Department:Academic Services

JobDescription

Department:Academic Services

Location:Moulsecoomb

Job title:Quality and Standards Manager (Engagement and Information, Curriculum, Academic Standards and Assessment, Partnership)

Post number:AS5025

Grade:7

Responsible to:Head of Quality and Standards

Responsible for: Quality and Standards Officers and Administrators

Purpose of the role

The Quality and Standards division is responsible for managing the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement (QAE) Framework which comprises policies and processes designed to secure the quality and standards of the university’s awards. The division is organised around four core areas of work: academic standards and assessment, curriculum, engagement and information, partnership.

The Quality and Standards Manager will lead the development and implementation of Quality Assurance and Enhancement policies and processes across the university in one of the core areas.The post holder provides specialist advice and guidance, leading a team of professional staff and managing projects and resources. The post holder is cognisant of the national and European context, ensuring the university’s policies and frameworks are developed to improve and enhance the Quality Assurance and Enhancement (QAE) framework.

The Quality and Standards Manager provides advice and guidance to senior managers recommending innovative solutions to complex problems where there are no clear precedents. As an expert in a specialist area, the post holder builds and maintains a strong network of stakeholders, internally and nationally.

The post holder develops and maintains service level agreements and commits resource for the medium term to ensure the service is managed appropriately and efficiently and fully understands relevant regulations and codes of practice according to the specialist area.

Main areas of responsibility:

Time %
To be responsible for leading the management, development and effective implementation of the University’s quality assurance and enhancement policy and operations in accordance with institutional, national (and European) expectations and regulatory frameworks. / 30%
To lead, manage, develop and coordinate professional staff teams and operations supporting quality and standards across the university to increase the effectiveness of the service. / 25%
To provide professional,specialist guidance to senior managers and academic colleagues regarding university policy and processes in the context of national quality standards and University academic governance requirements, as well as associated external bodies, providing innovative solutions in the light of local, unique and often complex circumstances and requirements. / 20%
To lead the development of effective practices (communications, briefings, training, workshops) to ensure staff in relevant areas across the university are supported in their use of the university’s quality assurance policies and processes. / 20%
To contribute to budget/financial planning / 5%

The post-holder may additionally be asked to undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.

Skills

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent application of theoretical knowledge.
• Considerable work experience of an analytical nature.
• Experience and demonstrable knowledge of higher education administration including quality assurance and committee servicing.
• Significant knowledge of national strategies and policies concerned with quality assurance and enhancement including that gained through involvement with relevant professional networks.
• Ability to successfully manage a team and demonstrate team leadership.
• Ability to write, implement and adhere to policies, procedures and service levels, and to observe and follow regulations, including the ability to evaluate information against set criteria and guidelines.
• Ability to produce complex written communications and policies to high standards of accuracy and clarity.
• Able to work as part of a team, sharing good practice and developing effective professional relationships with colleagues.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information both verbal and written,demonstrating sensitivity and diplomacy when communicating difficult information.
• Ability to plan and prioritise a wide range of work activities, meeting conflicting work deadlines.
• Demonstrates innovative thinking and a range of problem-solving skills;
• Excellent level of computer skills, including Microsoft Office, databases and on-line systems.
• Able to demonstrate effective influencing and negotiation skills.

Desirable

• Use of complex (student) records systems.
• Management of resources: demonstrates strategic understanding of financial planning and budget control; has a record of contributing to the annual resource planning process and overseeing allocated resources.