Academic Section
At the University of Essex, student success is at the heart of our mission. We are proud to offer a transformational, research-led education to our students, who are not defined or constrained by their past but welcomed on the basis of their potential. We support them to shape and fulfil their ambitions and to achieve outstanding outcomes.
We are in a period of exciting change and development for the University and the Senior Compliance Manager plays an important role in supporting our ambitions. Reporting to the Academic Registrar as a member of the Academic Registrar’s Office, you will join the Academic Section of the Professional Services, a diverse, committed and talented team with a strong focus on impact. We provide expertise, leadership, management and support in pursuit of the University’s mission to deliver excellence in education and research, for the benefit of individuals and communities. We support delivery of the Education Strategy and provide professional support to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) to achieve our education ambitions.
Working in partnership across the University, we operate throughout the academic cycle from the point of admission to graduation and beyond. Alongside the Academic Registrar’s Office, the main directorates of the Academic Section are Academic Services and Student Life. The Academic Services directorate is responsible for delivering effective, responsive and customer-focused academic services across the University, specifically relating to taught and research student casework, progress, assessment, outcomes and awards; timetabling, student records, systems and data; quality and academic development; collaborative partnerships, degree apprenticeships and summer schools; student complaints and conduct. The Student Life Directorate encompasses the Student Development, Student Wellbeing & Inclusivity and Student Services teams, which cover a range of activities in support of student progression and success and graduate employability.
Duties of the Role
In this crucial role, you will be a key expert in relation to the University’s student immigration compliance requirements and will be responsible for our policies, processes and procedures underpinning our Prevent Duty and related Safeguarding obligations. You will lead and support institutional compliance within the context of evolving internal and external developments, working in collaboration with Academic Section teams and managers, Faculties, Academic Departments & Schools, and other Professional Services teams. You will provide leadership and management for the International Services team, a 14-strong team with responsibility for the day to day oversight of our student immigration compliance. You will deliver training and briefings to students, colleagues and teams, provide effective budget management and support the resolution and escalation of complex student casework. As a senior manager, you will also contribute to the successful operation of the Academic Section. Reporting directly to the Academic Registrar, you will manage your team’s staffing structure, its pay and non-pay budgets and ensure responsive, effective and customer-focused processes and services in your areas of responsibility.
Skills and qualifications required
You will be a strong team player with excellent leadership and management skills and a creative and flexible approach. You will bring to the role a combination of relevant management experience within a complex organisation with demonstrable experience and an excellent understanding of UK Higher Education immigration compliance requirements. The ability to think strategically while balancing operational delivery is essential. Your attention to detail will be important, combined with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will be tactful with a demonstrable ability to exercise effective judgement and a strong sense of empathy for both academic endeavour and values and the positive contribution professional activities make to the University. You will able to work collaboratively with academic and professional services colleagues with personal credibility.
At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.