Job Purpose
Reporting to the Executive Director of Student and Academic Services, you will make a significant leadership contribution to the overall directorate strategy, with specific responsibility to lead the Academic Services contribution to the delivery of the University's strategic ambitions in learning & teaching and in support of the student experience, ensuring we maintain our academic standards and continuously improve quality.
Shape and direct Academic Services to provide optimal benefit to the University and provide proactive, responsive and cohesive services to the University in line with the goals of the directorate and the institution's service excellence expectations. Act as a permanent Deputy for the Executive Director across a wide range of strategic activities.
Main Duties
1. As a member of the Student and Academic Services Leadership team, make significant contributions to the leadership, development and management of the University's Student and Academic Services. This includes collaborative development and implementation of an ambitious strategy for the directorate. Thereafter, identifying and exploiting synergies and potential added value developments to enable strategic delivery and the embedding of service excellence. Provide effective leadership across functional areas within Academic Services: allocating and deploying staff and non-staff resources, ensuring effective links with academic units, and line managing senior members of staff to ensure optimal operational efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and service excellence.
2. Lead the formulation of Academic Services plans, staffing structure and manage allocation of resources in support of University and Directorate strategy and ensure that service objectives are successfully met. Ensure the appropriate alignment of functional areas within Academic Services and with partner units more widely. Embed a continuous improvement approach informed by benchmarked, evaluative approaches to measuring service performance.
3. Lead the design and delivery of excellent end-to-end services across the student lifecycle from registration to graduation in line with University expectations and sector best practice. This also embraces a comprehensive, at- scale range of supporting activities for student learning development; examinations; student financial aid; immigration compliance; and the round of ceremonial activities.
4. Lead the development and oversight of the University's approach to recording student success. Work in partnership with Information Services and other University Services and College-based colleagues to ensure improvements are identified and implemented in support of a contemporary, externally recognised and seamless student-centred user experience.
5. Working in close partnership with the Clerk of Senate & Vice-Principal, Vice-Principal Learning & Teaching and other senior staff, lead the development, oversight, implementation and evaluation of the University's academic policy and regulatory frameworks. Ensure regulations are easily understood, coherent and consistent across the University. Provide oversight to ensure that coherence is maintained over time, external benchmarking of academic policy and regulation is undertaken and that they remain responsive to changes in sectoral best practice.
6. Lead the design and implementation of an effective and streamlined University Academic Quality Framework that prioritises enhancement of the learning experience and student partnership in learning. Ensure the Framework appropriately aligns with Scottish Funding Council, QAA and professional body stipulations/expectations and actively promotes a quality enhancement ethos across Student and Academic Services, and implemented in partnership with colleagues in Colleges and across University Services.
7. Working with the Vice-Principal Learning and Teaching and College Deans for L&T, make a significant contribution to the development of the Learning & Teaching agenda. Advise on strategic direction and oversee delivery of inputs by senior subject matter experts, notably in assessment, professional skills and curriculum transformation, and including the provision of L&T development for the University's academic staff.
8. Working with the DVC External Engagement and Colleges, effectively support the development and delivery of UK and international academic collaborations, including TNE operations, with a specific focus on managing the regulatory aspects and ensuring quality of delivery.
9. Lead, develop and manage staff within Academic Services to provide a professional working environment and foster a cohesive culture that enables staff to fulfil their potential and embodies the University's values.
10. Work across the institution, bringing broader knowledge and expertise to University development. Contribute to national developments on behalf of the University and sector. Deputise for the Executive Director of Student & Academic Services as required. Undertake other duties as required by the University.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework 9, 10, or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification, Masters Degree), or equivalent, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas. Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of similar specialist roles.
A2 Detailed knowledge of current and emerging issues, priorities and good practice in relevant aspects of Higher Education.
A3 Expert knowledge of the UK higher education sector including academic governance and policy, procedures for quality enhancement and assurance, and awareness of wider global developments.
A4 Good knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. DPA and FoI and awareness of other legislation (e.g. DDA) and implications of non-compliance.
A5 Sound awareness of relevant technological developments.
Desirable:
B1 Exposure to international best practice for academic collaborations and transnational education.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Empathy with and understanding of the varying needs of students and academics in pursuit of academic work in a research rich environment.
C2 Excellent leadership and management skills with demonstrable success in building high performing teams, motivating staff and achieving results through others.
C3 Demonstrable ability to think strategically and analytically, to influence others and to manage change in a complex environment.
C4 Excellent communication skills using a variety of media and communicating with a wide range of people, singly and in groups.
C5 Understanding of university governance and an ability to work effectively within a collegial decision-making culture.
C6 Excellent judgement, integrity, patience, and commitment to enhancing the student experience.
C7 A commitment to equal opportunities and an open and transparent style of working.
C8 Ability to be resilient under pressure, to prioritise and to deliver to tight deadlines.
Experience
Essential:
E1 Extensive professional and leadership experience within the relevant fields of expertise.
E2 A track record of success in identifying and implementing organisational change which delivers business benefits and competitive advantage.
E3 Extensive experience of leading and managing teams to deliver service excellence.
E4 Significant experience of managing and controlling substantial budgets/resources/funding with a strong understanding of financial management procedures.
E5 Significant experience of strategy formulation and implementation, leading change, projects and people to deliver strategically aligned and high performing services in a complex organisation.
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be on Competitive on the Management, Professional and Administrative, Senior Administrative Group, level 10.
This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open-ended (permanent)
As part of Team UofG, you will be a member of a world-changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:1 A welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared. 2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.3 A flexible approach to working. 4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https: // www. gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
Vacancy Ref : 145068 Close Date : 05-Jul-2024 23:45