Change your career, change lives
The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).
About the Role
The way we recruit Residential School Support Managers (RSSMs) is changing!
This will now become an annual application process where we are looking to build a pool of Residential School Support Managers to support our upcoming residential/project schools (face-to-face and online) events. RSSMs provide administrative support for each event and will be responsible for promoting and supporting Open University policies such as Disability Support, Bullying & Harassment and Health and Safety. Events will run on a variety of dates in 2026 and early 2027.
These events will run across the following faculties:
- Faculty of Business and Law (internal applicants only)
- Faculty of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
- Faculty of Wellbeing Education Languages and Linguistics (internal applicants only)
The number of days, length of days and locations vary for each of the events. The current rates of pay are:
- RSSM – 7.4 hour day - £157.94 (excluding holiday pay)
- RSSM – 12 hour day - £256.11 (excluding holiday pay)
- RSSM Reserve - £52.12 to 84.51 depending on the length of the school day (excluding holiday pay)
Rates as of October 2025 – subject to future changes in response to Cost of Living increases
This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check for both internal and external staff.
Key Responsibilities
The main role of the Residential School Support Manager (RSSM) is to ensure administrative, clerical, and sometimes technical support, is of high quality for students and staff throughout the school. The RSSM is jointly responsible to the Venue Management and Residential Schools Team (VMRST) and the School Director. Where residential schools are face-to-face, the RSSM has responsibility for maintaining accurate staff and student records, liaising with host site personnel, providing for the needs of students and staff with special requirements and generally making sure that residential or administrative problems do not interfere with the educational value a student receives from the school. The RSSM has a responsibility to the School Director to ensure the smooth running of the school. Duties vary according to the academic programme of the module, size, and site of the school.
Where residential schools are online, the RSSM has a responsibility to support staff and students during the online experience. They are the main contact between School Director, tutors, students Qualification Manager and the VMRST. The role and tasks can vary according to the needs of the Online School however they will have responsibility for maintaining accurate staff and student records, supporting the needs of students and staff with special requirements and generally making sure that residential, administrative, and sometimes technical problems do not interfere with the educational value a student receives from the school.
A full job description and person specification is available here.
Early closing date notification
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.
How to apply
Our pool of suitable RSSM’s will be obtained from the initial application process. This will comprise of applicants completing and submitting a supporting statement of no more than 1000 words covering the essential and desirable criteria set out in the job description. We will ask you to also upload your CV ,however, this should be no longer than 2 pages. Applicants will be notified of their suitability after this initial application process. Feedback on your application form, if unsuccessful, can be provided on request.
If you have any queries relating to this role or would like to speak to someone for more information, please contact the Residential Schools Team directly at ss-rs-team@open.ac.uk
When approved vacancies arise, we will contact suitable candidates from the pool to confirm their availability.
- For FBL/WELS vacancies, this will apply to internal candidates only.
- For STEM vacancies, all candidates in the pool will be considered.
At this stage, there may be a requirement for an informal discussion with candidates before allocation. If this applies, it will be clearly stated in the invitation to confirm interest so candidates are aware in advance.
Once availability has been confirmed, roles will be allocated fairly, with priority given to those who have not recently held a position. After selection, all candidates who expressed interest will be notified of the outcome.
Notes for Candidates
Internal and External Candidates – Please note this role is subject to a DBS Enhanced check as a requirement of accepting this role. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to complete a DBS Enhanced disclosure. An offer of employment may be withdrawn if there are issues with your DBS Enhanced Disclosure.
Internal Candidates Only – Please note that if the dates of the residential school (both face-to-face and online) occur on a day you are expected to be in your substantive post, you will be required to take leave (paid or unpaid) to accept this role.
Internal Candidates Only - You will need approval from your line manager for release from your substantive post and/or to take up this role.
Internal candidates only – That you are aware for roles marked #, that your hours will be provided by the faculty. You may therefore only need to take partial annual leave/unpaid leave from your substantive post for these opportunities
