Senior Manager, Academic Quality & Standards

Advert Reference Number: 851

Job Location: Milton Keynes

Department: Assessment, Credit & Qualifications

Salary: £46,735 to £55,755 pro rata

Closing Date: 6 July 2025

Weekly Working Hours: 18.5

Contract Type: Permanent

Fixed Term Contract: End Date:

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

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The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

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.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead colleagues in preparing for, facilitating the management of, and responding to external quality reviews and accreditations of the University.
• Prepare for and facilitate the management of regular external reporting to external bodies.
• Regularly author and/or contribute to the drafting of key institutional reports relating to academic quality and standards for internal and external use.
• Leadership and management of colleagues within the Team who are responsible for delivery of quality assurance and enhancement processes. Including the line management of colleagues responsible for the allocated activities.
• Manage the design, development and maintenance of documentation and guidance for quality assurance and enhancement processes, including online resources.

Process Improvement

• Lead, manage and advise on the monitoring of, and continued development of institutional processes and policies for quality assurance and enhancement, to ensure compliance with external requirements.
• Contribute to relevant institutional projects that impact on the university’s quality and standards frameworks and practice.
• Engage in continuing professional development to remain up-to-date with respect to changes in the external quality and standards landscape.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues across the University on quality-related matters.
• Promote co-ordination between units and integration of approach to quality management across the institution.
• To undertake any other duties which may reasonably be required.

Governance

• Contribute to the work of University groups and committees responsible for quality assurance/ enhancement and standards as required.
• Provide project management to quality assurance groups/ committees/ projects, including preparation and presentation of formal reports and minutes.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

Operational Leadership Expertise

• Experience of managing quality and standards systems, policy and processes in complex settings, to meet the requirements of external frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience of working under pressure and prioritising conflicting demands to deliver to tight deadlines within resource constraints.
• Demonstrable organisational, planning and prioritisation skills.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate individuals/ teams autonomously and with initiative.

Process Improvement Expertise

• Demonstrable problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment in proposing recommendations and implementing solutions.
• A commitment to the OU mission and values, and to the integration and delivery of equality, diversity and inclusion principles.
• A strong commitment to excellence in working with a diverse student population.

Stakeholder Engagement Expertise

• Experience of leading stakeholders to implement institution-wide changes in complex settings.
• 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.

Communication Skills

• Demonstrable written and verbal communication skills suitable for communicating with senior internal and/ or external stakeholders.
• A first degree in any subject, or equivalent work experience.

Desirable:

Higher Education Experience

• Experience of working in the Higher Education sector.

Knowledge and Experience of External Quality Assurance Compliance & Regulation

• Experience of leading the application of external frameworks/ regulatory requirements in complex educational settings. For example, managing institutional compliance with the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, European Standards Guidelines, the Office for Students’ Ongoing Conditions of Registration, accrediting bodies, and Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies.
• Knowledge and/ or experience of academic quality and standards systems, policy and processes in the four Nations of the UK higher education sector.

Experience of Representing Institutions During External Scrutiny

• Experience of preparing for and facilitating external review methodologies, for example: Quality Assurance Agency reviews, Ofsted inspections, or Office for Students’ investigations.

What you get in return: We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus 8 Bank Holidays and 3 extra Christmas closure days.

Flexible working: We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you. This is a part time position of 18.5 hours with a negotiable work pattern.

Work location: 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.

As we operate across the four nations we are interested in applicants who have experience of managing quality assurance/ are located in devolved higher education settings (Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland).

How to apply: If you are interested in applying for this position, please click the 'Apply' link above where you will be directed to our Careers webpage.

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.