Senior Manager, Academic Quality & Standards

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Academic Quality and Standards is responsible for the leadership and management of key quality assurance and enhancement processes which together with the other Senior Managers in the team, ensure that the Open University meets its external and internal responsibilities in relation to academic quality and standards. The primary aim of this role is to manage external reviews, accreditations and reporting of quality assurance. There is scope to be involved in wider quality assurance processes depending on the post-holder’s experience and the needs of the team.

The role is also responsible for the line management of colleagues responsible for the delivery of the associated activities.  

This is a key leadership role within the Team. The Team supports the Pro-Vice Chancellor (PVC) Students’ institutional accountability for assurance and enhancement of academic quality and standards and alignment with external quality assessment frameworks, thereby improving student experience and student outcomes. The majority of the work of the Team is directly related to the leadership, management and oversight of University curriculum approval, monitoring and review processes, and external compliance with external quality assurance requirements. The Team also provides advice and guidance to colleagues across the University on quality-related matters, as well as managing the review of the validated and research degrees provision.

Skills and experience

You will enjoy working in a fast paced and challenging environment and be experienced in managing complexities and juggling multiple priorities. In particular, you will be expected to have:

• Experience of managing quality and standards systems, policy and processes
• Experience of leading stakeholders to implement institution-wide changes in complex settings
• Experience of leading, developing and motivating individuals/ teams
• Demonstrable written and verbal communication skills suitable for communicating with senior internal and/ or external stakeholders
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills, with the ability to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with a diverse group of people at all levels, and the ability to influence and challenge at all levels so that results are achieved, including where line management responsibility is indirect.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately once a month.

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.  We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.