Doctoral College Manager

FTE: 1 FTE (working 37 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: Fixed Term (September 2028)

Salary: UH8 £46,049 pa to £58,225 pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 30 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: MacLaurin Building, De Havilland Campus 

Based in Hatfield, just 25 minutes from London, the University of Hertfordshire’s Doctoral College fosters a strong community of research degree candidates, covering a broad spectrum of research activity and offering a wide range of Masters and Doctoral degrees delivered by highly experienced teams of professional and academic staff. 

The Doctoral College has an excellent reputation for providing the highest level of professional support for our post graduate research students and with the current postholder on secondment, an exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint a Doctoral College Manager to lead the professional service until September 2028. We are seeking an experienced, highly capable individual who will deliver to an excellent standard with the support of a friendly and collegiate team. 

Main duties and responsibilities

The Doctoral College Manager will be required to lead the provision of an exemplary professional service to all activities relating to research degrees, supporting activity from student enquiry, application and admission, enrolment, finance and examination. You will provide expert advice and guidance to staff and students on regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to postgraduate research student activity. You will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the Doctoral College professional staff, along with their personal development ensuring the team continue delivery of an excellent professional service. As necessary the postholder will deputise for the Director of Academic Services and lead on specific projects as directed by the Director of the Doctoral College and the Director of Academic Services.

Skills and experience required

You will be able to demonstrate experience of successfully leading a professional service to an excellent standard, and a good understanding of research degree processes, procedures and administration to support academic and business requirements. Your ability to receive, understand and interpret complex regulations and be a credible source of information of compliance relating to the requirements of the University and of external bodies will be essential. 

You will be required to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across a range of academic and professional colleagues, building strong working relationships, negotiating and problem solving as appropriate, whilst also balancing a wide range of service demands. You will also have the ability to manage and motivate staff, to develop both individuals and teams as well as the ability to advocate, support and manage change whilst still delivering a high standard of service delivery.

Qualifications required

You will be educated with a minimum of a Degree or equivalent or have significant professional work experience in an equivalent level of role.  

Please view the job description & person specification for a full list of the duties & essential criteria.

Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.

We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries:

Lisa Uttley, Director of Academic Services, Academic Registry, l.uttley@herts.ac.uk

Closing Date: 24 February 2026

Interview Date: TBC

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