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.

About the Role

The main functions of this role are to ensure that University Partners Student Policies are aligned to and compliant with University policy, UK law and the requirements of relevant external bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) obligations under consumer protection law. The focus is supporting key Senior Partnership Managers within OUVP and working 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. 

Key Responsibilities

• Working with colleagues in OUVP, the Student Support Team, across Academic Services, CIO portfolio, PVC Students, Faculties, and other areas to ensure that the University Partnerships’ student policies are compliant with University Policy, the requirements of HE regulatory bodies, UK law and quality frameworks including Matrix and QAA.
• Manage and coordinate major policy review projects. 
• To own, and lead on adaptations and developments of internal and external Student Policy and Regulations, to ensure that all policy information provided by policy owners is accurate and up to date and that documents are prepared for publication so that they are accessible, easy to navigate and compliant with the requirements of the Office for Students, QAA, CMA, and any other relevant bodies. 
• To ensure that all changes to Partner’s policies and their curriculum are recorded so that students can easily track all the changes that have affected their study. This may include providing advice and support to external organisations on change logs. 
• To provide expertise within projects and other developments that relate to student policy and compliance, providing advice on risk management, direction, and information where there are compliance requirements.
• To establish, maintain and develop proactive management of changes to policy, curriculum, and legislation. This includes taking a risk-based approach to analysing the impact of change for students and reporting to appropriate Senior Staff. 
• To provide advice on policy and compliance on changes to the curriculum, polices or external changes. 
• To provide authoritative advice and support to others in OUVP about the University’s student policy.
• May provide line management to one staff member who assists in the work above including career development and pastoral support.
• To participate in the preparation and/or writing of university reports. 
• Acting as a nominated deputy for the Deputy Director OUVP to provide leadership for all matters related to policy and compliance if required.  

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• First degree (or equivalent experience).
• A detailed understanding of compliance with institutional policy, UK law and the requirements of regulatory bodies. 
• 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.
• Experience of leading and managing teams to ensure compliance of support provision to meet recognised standards.
• 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.
• A proven commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills accompanied by excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, establish credibility and assert authority. 
• 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.
• An understanding of systems and techniques used to provide digital support and communications and the specification and acquisition of data to provide personalised student support in the area of compliance. 
• 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.
• Strong commitment to the University’s mission and values, and to the delivery of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Willingness to travel for business purposes. 

Desirable:

• General understanding of the Open University’s administrative processes.
• Previous experience within a Higher Education Setting
• Appreciation of the University’s strategic context and current strategic plan
   

Essential Requirements

As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) that demonstrates how you meet the essential / desirable criteria listed above. Flexible working patterns will be considered.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate 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 anticipate this to be once per fortnight. 

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