Advertised from 8 August 2025

Role

Are you an innovative and solutions-driven leader who can guide the Aberdeen University Students’ Association into the next phase of our journey?

Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) exists to support, empower and represent students. We have been on a journey of making significant improvements to AUSA and have enhanced student satisfaction, undertaken a full-scale democracy review, set a new strategic direction and built a strong relationship with our university partner.

We are proud of the journey so far; however, the next phase of our journey will require significant change.

We are operating against a challenging landscape for higher education, which impacts us and our key stakeholders and will require us collectively to make changes and innovate. The challenges include a change in student profile, a physical infrastructure that requires enhancement and elements of our services are not performing to the standards we want.

We are determined to make the changes required to build an exceptional students’ association that fully meets the needs of our students.

To make the progress we are targeting in our strategic plan, we will need a Chief Executive who can think outside the box, innovate and find solutions to challenges.

There is a strong willingness both internally and with our key partners to collaborate and find innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

To help us on our journey, we will need a Chief Executive who can:

• Provide a track record of delivering creative solutions to overcome challenges.
• Work collaboratively and collegially with our key partners (such as the University and Aberdeen Sports Village).
• Have experience of building financially sustainable operations.
• Be decisive and willing to take challenging decisions.
• Support and empower our sabbatical officers and staff.
• Role model inclusive leadership and bring a sense of humour, fun and camaraderie to our workplace.

In addition to the skills above, we know that the change process we require will not always be easy and therefore, our Chief Executive will need to bring strong personal resilience. However, you will benefit from a passionate team, a supportive Trustee Board, a fantastic set of Sabbatical Officers and a University partner also committed to this journey.

Application notes

Please visit Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Thursday 11th September.