SDF folks unite!
The Staff Development Forum (SDF) is passionate about people, committed to learning and development and empowering others to thrive.
Members of the Executive and Council teams are Learning and Development professionals in the Higher Education (HE) sector working voluntarily to:
- facilitate the growth of learning and development professionals by supporting and challenging each other through networking opportunities.
- craft initiatives to forge collaboration, innovation and sharing of excellent practice.
The SDF is a not-for-profit charitable organisation founded in 2004 and strategically partnered with Advance HE. The SDF is a nationally recognised and regionally representative network.
Our Aims are to:
- maintain our focus on what we do well: networking, supporting each other and sharing excellent practice.
- actively explore insights, connections and points of entry into to new thinking, research and innovations through alliances with other like-minded organisations.
Support for the Staff Development Forum
One role of Executive to the SDF, Communications Officer, will become available in March 2021.
This role will replace a current member of the Executive team, who is moving on to an even more exciting role within HE.
This role seeks to maintain and enhance the current SDF digital communications, and like the rest of the Executive team support the new governing structure of the SDF.
The tenure of this role is for a three-year period.
This is an exciting opportunity for one successful applicant to work with like-minded colleagues to help shape the strategic direction of the SDF. Additionally, they will gain valuable experience of working within a small team to support staff developers from across our sector.
We’d like the SDF Executive team to represent the remarkable and diverse SDF regional networks and for this we’d heartily like to encourage colleagues from SDF regional networks to step in.
About the SDF Executive team:
The Executives will be expected to attend SDF Executive and Council Meetings and the National SDF Conference.
Outside of these meetings, the Executive Committee maintains informal contact through email and Zoom calls.
Members of the Executive Committee benefit from accessing opportunities to:
- Make an impact nationally in their professional areas (give something back) and on our HE Sector, working to support and develop our staff and colleagues
- Work with the other SDF Executive Team members & sharing with other colleagues depths of experience & knowledge
- Hear from all regions and consider opportunities and challenges people face, in order to support action/improvement where needed
- Gain a professional network of like-minded people across the country and create stronger relationships with people from different cities while making new connections in the HE sector
- Facilitate the sharing of best practice, enhancing practice through development activities, encouraging cross-institutional collaboration and support re-engaging colleagues in their CPD in key areas, under the direction of the SDF (with the support of AdvanceHE)
- Network more regularly with colleagues across the community in a more formalised way
- Learn from other colleagues with different experiences, insights and expertise
Duties of the SDF Executive:
- Implement a digital communications strategy in liaison with the Chair, Executive, Council and Administrators.
- Contribute to the development of SDF’s communications strategy, and the communications of the SDF initiatives and projects.
- Represent the SDF at a national and potentially an international level, including the Advanced HE, other external agencies/organisations, potential project partners, the media and variety of stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of all CPD activity inc. SDF Events, Accredited Programmes and Conference.
- Liaise with other members of the Executive, Council and Administrators in order to progress the SDF’s strategies and business plan targets.
- Contribute to the development of the SDF’s strategic policy, planning and implementation processes.
Application
If you would like to express your interest in this role please confirm this in writing (email) to the Executive team at chair@sdf.ac.uk
Applicants are required to prepare a 250-word summary outlining why they are interested and what they can bring to the role. Closing date Monday, 15 March 2021.
If we do receive a high number of self-nominations, then it may be necessary to conduct an election to determine the new post-holders.
If you would like further information about the role or the work of the SDF Exec. Committee, then please do not hesitate to contact the Executive team at chair@sdf.ac.uk