The RMA currently has a vacancy for Student Liaison Officer.
The RMA funds up to six student study days per year. These are normally organised by graduate students in collaboration with the student liaison officer. Presently, there is £300 available for each event, and student organisers are encouraged to seek additional funding if needed (for example, from the host university or other academic organisation).
The main role of the student liaison officer is to collaborate with student organisers in the setting up and running of events. This includes:
- Advising on the concept of the study day, drawing on subject-specific expertise of other RMA members as appropriate.
- Offering mentoring support where needed.
- Giving advice on setting up a programme committee in the host university.
- Monitoring publicity and liaising with the digital technologies officer and the communications officer to ensure optimum dissemination of the call for papers. Also, advising on appropriate promotion of the RMA in publicity materials.
- Providing instruction on organising the study day itself to ensure smooth running of the event.
- Instigating and monitoring financial tracking and authorising the reimbursement of expenses from the RMA fund.
The student liaison officer is also responsible to various RMA committees and produces an annual report for the events committee at the first meeting of the year.
Planning in tandem with other members of the organisation is an important part of the role and the student liaison officer is expected to attend meetings of the events and student committees, and also the council meetings. This amounts to approximately nine meetings across the year (some of which are held online or hybrid). We expect this role to require roughly two to three hours per month, although there will be busier and quieter times of the year, based on the pattern of the academic year and the RMA’s calendar of business.
Since the Covid 19 pandemic of 2020, there has been a trend towards either online or hybrid events and it would be an advantage if applicants had a good understanding of the technology involved. Also, interest among graduate students in running events has diminished because of post-Covid uncertainty, so it would be helpful if applicants had a confident, pro-active approach to planning. Personal networking has always been an important part of the role, and many successful events have had their origins in chance conversations with students, so applicants would ideally be enthusiastic conference attendees with broad interests in a range of areas of music research.
A priority for this role is to support ongoing efforts in improving equity, diversity and inclusion, both within the RMA and in the discipline at large. We wish to ensure those values are represented in the study days.
The RMA enthusiastically welcomes applications from candidates with backgrounds historically underrepresented in music studies.
The post holder will receive a stipendiary remuneration, currently £2895 p.a. plus travel costs assossiated with attending meetings.
This position will be appointed for three years in the initial instance, with the possibility of renewal. Enquiries about the post can be directed to Chair of the RMA Search Committee, Laudan Nooshin (l.nooshin@city.ac.uk).
Applications should be sent by email to l.nooshin@city.ac.uk and should comprise the following:
- A curriculum vitae (maximum 4 sides A4)
- A covering letter outlining ambitions for the post and details of the candidate’s relevant experience and expertise in relation to the person specification
- Names and contact details of two referees
The deadline is 5pm on Friday 31st March 2023. We are expecting to hold interviews in mid to late April.