Job description

The Faculty of Social Sciences & Public Policy is seeking to recruit a Faculty Senior Programmes Manager. This is an exciting new role that will provide a focal point at faculty level to support School/Institute Education Managers and programme administration teams across the faculty and will have responsibility for delivering key aspects of the College Education Strategy.

The post holder will have a reporting line to the Associate Director, Education and will work closely with both the Associate Director, Education and the Vice Dean (Education & Students) to support implementation and delivery of Faculty- and College-level strategy and process improvement projects.

The Faculty Senior Programmes Manager will work across all SSPP schools and institutes to provide support to drive consistency amongst programme administration teams. They will collaborate and work closely with School/Institute Education Managers across the faculty to ensure that the faculty’s strategic education projects are aligned and operationalised at school/institute level and in academic departments.

The Faculty Senior Programmes Manager will play a key role in supporting the implementation of strategic projects relating to the Curriculum 2029 and the Student Success Transformation Programme workstreams within the faculty. They will also lead on a range of projects to support harmonisation of professional services processes within and across programme administration teams. This will include the effective and consistent delivery of programme administration and education support for students and staff across the faculty.

Successful candidates will have a proactive approach to transformation, excellent communication skills, experience of change management and a commitment to continuous improvement.  They will have a good understanding of programme administration in Higher Education and strong experience of leadership and creating high-performing, motivated teams.

This is currently a hybrid role and the role holder will spend part of their working week on campus and the remainder working remotely.

This post will be offered on full time indefinite contract

Key responsibilities

This role will comprise two key areas of responsibility. It is expected that at least 50% of the role will be focused on strategy, development and change management projects:  

• Leading on the implementation of a range of strategic faculty and college-wide projects including implementing Curriculum 2029 projects at faculty-level; representing the faculty on the college’s Student Success Transformation Programme workstreams and supporting the implementation of these projects across the faculty; supporting development and implementation of our online, executive education and CPD programmes portfolio. 
• Developing and embedding a range of faculty improvement projects including harmonisation of programme administration processes across the faculty; developing consistent student handbooks; establishing and maintaining a resource hub for documentation of shared administrative processes. 
• Leading and supporting a culture of continuous improvement within programme administration teams across the faculty through identifying areas requiring strengthening and working at a local and university-wide level to define, develop and embed administrative processes, policy and systems which contribute to business resilience, with a focus on high quality and responsive student and staff support. 
• To be an agent of change, championing change management activities across the faculty, working closely with the Associate Director, Education and Vice Dean (Education & Students) to facilitate this. 
• Maintaining an oversight of resource deployment in the context of workload, team structure and utilisation of resource in accordance with the faculty and college’s strategic plans, reporting on successes and setbacks and providing analysis to inform the changing shape of the service.  

The remaining portion of the role will focus on ensuring consistent management and delivery of taught programmes across the Faculty of Social Sciences & Public Policy, with responsibility for:  

• Working collaboratively with School/Institute Education Managers to provide consistent leadership and support for programme administration teams across the faculty.  
• Maintaining an overview of the programme administration teams and their needs with reference to performance and development, setting faculty expectations with the School/Institute Education Managers and assessing achievement against benchmarks of delivery, agreed timeframes, expectations, key performance indicators and service level agreements. 
• Supporting School/Institute Education Managers to lead the effective delivery of programme administration across the faculty, ensuring consistent and high standards of professionalism and adherence to college and faculty strategies and priorities.  
• Assisting academic and professional services colleagues with programme development, to ensure programme administration teams are supported through planning, resourcing and enacting best practice around programme development. 
• Representing the faculty in wider university activities and committees, in support of the faculty’s interests and engaging with university functions, engaging with relevant stakeholders, groups and committees across the college to influence change.   
• Leading and supporting key faculty meetings, including establishing an Education Operations Team meeting, taking responsibility for ensuring actions are clearly noted and actioned.  
• Leading the annual review and development of student handbooks across the faculty. 
• Ensuring all work is carried out in a professional and timely manner, with appropriate confidentiality and sensitivity. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the Data Protection requirements and to support Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests.  
• Working flexibly as part of a team, supporting School/Institute Education Managers in times of high demand and deputising for the Associate Director, Education as and when required.  

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.      Educated to degree level or equivalent experience. 

2.      Substantial experience in a higher education programme administration environment. 

3.      Proactive and authentic approach to leadership, experience of line management and managing high-performing teams, including motivating staff. 

4.      Excellent interpersonal skills including influencing and negotiating with a range of stakeholders with the ability to form strong professional networks.   

5.      A positive, proactive culture of continual review and development. 

6.      Experience of managing projects and managing change, including developing innovative solutions, contributing positively to implementing change and practical implementation of change.   

7.      Experience of translating complex regulations, processes and information in suitable formats for a variety of audiences. 

8.      Excellent task management skills and proven ability to use initiative, prioritise workloads for self and others, and respond positively to competing demands and deadlines.  

9.      Experience of improving the student experience . 

10.    Awareness and understanding of higher education policies and current issues within the sector, and experience of working within regulatory and statutory frameworks. 

11.    Evidence of continuous professional development.   

12.    Strong commitment to equality and diversity in the workplace.  

Desirable criteria

1.      Experience of delivering programme administration services and support for executive education, online and/or blended learning programmes.