The Role
The postholder will provide leadership and management of the Education Policy and Governance team, part of Registry and Education Services, within Student Services. The team works in partnership with staff and students to develop and implement institutional education policies, ensure the quality of the University’s educational provision, and enhance the student learning experience. The unit’s wide remit includes responsibility for internal educational policies and regulations, aspects of educational partnerships, governance and committees, educational data, and quality assurance processes and systems.
The postholder will act as a key source of expert advice on education policy, regulations and quality assurance, provide data driven insight into the student education experience, ensure regulatory compliance including meeting the expectations of the Office for Students and Competition and Markets Authority; and deliver continuous improvement in the University’s approach to delivering educational excellence and assuring standards.
The postholder will work closely in collaboration with the team and with colleagues across the institution including senior management, those in central services, faculties, academic units, across branch campuses and with the Students’ Union (NUSU).
For informal enquires contact Rachel Dearlove ()
Key Accountabilities
1. Leadership and management of the Education Policy and Governance team, working with the members of this team to create and embed a high-performance culture and enable team members to fulfil their full potential in their roles.
2. Maintaining a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the external quality assurance and regulatory context, including the work of the Office for Students and Competition and Competition and Markets Authority. Leading and managing work to ensure that the institution responds to external changes and continues to both meet its regulatory obligations and education goals.
3. A key member of the Registry and Education Services leadership team working to develop and deliver the service’s strategic plan, and its contributions into the wider Student Services strategic plan.
Supporting and enabling the implementation of the University’s Education for Life 2030+ Strategy through policy development and process improvement.
4. Interpreting and assessing internal and external drivers that influence strategy and policy in relation to academic governance and the management of data relating to taught programmes, to ensure that the University’s policies and processes in these areas are up to date, relevant and effective.
5. Providing effective policy and support to the PVC Education, Education Deans and education leadership of the institution both through University Education Committee (UEC) and wider, and as required through membership of relevant groups. Ensuring effective policy and committee support is provided to UEC and its sub committees.
6. Writing and presenting reports/briefing papers and making recommendations to relevant University committees. Developing and delivering presentations and workshops for academic and professional services staff to support the development of a high quality education and student experience at Newcastle.
7. Developing and steering through to successful ongoing implementation, University regulations, policies and processes relating to education (including but not limited to academic quality and standards). Managing and contributing to the review and development of these policies, and associated processes and systems, to respond to changing internal and external contexts.
Developing and implementing the strategy for engagement with external bodies in relation to the English integrated quality model.
8. Ensuring that the Education Policy and Governance team provide effective advice and guidance to colleagues (including contributing to this work), to ensure their effective implementation
9. Ensuring that the Education Policy and Governance team provide effective support for the development and implementation of University policies and processes for student voice and representation (including contributing to this work) working with the Student Life team.
10. Ensuring that effective and efficient processes are in place for recording and publishing information about taught programmes and modules, and that the team provide effective support for the elements of these processes that it is responsible for implementing. This includes lead responsibility for University returns to the Student Loans Company in relation to taught programmes, and contributing as appropriate to other data returns to national bodies.
11. Any other duties, consistent with the post’s grade, as requested by the Director of Registry and Education Services, or Academic Registrar.
The Person (Essential)
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
12. Thorough and extensive knowledge and understanding of the UK higher education environment including sector regulatory requirements for the quality assurance and academic governance of education provision.
13. Effective leadership, managerial and motivational skills.
14. Substantial experience of policy development and implementation including embedding external regulatory requirements into institutional policy
15. Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues in faculties, academic units, and professional services at all levels of the University and externally.
16. Proven ability to work collaboratively and co-operatively with colleagues as part of a team.
17. Sophisticated task management, prioritisation and planning skills.
18. Significant experience of managing processes and systems relating to learning and teaching within a higher education setting, and analytical and process improvement skills for both data and systems.
19. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write detailed evidence-based reports and make informed recommendations.
Attributes and Behaviour
20. Demonstrable commitment to own professional development.
21. Embraces and initiates change, promoting creativity and supporting change with and amongst colleagues.
22. Uses data to inform decision making and approaches
23. A clear commitment to delivering equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.
Qualifications
24. Qualified to degree level (or equivalent).
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 28914