Department: School of Law & Criminology
Vacancy ID: 031261
Closing Date: 12-Nov-2024

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 new team member to take up the role of Peer Support Project Officer (AOII) (0.4FTE) for 12 months. Funded by the Dean’s Strategic Fund (and partly by the School of Law and Criminology), this role involves overseeing and evaluating the delivery of the School of Law and Criminology Peer Support Pilot Project. This innovative project seeks to connect new students with more experienced students, the aim being to build networks and pass on skills and experience that enhances students’ experiences of University.

Under the heading of People and Culture, the Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2023-2028 identifies as a key enabler the need to “[e]nhance belonging and connection in an inclusive campus environment and reimagined campus life.” Under the Students and Learning heading in the Plan, the university community is encouraged to “embrace our University campus as a diverse and inclusive environment where students are empowered to explore and express their authentic selves. For many of our students this exploration occurs through engagement with campus life.”

Students face multiple personal challenges and uncertainties that have been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and lockdowns, social conditions, housing shortages and economic uncertainty. These challenges have implications for engagement, progression and retention. Students may lack support networks and knowledge about where to turn for support. This can be particularly the case for students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.

The Peer Support Project Officer seeks to address these challenges on a pilot basis by providing support to the existing Peer Support Pilot Project run by the School of Law and Criminology. The postholder will work 2 days a week for 1 year, with responsibility for the running of and evaluation of the peer project.  This successful candidate will also have responsibility for mapping current student networks and sentiment around belonging, identifying particular factors that lead to isolation and non-engagement, overseeing initiatives to promote peer-to-peer mentoring and help build student networks, and mapping and publicising student wellbeing and support initiatives. A key aim of this project is to map current student culture and to identify techniques and create processes for peer-to-peer support and network building among students, and to promote engagement between students.

Salary

Administrative Officer II (2024): €44,958– € 63,876 p.a. pro-rata (9 points)

Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions.