Head of Student Conduct & Appeals (Non-Academic)

King's College London, United Kingdom

Updated: 2 months ago
Location: Strand, ENGLAND
Deadline: 18 Feb 2024

Job id: 083706. Salary: £51,974 - £61,021 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 01 February 2024. Closing date: 18 February 2024.

Business unit: Students & Education. Department: Student Conduct & Appeals.

Contact details:Frances Kirby (Associate Director Student Conduct & Appeals). [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Professional & Support Services.


Job Description

About Us  

The King’s community is dedicated to the service of society. King’s Strategic Vision 2029 sets out our vision for the future, shaped around five priority areas: educate to inspire and improve; research to inform and innovate; serve to shape and transform; a civic university at the heart of London; and an international community that services the world. Our ambitious Education Strategy sets out the actions that we must take to transform how we teach, how and where our students learn and how we support them during their time with us. 

Student Conduct & Appeals handles a large number of student-related academic appeals, misconduct cases, support for study, fitness to practise referrals and complaints per year, as well as administering emergency suspensions and exclusions and is also responsible for responding to complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (‘OIA’), as well as managing  student-related litigation.  

We are part of the wider Students & Education Directorate, a collection of wide-ranging professional services in place to support King’s students and their education. As a directorate we manage the student lifecycle from application to graduation and beyond, to ensure a coherent and seamless student experience and effective administrative processes, working closely with King’s faculties to do so. 

About the Role

The Head of Student Conduct & Appeals (Non-Academic) leads on the delivery of the service and associated processes related to non-academic issues such as emergency suspensions and exclusions, Report + Support and bullying & harassment and related complaints and misconduct, other non-academic misconduct and Fitness to Practise. They are responsible for the management of the team in these areas, including casework supervision, liaising with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator and providing expert knowledge and support to colleagues across the university in relation to these processes. They will be working closely with the Head of Student Conduct & Appeals (Academic) and the Head of Support for Study. 

This is an exciting opportunity for candidates looking to expand their management experience, and who wish to utilise their skills and expertise in advising around university processes.  

We encourage applications from candidates who have experience from both within and outside of the Higher Education sector where they can demonstrate the skills needed to succeed in this role. 

Interviews will take place on Thursday 29 February in person at Strand Campus. 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract. This is a full-time post, but we welcome applications from candidates seeking a flexible work pattern within our necessary service operating hours.


Key responsibilities
  • Management of the Student Conduct & Appeals Service in conjunction with other Heads of Service with particular focus on non-academic issues such as emergency suspensions and exclusions, Report + Support and bullying & harassment and related complaints and misconduct, other non-academic misconduct and Fitness to Practise.   
  • Overseeing the casework of the team in dealing with this focus area to ensure effective service delivery of the team’s objectives 
  • Collecting and analysing data, outcomes measures and feedback to improve the service in this area 
  • Jointly responsible for review of the service’s processes and casework management, working together with colleagues to embed a lessons learned approach in the development of policies and procedures 
  • Ability to engage in collaborative working across King’s professional services, other Faculties, academic and student communities, with a meaningful and visible commitment to Diversity & Inclusion policies and practices  
  • Ability to engage in collaborative working across King’s professional services, other Faculties, academic and student communities and external stakeholders in matters relating to Student Conduct & Appeals and safeguarding issues, including with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator 

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  

  • Relevant work experience and/or education. We think a wide range of different work experiences could support you in this role. Relevant work experience could be working with or managing student conduct and appeals. Relevant educational experience might include higher education in law or a related discipline. 
  • Authoritative understanding of the regulatory environment relating to non-academic conduct and complaints and fitness to practise in higher education or similar field. 
  • Experience of effectively managing performance across a team to deliver team objectives; developed team management and team leadership skills; Proven track record of successfully managing and developing small teams in a line management role. 
  • Experience of managing and processing a large and complex caseload across a team to achieve service targets and quality standards. 
  • Experience of leading complex investigations; conducting interviews, drafting complex reports and successfully implementing outcomes.  
  • Ability to handle difficult people and stressful situations, applying tact and sensitivity, and able to negotiate effectively and mediate between parties.  
  • Ability to build and sustain relationships across a diverse organisation and with external stakeholders. 
  • Ability to identify areas for continual service improvement and bring forward proposals for change.  
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills and ability to convey clear and accurate advice on relevant legislation and complex procedures.  
  • Proactive flexible approach, willingness to take on and lead new tasks and responsibilities. 
  • Confident, resourceful and dynamic approach, able to make difficult decisions quickly and effectively under pressure.  
  • Understanding of and commitment to confidentiality and Data Protection and its interaction with safeguarding measures. 


    • Further Information

    Your application should clearly set out how you meet the essential criteria as this is how we shortlist applications. Learn more about how we recruit, including tips on writing your application and supporting statement on our website: https://jobs.kcl.ac.uk/gb/en/applying     

    Interviews will be held in person and will consist of competency-based questions linked closely to the essential and desirable criteria mentioned here. 

    Although we have made improvements over the last number of years, our team is still under-represented in terms of staff from global majority ethnicities, LGBTQ+ identities, and from people with disabilities. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. 

    Interviews are scheduled to take place on Thursday 29 February in person on Strand Campus. 

    Further details of the team and the work we do can be found here: 

    http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/orgstructure/ps/acservices/conduct/index.aspx


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