Senior Student Support Advocate 

University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) 

·         Full time 

·         Permanent 

The Opportunity 

Are you passionate about empowering students and ensuring their voices are heard? Do you have strong advocacy skills and a knack for navigating complex policies? Are you committed to creating inclusive, culturally responsive services that support all students, including Māori and Pacific communities? 

Our Advocacy & Welfare Team plays a vital role in helping students succeed and belong. As Senior Student Support Advocate, you’ll lead initiatives that make a real difference in students’ lives - providing guidance, representation, and support on academic, non-academic, and hardship-related issues. 

This is a dynamic role where you’ll work closely with students, staff, and external organisations, ensuring advocacy services are robust, fair, and culturally inclusive. 

What You’ll Do 

• Provide independent advocacy and welfare support for UC students, including representation in academic and non-academic matters. 

• Implement and uphold guidelines for managing student-to-student conflict, ensuring fair and respectful outcomes. 

• Promote advocacy and welfare services across campus, ensuring students know where to turn for help. 

• Track trends and provide feedback to UC on policies and processes to improve the student experience. 

About You 

We’re looking for someone who is: 

• An experienced advocate with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to represent students effectively. 

• Knowledgeable in policy and regulations, ideally with a legal background or understanding. 

• Culturally competent, committed to delivering inclusive services that meet the needs of Māori, Pacific, and diverse student communities. 

• Empathetic and diplomatic, with excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust and rapport. 

• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple priorities with confidence. 

Key Skills & Experience 

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field (e.g., law, psychology, advocacy, mediation). 

• Previous experience in advocacy or student support, ideally in a tertiary environment. 

• Strong understanding of university policies and processes. 

• Ability to work with diverse communities and provide culturally responsive support. 

• Excellent time management and interpersonal skills. 

Why Join Us? 

At UCSA, we’re here for students. You’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to helping students succeed and belong, in an organisation that values innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration. 

Applications close 9 January 2026. Please note we will be reviewing applications as they are received and we reserve the right to appoint a suitable candidate before the application closing date.