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.

Empty interior of the Meeting House, showing the curvature in the walls of the building and with sunlight streaming through the multiple, multicoloured windows.

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, Marketing and Advancement

This division manages and enhances our reputation as a world-leading research and academic institution.

It also leads on the University’s strategy and recruits undergraduate and postgraduate students from the UK and overseas.

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.

The division includes media relations, internal communications, public affairs, campaigns, Digital and Creative Media, Marketing.

It also includes the International Office, UK Student Recruitment, Admissions, Global Engagement and Widening Participation.

Development and Alumni Relations is also a key department. Its work includes philanthropic fundraising (including major gifts, trusts, foundations and legacies), making alumni feel part of the University 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

Director: Robert Hutton
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

Director: Allan Spencer
r.a.spencer@sussex.ac.uk
01273 678307


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, Health and Safety, the Vice-Chancellor’s Office 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

Director: Jason Oliver
Jason.Oliver@sussex.ac.uk
01273 678700


Library

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 Enterprise

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: Vanessa Cuthill
V.R.Cuthill@sussex.ac.uk
01273 877718


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


University Operations and Strategic Planning

This division is responsible for all strategic planning, incorporating management of the annual planning process and work on resource allocation.

It also co-ordinates the leadership of all School-based Professional Services staff (except Technical Services).


You might also be interested in: