5Role Specific Requirements E.G. Shift Working

Further Particulars

This document includes specific information about the role you are applying for and the information you will need to provide with the application.

1Role Details

2About the Unit/Department

3Summary of Duties

4Person Specification

5Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working

6Who to go to for more information about the role or application process

7Where to send completed applications6

8Selection process and date of interview

1. Role Details

Vacancy Reference:6383
Job title:Part Time Regional Manager (0.8)
Reports to:Assistant Director (Regions & External Developments) based in Walton Hall and the Regional Director R08
Salary:£36,715 – £43,840 pro rata
Terms & Conditions: Academic Related
Grade:Grade 8
Duration of post:Fixed Term Contract (16 months) or secondment
Working hours:Hours to be determined to fit with the team
Location:Manchester R08
Closing Date:31 March 2010
Type of application form accepted: Short Application Form & CV
Covering letter:
In this letter please set out in no more than 2000 words:

Why you are interested in the post;

How your skills and experience meet the criteria listed in the person specification.

Please use the essential items listed in the Person Specification as subtitles within your letter. In writing your letter, examine carefully the description of the role and analyse how your skills, knowledge and experience match with the requirements set out in the person specification. Please pick out specific examples from your experience which clearly demonstrate that you have the particular knowledge and capabilities required in the person specification.
The selection panel will consider how well the information you provide demonstrates that you meet the criteria identified in the person specification.
Number of Referees required: 3 to include current/most recent employer
Unit recruitment contact: Ally Smith

2. About the Unit/Department

THE CENTRE FOR WIDENING PARTICIPATION
The Centre was established in 1998 as part of the Open University’s institution-wide response to Widening Participation. It seeks to work collaboratively with other departments to achieve the goals and targets set out in the Open University’s widening participation strategy.

Aims of the Centre

To promote social inclusion and educational opportunity by working to remove the barriers to learning experienced by those adults who take no part in education or training;
To increase the successful participation of adults from under-represented groups in learning and further study with the Open University and elsewhere;
To equip individuals and groups with knowledge and skills relevant to their educational, personal and vocational needs in a period of rapid social and economic change.

Historically, the Open University has always been committed, through the policy of open entry, to broadening access to educational opportunity for all. However, the issue of widening participation to both higher and further education has dominated the Government HE agenda in recent years and will continue to do so in the future. The Centre was established as evidence of the University's intention to build on the work that has already been done.

Openings Programme

The Openings Programme is a curriculum initiative designed to attract new learners from under-represented groups into the OU. The Programme has the following aims:

To recruit students from under-represented groups into Open University study;
To enable students to prepare for further study at HE level;
To improve the retention of students, particularly from under-represented groups, who move onto further study with the Open University.

The Openings Programme has attracted over 100,000 students since it was launched in 2000. The Centre has a target of 20,000 students to recruit in the current year (2009/10) and will employ around 800 Associate Lecturers across the courses to support these students. The Programme currently comprises ten courses:
Understanding children (Y156)
Understanding society (Y157)
Understanding management (Y159)
Making sense of the arts (Y160)
Introducing environment (Y161)
Starting with maths (Y162)
Starting with psychology (Y163)
Exploring sport online (Y164)
Learning to change (Y165)
Starting with law (Y166)
Understanding health (Y178)
Each course enables students to develop generic study and learning skills such as time management, work planning, written communication and learning from a range of media. Students are also helped to develop a realistic sense of their own abilities and potential and plan for future learning. Further details of the Openings courses can be found at the web site and other sources of information can be found at
CWP based at Walton Hall
There are currently 16 members of CWP staff based at Walton Hall including the Director and other members of staff responsible for the overall management of the CWP and the production and presentation of Openings courses.
CWP based in Openings Hubs
The UK provision of Openings tutor contractual and support services, and learner support, has been delegated to two Openings Hubs. They perform some but not all of the functions listed above. The Openings Northern Hub is based at the Manchester Regional Centre and the Openings Southern Hub at East Grinstead.
There are three Regional Managers and Three Regional Co-ordinators in each hub providing a service to tutors and students across all the thirteen Open University regions.

