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UXPA UK – Get Involved in 2020!

The UXPA UK committee is made up of enthusiastic volunteers from the community. As an organisation we’re constantly growing and evolving. We are currently looking to fill in the following committee positions: Industry Liaison Officer Communications Officer UK Liaison Officer …

The UXPA UK committee is made up of enthusiastic volunteers from the community. As an organisation we’re constantly growing and evolving. We are currently looking to fill in the following committee positions:

  • Industry Liaison Officer
  • Communications Officer
  • UK Liaison Officer
  • Academic/Student Liaison Officer

You will need a passion for UX and/or events, a commitment to seeing the UXPA UK succeed and grow, and a real desire to support colleagues in the industry. Being a committee member does require a reasonable time commitment and the standard term is 2 years. Committee members do not receive any personal remuneration, but it is a truly rewarding and social experience!

Getting involved is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and experience to help our industry. You’ll get lots of opportunities to meet like-minded people, it will help your CV and most importantly it is fun too! If you are motivated to help and have a few hours free each week then we’d welcome your help.

Each committee role will be filled by an individual who has been appointed by a voting process. If we receive a single application for a role, approval with be confirmed by committee vote. To be confirmed as a committee member, if not an existing member, the applicant must become a UXPA UK member before they take the role. If we receive multiple applications for a single position, then the applicant will be appointed by UXPA UK Chapter members by vote. Only existing UXPA UK Chapter members will be eligible to vote. Membership will be checked during the process. Details on the election process and a summary of committee and role descriptions are below.

Industry Liaison Officer

  • Manage current UXPA UK sponsorship arrangements and seek out further opportunities.
  • Seek out collaboration opportunities and build relationships with industry partners where we can build relationships for discounts for UXPA UK members for goods and services.
  • Seek out collaboration opportunities and build relationships with local chapters of international sister organisations (e.g. IxDA, London Accessibility Meetup).
  • Identify and communicate with potential speakers or workshop facilitators for our regular monthly events from the commercial sector.

Communications Officer

  • Write and send the monthly newsletter with a focus on ensuring communication regarding UXPA UK events is complete and accurate.
  • Address any communication-related enquirers and manage the members Slack channel.
  • Periodically update and maintain content on other social media channels (e.g.: YouTube).
  • Collect and collate newsworthy items for the UX community (with the support of all committee members, and volunteers).
  • Assist in monitoring and manage the @UXPAUK Twitter account with support from the Social Media Project Lead.
  • Collect and collate newsworthy items for the UX community (with the support of all committee members, and volunteers).

UK Liaison Officer

  • With the support of the committee, curate an event in London in the first year of your term.
  • With the support of the committee and existing contacts, liaise with other non-London UX communities in the UK with the goal of hosting a UXPA UK event outside London in the second year on your term. Take every opportunity to let fellow UX practitioners know about our presence and successes, promoting UXPA UK across the UK.
  • Seek out collaboration opportunities and manage relationships with other London UX communities.

Academic/Student Liaison Officer

  • Increase student engagement in UXPA activities including promotion of UXPA UK membership, attending events, volunteering and assisting in committee activities.
  • Represent students and recent graduates at committee level within the UXPA UK.
  • Identify and communicate with potential speakers or workshop facilitators for our regular monthly events from the academic sector.
  • Keep up to date with academic courses being offered and have a working knowledge to advise prospective students of UX related courses.
  • Seek out collaboration opportunities and build relationships with academic partners.

Summary of the Required Commitment of Committee members:

  • If based in London, attend a minimum of 6 monthly committee meetings a year (currently 1st Wednesday of month in the evening). Meetings are held in-person and/or remotely.
  • If unable to attend a meeting in person, a written role update should be provided ahead of the meeting.
  • For roles apart from Events Manager/Support, if based in London, attend a minimum of 4 of our regular monthly events a year (3rd Thursday of month in the evening). Attendance at all events is encouraged.
  • Organise speakers for and curate, or host, 1 to 2 events per year.
  • Decide the theme and format and secure speakers for the evening.
  • Organising an event requires roughly 10-15 hours; logistical assistance is provided by the Event Managers, Project Leads and the wider Committee.
  • You should allow about 12-15 hours per month.
  • All roles require some initiative. You should bring your own ideas on how to fulfill your role best with suggestions from the committee and the community.

