Student Policy & Regulations Manager
About The University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground‑breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
The College/Department
The Registry supports all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research‑informed practice. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high‑performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all.
About The Role
Are you ready to lead a strategic function at the heart of academic governance and student experience? We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Student Policy & Regulations Manager to join our Registry team. This pivotal role will oversee the development, implementation, and review of the University’s Academic Regulations and Student Policies, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and external regulatory requirements. You will lead the Student Policy and Regulations team, providing expert guidance on complex student cases including complaints, academic appeals, and conduct matters. You’ll also play a key role in shaping policy, supporting early resolution, and ensuring high‑quality processes that enhance student outcomes and institutional compliance. The Student Policy and Regulations team is a forward‑thinking, supportive group committed to continuous improvement and sector‑wide best practice. You’ll work closely with internal stakeholders and external bodies such as the Office for Students, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator to ensure our policies are robust, fair, and student‑focused. This is a leadership role with significant influence across the University, contributing to strategic planning, risk management, and continuous improvement in student policy and regulatory practice.
This position is offered on a fixed‑term basis to cover a period of maternity leave, with the contract due to end in late January 2027. There may be the potential for the contract to be extended beyond this date, however this cannot be guaranteed.
About You
You will be a forward‑thinking professional with a postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience, and have a proven track record of leadership within Higher Education. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and use tools such as Excel, Power BI, or Tableau to inform decision‑making. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the confidence to provide expert advice to senior leaders and manage complex student cases within regulatory frameworks. You will bring a strategic mindset, capable of translating policy into effective practice, and a strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and upholding the University’s values.
Principal Accountabilities
* Act as principal advisor to, and a member of, the University’s Regulatory Framework Committee in its oversight of the University’s Academic Regulations, Rights and Responsibilities for students on taught programmes.
* Lead on appropriate arrangements for the development, approval, publication, implementation and review of the regulations and associated student policies, liaising with internal regulation/procedure/policy owners, committees and the wider University community.
* Act as an internal adjudicator/critical friend, advising those involved internally in complaints, academic appeals, student disciplinary, professional conduct, professional suitability and academic offences.
* Advise members of the Executive/PVC‑Deans on strategic management of complex cases.
* Lead the Student Policy and Regulations team, ensuring all services are delivered on time, accurately, effectively and professionally through staff development and effective utilisation of resources.
* Lead in the development of process, procedure and practice relevant to the area, ensuring administrative processes and systems support the operation of the area.
* Work closely with stakeholder groups to ensure expectations are effectively managed, communication is timely and effective, and to build and maintain excellent relationships within the Registry, wider University and with third parties/other Higher Education providers.
* Be responsible for the preparation and coordination of student cases subject to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for HE (OIA), and act as the main point of contact for communication with the OIA.
* Ensure the University’s informal and formal procedures are in line with sector‑wide good practice and legislative changes.
* Assist the University in learning from complaints/academic appeals/student disciplinary situations to inform practice going forward.
* Monitor and measure the impact that Registry’s services have for those using them and use this information to set service standards and provide continuous development of the team and service.
* Adopt University management information systems to the advantage of the service and seek electronic business solutions where appropriate.
* Act as a senior leader within the Registry, contributing to strategic planning, resource allocation and institutional decision‑making.
* Act as a Registry Data Steward.
* Promote equality and diversity for students and staff and sustain an inclusive and supportive environment in accordance with University policy.
* Work with the Registry College‑facing teams to develop a community of practice in effective regulation and management of appeals, complaints and conduct cases across the University.
* Lead on the provision of management information to key committees, management groups and staff, including reports and progress against performance indicators.
* Lead the governance and oversight of the regulatory Assessment and Award related policies and processes, including advice and guidance on regulatory issues and queries, Assessment Board and Examinations governance.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Postgraduate qualification or comparable knowledge gained through professional experience.
* Evidence of continuous professional development.
Experience
* Experience within a Higher Education provider.
* Experience of leading and performance managing a team.
* Experience of successfully delivering process change and improvement within a Higher Education environment.
* Demonstrable experience of development of academic regulations and/or student policy.
* Experience of complex case management in Higher Education.
* Flexible, responsive and business‑oriented approach, with experience of regular problem‑solving and ability to prioritise.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
* Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and the external environment (e.g. OIA, OFS) and their application.
* Understanding of Higher Education casework.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and non‑verbal).
* Proven analytical and data interpretation capability.
* Excellent report writing and numeracy skills.
* Excellent organisational skills, and effective time and workload management.
* Capacity to think strategically and to engage in detailed operational planning across university and college boundaries.
* Analysis and presentation of management information for decision making using software tools (e.g. Tableau, Excel, PowerBI).
* Comfortable providing support and challenge to senior leaders through the provision of evidence‑based insights.
* Evidenced ability to manage high volume, competing demands, delivering value‑added improvements whilst maintaining service standards.
* Ability to adopt a pragmatic and risk‑based approach to practice, reflecting the commercial approach of the organisation.
* Commercial outlook.
* Able to develop specific actions and plans from strategic aspirations and business priorities.
* Well‑developed people management skills.
* Strong customer focus.
* Ability to influence and negotiate.
Business Requirements
* A commitment to live and promote the University values and behaviours.
* Ability to work outside of normal working hours at times as relevant to achieving targets and meeting the needs of the College (including some evenings and weekends), and to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days and at key student admissions points.
* Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University sites in a cost‑effective and timely manner, particularly at locations where College activity is delivered.
Benefits
* Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata).
* Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
* Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers.
* Discounted onsite gym.
* Access to employer‑funded Private Health Insurance.
* Holiday purchase.
* Cycle to Work scheme.
* A flexible working environment.
* A commitment to personal and professional development.
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Joanne Cooke, Director of Student and Academic Services via j.cooke@derby.ac.uk.
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
Important Information
Visa Sponsorship Eligibility
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation. We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes. We are also committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.
Environmental Sustainability
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
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