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About the Role

Working within the OU Validation Partnerships Team, the Senior Quality and Compliance Manager reports to the Head of Quality and Compliance and will be supporting OU colleagues to ensure their new and existing partners, and partnership processes, 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. 

You will work closely with the Senior Quality and Partnership Managers and/or Faculty in the development, implementation and management of the University’s arrangements and requirements for the approval and reapproval of new and existing collaborative partnerships. You will engage 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. Additionally, the role involves providing advice and guidance to partners, faculties and Units on a broad variety of complex topics to assure and enhance the quality and standards and compliant management of collaborative partnerships.

Support for University-level oversight and monitoring of collaborative partnerships, including Reportable Events, the Collaborative Provision Management Group, the Curriculum Partnerships Annual Review and the ongoing update and maintenance of the Curriculum Partnerships intranet pages and University Register of Collaborative Provision are also key parts of the role.

We are recruiting for two full-time, permanent positions. One role will support our internal faculties and units, while the other will focus on supporting our external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting partnership assessment activity by providing expert advice and guidance on readiness, quality and compliance matters.
• Working with colleagues in OUVP, and across the rest of the university to provide authoritative advice, support and guidance, and lead 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.
• Support OU colleagues to interpret and apply partnership‑related policies and processes to ensure consistent and compliant practice.
• Work with Faculties and Units to ensure partnership‑related activity is understood, well supported and compliant.
• Participate in, and prepare University reports about, new business proposals, Partner Compliance, Partner (re)approval and review in conjunction, where appropriate, with other members of university staff.
• To support, evaluate, offer feedback, and report to the university on OU and partners’ compliance in annual monitoring outcomes.
• Lead on or work as a member of various projects, working groups or functional teams, supporting specific activities or working groups to develop and review OU processes to support Collaborative Partnerships, ensure that OUVP is always audit ready and working efficiently and effectively. 
• Directly line manage Quality and Compliance Manager(s).
• Visit external institutions, attend Partner development and planning meetings and participate in conferences across and outside the University.
• Support the review of the Partnership Development and (re)Approval process and Collaborative Partnership processes and the resulting amendments to Standard Operating Procedures, Regulations and the OUVP Handbook and OU guidance. 
• Support, where required, the preparations for any upcoming reviews of OUVP or wider University. 
• Ensure OUVP is compliant with the UK Quality Assurance Framework, Office for Students Regulatory Framework and any other regulatory bodies.
• Service University committees or working groups that may from time to time be assigned, including the preparation of policy papers, agenda and minutes.
• Work collaboratively with other OUVP staff as well as other Teams across the university to support and deliver OUVP’s responsibilities.
• Supervise, as appropriate, the maintenance of records and correspondence and provide accurate information and data in support of OUVP’s responsibilities.
• Represent the Head of Quality and Compliance in external and internal activities and events, for example with employers, other institutions, professional or statutory bodies.
• Spend time away from home at a variety of events. This post may involve travel, potentially including long-haul trips.
• Undertake other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Head of Quality and Compliance.

About You

• A first degree, equivalent higher education qualification or equivalent experience.
• A detailed understanding of compliance with university requirements, relevant UK law and the requirements of Regulatory bodies.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective, genuine, and open long-term relationships with external and internal stakeholders, working co-operatively across institutional boundaries, to improve compliance to policy and service to students.
• An analytical mind, able to think laterally to solve problems, make sound, evidence-based decisions, and work confidently on own initiative to tight time constraints.
• Proven experience of decision making in a complex environment, managing due diligence processes, ensuring sustainable partnerships and minimising risk.
• A proven commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, establish credibility and assert authority of others over whom there is no formal authority.
• Experience of servicing committees, 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.
• An understanding of systems and techniques used to provide digital support and communication to partners and collaborative partnership students and validated students.
• Proven organisational skills together with the ability to prioritise and use tact and judgement and the ability to be flexible in adapting to changing requirements.
• Ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.
• Willingness to travel for business purposes.

 Desirable:

• General understanding of The Open University’s administrative processes.
• Previous experience within a Higher Education Setting with an awareness of issues relevant to the higher education sector, nationally and internationally.
• Appreciation of the University’s strategic context and current strategic plan.
• Project Management experience.

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 week commencing 20 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 1,500 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.