In addition, we are looking for Project Leads to support our core areas including:

  • 1 x Events Support Project Lead
  • 1 x Communications Project Lead

Project Lead roles are not full members of the UXPA UK committee and are not subject to a public voting process. They are appointed by a vote of UXPA UK committee members only. Project Lead positions have an active role to play in shaping our activities. They do not do not require the same level of commitment of a 2 year fixed-term and as such do not have full voting rights for committee matters. They do however, carry many of the benefits and opportunities!

Events Support Project Lead

With support and guidance from the Events Management team, the primary responsibility of the Events Support role is to co-ordinate the planning and ensure the smooth running of UXPA UK events. including being available on the day of each event.

This will involve being available on the day of and attending the event. Events for 2020 are scheduled to be held in the evening (18:00 – 21:00) of the 3rd Thursday of the month for approximately 100 people. Some dates are subject to change but events will usually be held on a Thursday.

  • With assistance from the Events Managers, liaise with the venue to ensure facilities will be available and the event space set-up as required.
  • Co-ordinate with the Events Managers to ensure that food and drink is set-out at the venue in time for the event. Note: The Events Managers are responsible for ordering food and drink for the event.
  • Ensure badges are printed for all registered attendees and are delivered to the venue or collected from the printers.
  • Provide an attendee register to be used on the evening.
  • Assist in managing volunteers for each event, allocating responsibilities, providing detailed briefings and monitoring completion.

Communications Project Lead

  • Support the Communications Officer/Secretary in writing and sending the monthly newsletter with a focus on ensuring communication regarding UXPA UK events is complete and accurate.
  • Address any communication-related enquirers as delegated by the Communications Officer/Secretary including maintaining the members Slack channel.
  • Periodically update and maintain content on other social media channels (e.g.: YouTube).
  • Collect and collate newsworthy items for the UX community (with the support of all committee members, and volunteers).
  • Assist in monitoring and manage the @UXPAUK Twitter account with support from the Social Media Project Lead.

Want to get involved, but not sure you suit those roles?

While some roles do have set responsibilities, individuals do have flexibility to tailor the duties to suit their expertise or area of interest. Applications for other named roles which are not part of the current Management Committee and Project Leads will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The applicant should make their own case for the role and apply using the normal process.

What is the process?

If you would like further information on the responsibilities of being a committee member or would like to discuss a specific role in more detail please contact secretary@uxpa-uk.org and president@uxpa-uk.org before you submit your application. They will direct your query to the relevant committee member.

To apply for a role, you will need to prepare a short written application, which should be emailed to secretary@uxpa-uk.org before the nominations close on 16th December 2019.

The application should cover:

  • What you will bring to the UXPA UK committee (max 150 words).
  • A summary of your related experience (e.g. role specific experience, voluntary experience or previous UXPA UK involvement) (max 200 words).
  • A short biography (200 words)

If you wish to make a case for a role that is not named above, you should also include:

  • Your vision for the role (max 200 words).
  • Your goals for the 1st year of your term (max 150 words).

The key dates for the election are:

  • Nomination Open: Friday, 15th November 2019.
  • Nomination Close: Sunday, 15th December 2019.
  • Voting Opens: Monday, 16th December 2019.
  • Voting closes:  Friday, 10th January 2020.
  • Notification to applicants: Wednesday, 15th January 2020.
  • Notification to community: Thursday, January 16th 2020.

The successful applicant will be the applicant with the highest number of valid votes. The current UXPA UK President and Vice-President will adjudicate and will have the final say on whom is appointed to the positions.

Good luck!

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