About the Role

We believe that where you start in life, shouldn’t limit where you go.

The Open University is a unique institution created 50 years ago to open up education for all. We are open to anyone, anywhere, changing millions of lives across the world and always looking for new ways to help people succeed. Our pioneering use of innovative methods, such as our BBC partnership, means we reach more people than any other university.

We work across all four nations of the UK and we are the most popular choice for online, distance, flexible study.

This role will support and develop a range of initiatives to enhance The Open University (OU) in Wales’ skills and innovation work. You will engage with employers, regional partnerships, representative organisations, other education providers, government, community partners, and public, private and third sector organisations across the learning and skills-based landscape in Wales. You will play a key operational role, building on the OU’s reputation as the premier provider of high quality flexible and distance learning.  

You will be expected to use your skills and expertise to develop and co-design initiatives with a range of existing and new external and internal partners, assessing skills and future learning needs and developing research, innovation and knowledge exchange opportunities to grow the reach of the OU in Wales’ offer. 

As a member of the Learning, Skills & Innovation team, you will be required to support a portfolio of work that includes:

• Developing our partnerships with employers, including innovative approaches to address skills and workforce development needs.
• Developing in-depth knowledge and understanding of the skills landscape in Wales, including economic and societal priorities and areas of focus for Medr and Welsh Government stakeholders.
• Working with academic staff to enhance research and innovation opportunities to secure knowledge exchange, innovation and commercialisation objectives.
• Working alongside community and third sector organisations, to widen access to higher education and to work collaboratively in designing learning solutions that address skills needs and priorities.

At any one time, you will be required to take lead responsibility for a specific portfolio of work which will change and adapt according to operational needs. You will also be required to oversee the tasks of project officers/support staff/assistants (as required), ensuring projects are monitored in accordance with team priorities and funder specifications and reporting information is submitted accurately and timely.

You will also be expected to innovate and be creative, and to utilise the OU’s extensive research expertise, curriculum and unique methods to meet the needs of employers, learners and partner organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the strategic planning and implementation of the OU in Wales skills and innovation work, taking a central role in deepening and developing our work with employers and skills-related partner organisations, in line with OU in Wales strategy.
• Establish, develop and maintain positive relationships with external and internal partners to facilitate appropriate, innovative and effective opportunities.
• Take responsibility for a portfolio of specific employer and partner projects and initiatives and maintain appropriate processes including record keeping, reporting and generic project management.
• Proactively work alongside colleagues to identify appropriate innovation and knowledge exchange funding opportunities and contribute to proposals to develop activities and outputs in your portfolio.
• Contribute to and develop innovation and commercial knowledge exchange opportunities including taking responsibility for developing skills and innovation funding bids, using appropriate research and analysis to write persuasively and with impact.
• Contribute to the achievement of targets and outcomes associated with the OU in Wales business plan and other internal and external commitments.
• Contribute to evaluation activity, data collection and analysis, and other dissemination activity.
• Identify opportunities to promote, publicise and share your successes, working closely with the Marketing and Communications team.  
• Contribute to the overview of budgets in your work area, including forecasting, monitoring and ensuring best value.
• Analyse relevant data and write and produce reports for internal and external audiences, including any statutory returns or monitoring reports to funding bodies.
• Contribute to internal and external groups and committees as appropriate.
• Oversee the work of project officers/support staff/assistants as required.
  The role holder may be required to undertake any other duties reasonably required within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the role, subject to the proviso that normally any changes of a permanent nature shall be incorporated into the job description in specific terms. 

All staff are expected:

• To comply with the University’s Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies in the performance of your duties.
• To take reasonable care of the Health and Safety of yourself and that of any other person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.
• To co-operate with The Open University in ensuring as far as is necessary, that Statutory Requirements, Codes of Practice, University Policies and Departmental Health and Safety arrangements are complied with.
• To demonstrate a strong commitment to the principles and practice of equality and diversity.

Skills and Experience

Essential 

• A commitment to the ideals of the Open University, including equal opportunities and diversity issues.
• A degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience of building sustainable and purposeful relationships for an organisation with a range of stakeholders and partners.
• A track record of successfully managing multiple projects or workstreams with examples of work that you have initiated that have made a difference/had impact.
• Experience of planning and prioritising workload to achieve multiple objectives.
• Experience of project implementation and evaluation, including the dissemination of learning to other interest groups.
• An understanding of current policy drivers and delivery mechanisms related to tertiary education and wider economic, skills and workforce development priorities in Wales.
• Excellent organisational abilities, particularly in relation to a diverse and demanding work portfolio.
• The ability to work on your own initiative to make considered decisions and to work as part of an outcomes-focused team
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills including excellent presentation skills with experience of writing for internal and external audiences which may include writing bids and funding proposals, and organising events, both online and face-to-face.
• A growth mind-set where you are resilient and adaptable to change. 

Desirable 

• A higher degree in a relevant subject.
• Experience of developing bids or proposals from externally funded sources.
• Knowledge and experience of working with employers to provide continuing professional development, and skills development activity.
• An understanding of knowledge exchange and innovation in higher education.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

Essential Requirements

This is a Cardiff based position where you will work from the Cardiff office a minimum of 2 days per week. Additionally, we would anticipate flexibility in response to business needs, however we are happy to have a discussion regarding alternate working arrangements depedning on individual circumstances. There will be some expectation of travel in Wales and to other OU locations when required. We will consider alternative arrangements and would encourage individuals living in North, Mid or West Wales to apply for this role.

How to apply: To apply for this role please submit the following as separate documents:

• CV
• A supporting statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job description.

Please Note: 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.