Manager, Academic Quality & Standards

Weekly Working Hours: 25

Job Description: 

About the Role 

At The Open University, we believe that where you start in life shouldn’t limit where you can go. Established over 50 years ago, The Open University is committed to providing accessible education to anyone, anywhere in the world. Our unique approach to education has transformed millions of lives, and we are continually innovating to help more people succeed.

Through initiatives like our partnership with the BBC, OpenLearn and digital pioneering distance learning methods, we reach more people than any other university, offering flexible, distance learning that fits into any lifestyle. We proudly serve all four nations of the UK, making higher education accessible for all.

The role holder leads the day-to-day management of key academic quality assurance and enhancement processes across all OU subject disciplines. The purpose of the role is to support Faculties to monitor and improve student experience and student outcomes, and contribute to ensuring that the OU meets external government requirements on academic quality and standards.

The role is based within the Internal Quality section of the Academic Quality and Standards (AQS) team. The AQS team supports the Pro-Vice Chancellor Students who has institutional accountability for assurance and enhancement of academic quality and standards and alignment with external quality assessment frameworks. 

Within AQS, the Internal Quality team is responsible for quality assurance and enhancement processes relating to student experience / outcomes which are managed by the OU. The Internal Quality team also supports quality-related Groups, and provides advice and guidance to colleagues across the University on quality-related matters. The Internal Quality team consists of four team members- a Senior Manager, two Managers and a Coordinator. 

The Internal Quality team continuously reviews and updates its processes, to improve value/efficiency and meet changing external regulatory requirements. The role holder will have the opportunity to contribute to shaping revised approaches, and will need to be comfortable working and supporting colleagues in an environment where processes are developing and changing. 

The role holder will need expertise in academic quality requirements- training will be provided for an incoming role holder to develop this expertise. This is a part-time post of 25 hours per week meaning the salary above would be pro-rata. We are flexible on how these hours can be worked across the working week. 

Key Responsibilities

The exact responsibilities of each Manager will vary over time, as quality approaches develop, and to allow each Manager to experience a variety of activities. The role holder’s responsibilities may include:

• Manage on a day-to-day basis key quality assurance and enhancement processes (or aspects of processes), for example:
• Periodic Quality Reviews: 6-yearly reviews of education provision in specific subject disciplines, which reflect on successes, challenges, future direction and actions.
• Quality Monitoring & Enhancement: the annual monitoring process for OU taught education provision, which facilitates annual reflection on how provision is performing, action planning and sharing good practice.
• Cross University Quality Reviews: provide a University-wide picture of a specific theme area e.g. student engagement.
• Analysis of External Examiner reports: drawing out academic themes for consideration and action.

Management of these processes may include: project management of activities; developing bespoke approaches for particular subject areas; updating process guidance; working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders; providing quality expertise and advice; collecting, analysing and summarising information; problem solving when challenges arise; event management; developing and communicating recommendations; report writing; action tracking and follow up; continuous improvement of the process. 

• Manage process reviews (or elements of process reviews) for key quality assurance and enhancement processes, in order to improve value/efficiency and meet changing external regulatory requirements. 
• Prepare papers for the University’s main quality body, the Academic Quality & Governance Committee, and carry out follow-up from committee decisions.
• Support quality assurance groups/ committees, including preparation and presentation of formal reports and minutes. 
• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues across the University on quality-related matters.
• Engage in continuing professional development to remain up-to-date with respect to changes in the external quality and standards landscape, as well as to continuously develop broader skills and knowledge.  

The role holder will assign tasks to the Internal Quality Coordinator as appropriate and supervise the Coordinator in undertaking these tasks. The role holder may have line management responsibility for the Coordinator.

All staff are expected 

• To undertake any other duties which may reasonably be required. 
• To take reasonable care of the Health & Safety of themselves and that of any other person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.

Skills and Experience 

Essential

• A first degree in any subject, or equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrable organisational, planning and prioritisation skills, including the ability to prioritise competing demands and manage own time effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present to groups of stakeholders and tailor communications depending on the audience. 
• Skills in negotiation, influencing and persuasion, liaising effectively with a wide range of people.
• Attention to detail, and the ability to apply and interpret process guidance. 
• Confidence in analysing quantitative and qualitative information, with the ability to summarise key points and calculate/interpret basic statistics (e.g. averages and percentages).
• Ability to work effectively both independently and co-operatively as part of a team, taking ownership of tasks, using initiative and a pro-active approach.
• Ability to adapt to changing processes and responsibilities, and to support others in adapting to process changes. 
• Good IT skills, ideally including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Teams, PowerPoint and SharePoint.
• Commitment to continuing professional development, including learning from on-the-job experience.  
• Commitment to the OU mission and values, and to the integration and delivery of equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the Higher Education sector.
• Knowledge of academic quality assurance and enhancement. 
• Experience of supervising or line-managing staff.
• Experience of change management. 

Essential Requirements

As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) that demonstrates how you meet the criteria listed above. Flexible working patterns will be considered.

The successful candidate would ideally work from home with the requirement for them to attend the Milton Keynes site, likely not more than one day per month, or as and when required.

Intended Shortlisting Date: W/C 6th January.

Intended Interview Dates: 16th, 17th or 20th January (via MS Teams). 

*Early Close: We may choose to close the application date early if we reach a high number of applications. However, if you would still like to apply before the deadline originally advertised do not hesitate to contact us and we can discuss this with the Chair of the panel.

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.

Closing Date: 20th December 2024