3. Summary of Duties

1.1Main duties:

Duties may vary, but the core activities will include:
Representing the Centre

To represent the Centre across designated regions including attendance at relevant committees and groups within the OU Regions and to provide reports on these to the Centre as appropriate.

Promotion of Openings and other widening participation initiatives

To establish and maintain a system of internal Regional networks across the designated regions to promote and develop the work of the Centre and the Openings Programme.
To respond, to individual and corporate enquirers to promote Openings courses and learning materials and to give presentations where appropriate.
To actively develop regional widening partnership initiatives where appropriate.
To work with OU Regions on developing strategies for widening participation in relation to the promotion of Openings and to maintain close links with any Regional partnerships that are formed to widen participation.
To provide a source of market intelligence to inform the academic planning process in CWP.

Quality of teaching and learning

To provide advice and support to Openings students and liaise with appropriate members of regional staff on the progress and additional needs of individual students.
To manage the appointment of part-time Associate Lecturers (tutors) in conjunction with other Regional staff, having regard to the importance of high quality teaching and learning.
To work with the Regional Coordinators to brief, support and provide staff development opportunities for associate lecturer staff and to handle any formal complaints that may arise.
To advise the Centre and its course teams on presentation issues and also on the content and teaching strategies of courses in the light of feedback from tutors and students, and to contribute to course teams as appropriate.
To represent the interests of students and tutors in the course production process.

Management

To manage and monitor the teaching of a team of Associate Lecturers associated with the hub region.
Responsible for the day-to-day management of Regional Coordinators including their appraisal and development.
To contribute to the work of the Regional Forum.

Other

To undertake other duties as specified by the Assistant Director (Regions and External Development).

4. Person Specification

Essential

A degree, or equivalent and experience of directly relevant work.
A sound understanding of the needs of adult learners and an interest in supported open learning methods.
Evidence of an ability to promote the work of the Centre regionally and show initiative and determination in pursuing and maintaining quality in every aspect of the Centre’s regional activities.
Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills, presentational, verbal and written.
Evidence of a proven ability to manage and develop a team of associate lecturers supporting Openings students, including experience of facilitating staff development activities.
Experience of staff recruitment and selection procedures including interviewing.
Evidence of an ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.
The ability to balance priorities, operate flexibly, to work co-operatively and respond positively to change.
Experience of, and practice in, the use of IT systems.
A willingness and ability to travel around the relevant OU Regions and to Milton Keynes, and to work some weekends. Please note that you are required to live within a reasonable distance of the North West Regional Centre which is based in Manchester.
An understanding of, and commitment to, the equal opportunities policies and practices that underpin the Centre’s Widening Participation activities.
A commitment to continuing personal development and updating in the widening participation field.

Desirable

Some experience of teaching adult learners and of methods of distance learning.
An ability to make a contribution to course development and evidence of writing skills from previous publications.
Experience of using electronic mail and Microsoft Office XP Professional (or similar).

5. Role Specific Requirements e.g. Shift working

Occasional weekend and evening work and a requirement to travel to Walton Hall and other Regional Centres for meetings.

6. Who to go to for more Information about the Role or Application Process

If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please contact Sara Lenaghan on 0161 9556928 or email .
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Ally Smith on 01908 655628 or email .

7. Where to Send Completed Applications

Your completed application should be returnedby: 31 March2010
Please send four copies of each of the above documents marked confidential to:
Name/Job title: Ms Ally Smith
Department/Unit: Centre for Widening Participation
Address: The Open University
Wilson B, Ground Floor
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
Post Code: MK7 6AA
Telephone: 01908 655628
If you wish to send your application electronically please e-mail it to:
.
Shortlisted applicants must provide a signed hard copy prior to interview.

8. Selection Process and Date of Interview

The interview panel will be chaired by Pat Spoors. We expect the other members of the interview panel to beLynne Connolly, Sara Lenaghan and Andy Nelson. The interviews will take place onTuesday 13th April 2010 in Manchester, R08.
The selection process for this post will include an activity and interview. We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been shortlisted for interview together with details of the selection process. Applications received after the closing data will not be accepted.

Human Resources HRG158 Issue 1

November 2009

Page 1 of 6