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About the Role

Working within the OU Validation Partnerships Team, the post holder will report to a Senior Quality and Compliance Manager (SQCM) and will be supporting new and existing partners to ensure that they are aligned to and compliant with university policy, UK law and the requirements of other relevant external bodies, such as the Regulator(s) within the four Nations.  
 
The role holder will work closely with the Senior Quality and Compliance Manager in the development of the University’s arrangements and requirements for the approval and reapproval of new and existing collaborative partnerships, working closely with key internal and external stakeholders on the development of student policy, alongside being a subject matter expert for a range of policies and processes, providing advice and guidance on a broad range of complex topics to assure and enhance the quality and standards of their degree level provision.  
 

Key Responsibilities

• Support OU Validation Partnerships (OUVP) in the development and approval of new validation partnerships, including undertaking due diligence and conducting risk assessments on enquiring institutions and existing partners.
• Support the continuous development of the Partnership Development and Approval and Partnership Reapproval processes, and the resulting amendments to Standard Operating Procedures, Regulations and the OUVP Handbook.
• Support the process, recruitment and training of expert reader support, for the Partner Compliance Review of new and existing Partner Institutions. 
• Provide expert reader support, and undertake Partner Compliance Reviews, for new and existing Partner Institutions.
• Collate expert reader feedback and support new and existing Partner Institutions in meeting compliance requirements.
• Support the management and monitoring of conditions set, following the Partnership Development and Approval Process and Partnership Reapproval Process, including collating the feedback of expert readers to determine if conditions set are met.
• Line management responsibility, as required.
• Review updated partner policies and processes submitted mid-cycle and ensure these are managed through the expert reader process.
• Ensuring clearly mapped audit trails for all partnerships, new and existing.
• Support specific activities or working groups to ensure that OUVP is audit ready and working efficiently and effectively.
• Prepare reports and other papers as required.
• Service University committees or working groups that may from time to time be assigned, including the preparation of policy papers, agenda and minutes.
• Supervise, as appropriate, the maintenance of records and correspondence and provide accurate information and data in support of OUVP’s responsibilities.
• Liaise with colleagues in OUVP, and across the rest of the university, to provide authoritative advice, support and guidance, and support on adaptations and developments (where needed) of Partnerships’ policies and processes to ensure they are accessible, accurate, up to date and compliant with University requirements, the requirements of HE regulatory bodies across the four Nations, UK law and quality frameworks including QAA and any other relevant bodies.
• Spend time away from home at a variety of events. This post may involve travel, potentially including long-haul trips.
• Coordinate the handling of complaints and academic appeals received from students registered on OU validated awards, liaising with Student Casework Office (SCO), SQCMs and SQPMs.

Additional Responsibilities for the team, if required: 

• Support, if required, the Annual Monitoring process.
• Support, if required, Curriculum Partnership activity.
• To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Director, Head, Approvals and Curriculum Partnerships, Head of Validation Partnerships and Operations, or Senior Quality and Compliance Manager.

About You

Essential

• An understanding of compliance with university requirements, relevant UK law and the requirements of Regulatory bodies.
• Experience, knowledge and understanding of developing, implementing and managing administrative processes.
• Experience of report writing, preparing papers, and the analysis and interpretation of data and other forms of information to effectively convey written and oral information to a wide range of recipients, internally and externally.  
• Proven ability to interpret policy and disseminate information effectively.
• Excellent inter-personal, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, advise and support others over whom there is no formal authority.
• The ability to develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, driving policy and enhancing services for students.
• An understanding of systems and techniques used to provide digital support and communication to partners and validated students.
• Proven ability to work proactively with minimum supervision, using own initiative.
• Strong commitment to the University’s mission and values along with the ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies. 
• An analytical mind, able to think laterally to solve problems and make sound, evidence-based decisions.
• Willingness to travel for business purposes.

Desirable

• Educated to undergraduate degree level, equivalent higher education qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of line management.
• Knowledge of quality assurance in higher or further education.
• Experience of managing a complex project to completion.
• Experience of working in a Partnerships Team in Higher Education or similar environment.

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

Interviews are anticipated to take place on week commencing 9 November 2026 and will consist of a panel interview and short assessment.

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 1500 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.