC but likely to be week of 7th/14th December 2026
Reference Number: REQ000899
Date advert placed: 12 November 2026
Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts
You will lead and manage a specialist team providing advice, guidance and support to students affected by harassment, bullying and sexual misconduct.
You will have substantial experience of providing specialist support and advice relating to harassment, domestic abuse, sexual misconduct and safeguarding, together with experience of managing projects, services or programmes and implementing improvement initiatives.
Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Investigators programme.
improvement of arrangements relating to harassment and sexual misconduct.
