Job Description
Co-ordinator, Assessment Operations
Advert Reference Number:  1724
Job Location:  Milton Keynes
Department:  Operations, Planning and Results
Salary:  £27,319 to £30,378
Closing Date:  7 July 2026
Weekly Working Hours:  37
Contract Type:  Permanent
Fixed Term Contract: End Date:  Not Applicable
Welsh Language:  Not Applicable

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About the Role

The Co-ordinator, Assessment Operations manages a small team of Assistants who work flexibly across Assessment Operations and contributes to continuous improvement in efficient service provision to internal and external customers. The Co-ordinator is responsible for supporting Assessment Operations with the delivery of assessment activities that ensure Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA), Computer Marked Assignment (CMA), Computer Marked Examination (CME), Exams, End of Module Assessment (EMA) and associated assessment activities, including Academic Conduct, Assessment Parameter maintenance and module result determination, are processed to agreed schedules and service levels. 

The Co-ordinator acts as first point of contact for students and OU colleagues, providing information, advice and guidance on assessment activities as appropriate. 

We have two Co-ordinator opportunities available: 1x Full Time, Permanent, 1x Full Time, Fixed Term until 31 July 2027. 

Key Responsibilities

  • Delivery of processes and operations that support Assessment Operations activities for TMA, CMA, CME, Examinations, EMAs, assisting with Academic Conduct resolution, Parameter administration and module result determination
  • Delivery of processes and operations that support assessment processing activities for maintaining assessment, parameter and academic conduct records, document management and a quality service to customers.
  • Co-ordinate the production, review and update of procedures and related documents for assessment processing, parameters, and academic conduct activities.
  • Provide effective and accurate advice to staff and students on a range of assessment processing and academic conduct matters, including responding to module result enquiries or checks and communicating with academic conduct stakeholders.
  • Monitor and report on performance of Assessment activities, including monitoring of quality of responses to customer queries and module result enquiries or checks. 
  • Contribute to identifying and implementing continuous improvement in service delivery to internal and external customers and maintaining agreed service standards.
  • Use systems and processes effectively to support delivery of services to internal and external customers.
  • Be aware of Key Performance Indicators and quality standards, and work in a way that supports them.
  • Develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues across the University, passing on information promptly to ensure co-ordination of effort.
  • Maintain a good knowledge of relevant OU policy and procedures.
  • Undertake such duties as required by TACQ senior management. 

About You

Essential
•    Experience of leading staff.
•    Experience of actively seeking opportunities and taking personal responsibility for continuous improvement.
•    Previous clerical and IT experience including using Outlook, Word, Excel.
•    Experience of working in a customer focused environment and evidence of encouraging collaborative working across team boundaries.
•    Experience of providing information, advice, and guidance.
•    Ability to pay attention to detail and to maintain accurate records.
•    Willingness to take personal responsibility for getting things done.
•    Experience working as part of a team towards a common goal and meeting the needs of the customer and operation.
•    Evidence of developing, motivating others and adapting to change.
•    An appreciation of the need for strict confidentiality, and to maintain high standards of security.
•    Excellent interpersonal skills including an ability to communicate to a good standard orally and in writing.
•    Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.

Desirable
•    Knowledge of OU systems including CIRCE, VOICE, and OSCAR.
•    Evidence of training and developing staff.
•    Experience of monitoring workloads and key performance indicators.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately once per week. 

Next steps in the Recruitment process

It is anticipated interviews will take place week commencing 13 July 2026.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit the following as separate documents;

  • CV
  • Supporting statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.

 

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

Information at a Glance
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Contact us

If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application, please contact: Careers@open.ac.uk.

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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.