Job Description

Job title: / Executive Officer
Department/School: / Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office
Grade: / 7
Location: / Bath campus
Job purpose
The post holder will support the Director of Learning and Teaching Enhancement on educational enhancement and policy development with University wide impact, as well as ongoing higher level administrative tasks. The post will incorporate aspects of research and analysis; information and communication management; report and paper writing; preparation of briefing materials; independent project management and project coordination; co-ordination of external and university facing learning and teaching related publications as well as some general administration.
Source and nature of management provided
The job title of the line manager
Director of LTEO[currently Director of Academic Registry]
Staff management responsibility
The number of jobs and job titles reporting directly to this post
None
Special conditions
Highlight any unusual features of the job e.g. shift working; requirement to be mobile throughout a specific area; physical factors where relevant. Check with your HR Manager as this might contravene current legislation on discrimination.
N/A
Main duties and responsibilities
The main purpose of the role is for the post holder to work in close collaboration with the Director of Learning and Teaching Enhancement, supporting her to run an effective and professional office, support the university’s innovations and enhancement of learning and teaching projects and initiatives and sustain an excellent reputation for the university nationally. Although there are some annual tasks, regular committees and working groups the Executive Officer will relate to, throughout the year a wide variety of educational projects, activities and opportunities will present themselves.
Secretarial support to the Director is otherwise covered within the Office and is not part of this role.
Institutional level support and communication
1 / Informing University learning and teaching policy proposals through analysis and interpretation of data using a range of techniques; identifying trends, consulting on solutions and sourcing additional related information where appropriate.
2 / Summarising external policy, legislation and regulations relating to learning and teaching and advising on its application within our university context.
3 / Servicing relevant University level Learning and Teaching related Boards and Committees as required.
4 / Reporting on the progression of policy development and implementation through briefings to stakeholders and issuing regular reports to, for instance, Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee, Senate, the Vice Chancellor’s Group or external stakeholders such as funding masters, on behalf of the Director.
LTEO communications and publicity
5 / On behalf of the Director, overseeing LTEO’s publication and dissemination efforts to promote the University of Bath’s learning and teaching successes externally and internally (editing University website news items, co-ordinating student facing ‘responding to feedback’ campaigns and similar).
6 / Co-ordination and editorial oversight (but not operational delivery) of the LTEO’s website.
7 / Supporting the Director on communications internal to the LTEO and with external bodies (QAA, HEFCE, JISC, British Council and similar).
8 / Working closely with the Executive Officers of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), the Director of Academic Registry and other support officers in Professional Services and the Faculties on operational planning, cross institutional communication and collaborations as well as other operational matters.
Higher administrative support to the Director
9 / Supporting the Director’s higher administrative work such as drafting LTEO’s Annual Report, Annual Planning documentation, Equality & Diversity submissions and managing internal projects independently.
10 / Investigating procedural and managerial issues on behalf of the Director, analysing information and carrying out research as required, handling confidential information sensitively and with discretion. Such investigations may relate to the review or redesign of procedural matters, implementation of agreed policy, or may be aimed at collecting information to underpin proposals of (internal) policy or strategy.
11 / Servicing committees, including the Teaching Awards Committee, Teaching Development Fund Committee and working parties that are the responsibility of the Director. “Servicing” will include drawing up Terms of Reference where not already provided, proposing membership, timing meetings to fit with the institutional committee cycle, preparation of agenda and papers, taking minutes, disseminating information, administering budgets, progressing decisions and monitoring timely implementation of decisions.
12 / Ensuring appropriate reporting from committees, working parties and Learning and Teaching projects into governance and management structures.
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by your line manager.

Person Specification

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Assessed by
A/F / I/T / R
Qualifications
First degree, or equivalent /  / 
Postgraduate degree, or equivalent /  / 
AUA PG Certificate in Professional Administration, or equivalent /  / 
Experience/Knowledge
Advanced knowledge and experience of administration in HE or a sector of similar complexity. /  / 
Knowledge and understanding of current learning and teaching issues in HE /  / 
Sound understanding of governance structures /  / 
Experience of policy research activity /  / 
Experience of bid writing or preparation of formal policy proposals /  / 
Experience of adjusting written and spoken style of communication to a range of contexts /  / 
Substantial experience of balancing a range of higher administrative tasks, working to the direction given by seniors. / 
Skills and Attributes
Outstanding written English and grammar at graduate level /  / 
High standards of accuracy and attention to detail /  / 
Good communication skills and ability to interact effectively with people at all levels /  / 
Proven analytical and problem solving capabilities /  / 
Proven organisational skills /  / 
Ability to plan, prioritise own workload and work on own initiative /  / 
Flexibility of approach and willingness to learn new tasks /  / 
Sound information retrieval and data research skills /  / 
Capable of remaining calm and effective under pressure /  / 
Flexible approach to working hours and the need for occasional out-of-hours duties /  / 
Ability to carry independent responsibility /  / 

Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R - References