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Apply to be a Student Sustainability Architect

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Applications to be a Student Sustainability Architect are now open until Wednesday 4 October. These part-time paid positions give you the opportunity to work with the Sustainability Service to deliver a sustainability project that aligns with the University’s strategic objectives. 

What does the role entail?

Student Sustainability Architects are flexible roles where you will work up to 100 hours over the course of the academic year to bring new ideas and a student perspective to our different sustainability projects across the University. You will be expected to work around 4-6 hours per week alongside your existing commitments and academic studies to deliver a sustainability project. 

As part of the role, you will be required to work collaboratively with your project supervisor to develop your objectives, deliver your project, review your progress and present your outcomes at the end of the year. 

You will also be expected to attend induction sessions, communications trainings, social networking events and an end of year celebration.  

Who can apply?

Nope, you don’t actually have to be an architect to apply!  

As long as you’re interested in sustainability and enrolled onto a degree programme at the University of Leeds for the 2023-24 academic year then you can apply. We accept applications from across all Schools, disciplines and levels.  

What’s involved in the application process?

To apply, you need to follow the application process online. You will be asked to submit your CV and a supporting statement which both refer to the criteria stated in the candidate brief. 

Applications close on Wednesday 4 October 2023 and will be shortlisted by the group of project supervisors. If shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre on Wednesday 18 October or Friday 20 October where you will be expected to take part in group activities and a short interview.  

You will then be notified on whether you have been successful or not in the week commencing Monday 23 October.  

What’s in it for me?

Alongside being paid £11.47 per hour, you will have the opportunity to deliver a sustainability project which supports the University’s strategic objectives and has real impact across the University and beyond.  

You will develop a range of sustainability skills (depending on your project) and take part in a reflective skills workshop delivered by the Student Careers team. Through collaborative project delivery and attending social events you will expand your network of staff and students across the University community.  

You will also be given the chance to contribute to wider sustainability activity at the University including events, campaigns and initiatives aimed at engaging the University community with sustainability.  

What project will I work on?

For the 2023-24 academic year, we are recruiting twenty-two roles each delivering a sustainability project ranging from supporting biodiversity across campus to increasing engagement with sustainability initiatives across the University community.  

Projects that you can get involved with include: 

  • Helping to drive biodiversity on campus and across student residences 
  • Supporting the University Climate Plan by organising and delivering engagement activity  
  • Delivering a student project with the Faculty of Earth and Environment.  
  • Supporting the Gair Wood project team to deliver outreach and engagement activity.  
  • Supporting the Plastics Programme through researching Plastic Free Zones 
  • Supporting the Sustainable Curriculum Climate Principle to develop sustainability module content within the suite of Discovery modules, evaluate student engagement in Welcome, Induction and Transition sustainability resources, enhance the staff Sustainable Curriculum SharePoint Resource and support the Sustainable Curriculum programme to build connectivity with student societies. 
  • Building communications and engagement activity around sustainable travel, Leeds Living Lab, Sustainable Labs, sustainable catering and the Sustainability Service.  
  • Supporting the delivery of the Student Sustainability Research Conference 2024 
  • Promoting and supporting students into careers in sustainability 
  • Promoting circular economy initiatives within Residential Services 
  • Coordinating community gardening projects utilising the Sustainable Garden and community circular economy initiatives

Full details of the 2023-24 projects are available in the candidate brief and on application you can express an interest in specific projects through your CV and supporting statement.

Read more about past Student Sustainability Architect projects ranging from designing a forest garden with a local primary school to organising volunteer plating sessions at Gair Wood in our blog posts. 

If you have any questions, please email sustainability@leeds.ac.uk 

Good luck with your application! 

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We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity.

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.