Professional Services
Professional Services is the name for the various divisions of staff at Sussex. These divisions provide services for students, alumni, staff, clients, partners, friends, supporters and the community.
Divisions
Our divisions – each comprising a range of specialist staff – help to deliver Sussex’s strategy across its mission for teaching, research and enterprise through working with our academic Schools and departments.
These divisions are overseen by the leadership of the University.
Communications, Engagement and Advancement
This division includes media relations, internal communications, public affairs, campaigns, Digital and Creative Media, Marketing, along with the International Office, UK Student Recruitment, Admissions, Global Engagement and Widening Participation.
Services include:
- ensuring the University’s vision, strategic aims and developments are understood by students, staff, business, the media, government, the local community and the wider public
- promoting the achievements of academics, researchers, students and staff
- working with colleagues to increase the awareness of Sussex’s outstanding student experience and the many exciting and innovative University initiatives.
Development and Alumni Relations is another key department, involved with philanthropic fundraising (e.g. major gifts, trusts, foundations and legacies), the alumni experience, and running corporate events, such as our graduation ceremonies.
Media enquiries
If you’re a journalist or press officer, see our media centre.
Estates, Facilities and Commercial Services
This division’s services include:
- capital projects delivery
- catering services
- facilities management (including transport, print/reprographics, grounds, mail, cleaning, security, a helpdesk, waste and recycling)
- housing services
- space, management and planning
- Sussex sport
- sustainability.
Contact
Interim Director: Chris Harrison
directorofestates@sussex.ac.uk
01273 877996 or 01273 678222
Finance
This division is responsible for financial planning and management. Its services include:
- financial services – accountancy, payment of suppliers, administration of insurance, invoicing of debtors, procurement of goods and services, collection of income from debtors, investment management, liaison with statutory authorities on financial matters (including accounts, returns, most of which are audited)
- identifying commercial opportunities or cost reduction processes in line with our strategic aims and negotiating the best terms for the cost of supplies to the University
- developing ideas and plans for expansion and further developments within the best practices of public sector stewardship of resources.
Its teams are Schools Finance, Professional Services Finance, Fees and Income, Payments Management, Corporate Accounting Services, Procurement and Research Finance.
Contact
Chief Financial Officer: Jacinda Humphry
J.Humphry@sussex.ac.uk
01273 075160
General Counsel, Governance and Compliance
This division’s services include:
- providing support to the University’s senior management to assist in the delivery of strategic priorities and compliance requirements
- liaising with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, including the submission of statutory returns
- protecting the University through effective corporate governance and compliance processes, including administration of the business of the University’s governing body, records management and data protection
- supports the work of senior University committees including Council, Senate, Court, Strategy and Resources, Nominations, Audit and Research Strategy.
Its offices include Governance Services and Information Management and Compliance.
Human Resources
This division partners the University in all aspects of its people management while our staff are with us.
Its services include:
- recruitment
- staff development
- payment of staff
- staff wellbeing
- retirement
- equality and diversity for students and staff.
Its offices are Personnel, Payroll and Pensions, Staff Development, Staff Welfare and Equalities.
Contact
Email human.resources@sussex.ac.uk or call 01273 877769.
IT Services
This division provides a networking, computing and support service to help all members of the University make the best use of information technology.
Its offices are Client Services, Corporate Information Systems and Infrastructure Services.
Contact
Interim Director: Katie Damen
K.Damen@sussex.ac.uk
01273 873030
Library, Culture and Heritage
We deliver high-quality, innovative information services that contribute to the successful learning, teaching and research of the University and the community.
Offices
Library Academic Services and Special Collections, Library Frontline, Planning and Support Services, Library Content Delivery and Digital Strategy
See our information for visitors if you’re not a Sussex student or member of staff, but would like to visit the Library.
Contact
Email library@sussex.ac.uk or call 01273 877830.
Research and Innovation
This Division supports our research effort and our enterprise and knowledge exchange activities.
It also helps us work with business, government and the third sector and, where appropriate, helps us benefit from any commercially valuable research results.
Our teams include:
- Research Development
- Research Finance and Contracts
- Innovation and Business Partnerships
- Research Ethics, Governance and Integrity
- Research Information, Quality and Impact
- Doctoral School
Contact
Director: Claire Potter
Claire.Potter@sussex.ac.uk
01273 873903
Student Experience
This division runs support services focused on improving the student experience, both to students and colleagues in our schools and departments.
Its services include:
- Academic Quality and Partnerships
- Educational Enhancement
- Student Administration
- Student Data and Records
- Student Experiential Services
- Careers, Employability and Entrepreneurship
- Student Advice and Guidance
- Student Complaints, Conduct and Funding
- Student Engagement and Enhancement
- Wellbeing, Therapeutic and Residential Life Services
- Student Systems and Projects.
Contact
Director: Jayne Aldridge
jayne.aldridge@sussex.ac.uk
01273 678516 or 01273 877019
Strategy and Planning
This division is responsible for all strategic planning, incorporating management of the annual planning process and work on resource allocation.
Vice-Chancellor’s Office
The Vice-Chancellor’s Office (VCO) supports the University’s senior academic leaders (the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, and Pro-Vice-Chancellors), and the University’s professional services lead (the Chief Operating Officer).
The VCO advises and assists senior leaders, provides day-to-day executive support, and facilitates the University’s leadership groups. These are the University Leadership Forum (ULF), the Academic Leadership Forum (ALF) and the Professional Services Leadership Team (PSLT).
The VCO is also responsible for the University’s executive governance function which supports the Vice-Chancellor in the day-to-day management of the University and in realising the University’s strategic and operational objectives, subject to Council’s oversight.
The University’s executive governance function operates in conjunction with the University’s academic (Senate) and corporate (Council) governance. Together these three strands of governance help ensure the University realises its operational and strategic objectives, meets its regulatory and statutory obligations, and is governed in accordance with its Regulations, Statutes and Charter.
Contact
Chief of Staff and Director of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office: Dean Machin
D.J.Machin@sussex.ac.uk