Assessment & Awards Manager

Job details

Department

The Registry

Responsible to

Assistant Registrar – Registry Systems and Data

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Salary

£41,625 to £44,702 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £59,733 per annum)

Closing date

Sunday 14 April 2024

Contract type

Permanent

Post type

Full-time

Adaptive working type

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework .

Reference

0093-24-R

About the role

The Assessment & Awards Manager is a lead role within the Student Records & Awards unit, assuming people management and responsibility for the provision of efficient assessment, awards, conferment and graduation processes and deliverables. 

You will have responsibility for the delivery of award ceremonies in accordance with the academic calendar(s). You will work with key stakeholders to plan and deliver an excellent experience for our graduates and guests for all Derby and Buxton Graduation ceremonies. You will also be comfortable with using digital technology to gather information to deliver an efficient and effective output.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Emma Baddiley via [email protected]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]  

Principal accountabilities

Responsibility for the people management of the Unit. Responsible for overseeing the management of the teams and driving a high-performance culture, ensuring that all services supported by the teams are delivered on time, accurate, effective and professional, through staff development and effective utilisation of resource. Using initiative to deal appropriately with changing priorities and situations.

Accountable for the accurate, effective and timely delivery of seamless processes for the delivery of the University assessment, awards, conferment’s and graduation ceremonies. This will include working in continuous collaboration with the Colleges and professional services, and continuous audit to ensure accuracy of the timetables to resolve any omissions or errors on the information with the relevant stakeholders. Whilst supporting the strategic direction of the team ensuring the constant review of process and service.

Providing thought leadership and strategic input to the Assistant Registrar to focus on the development of the function and to drive forward a change in culture in relation to approach, ensuring that a right first-time approach and/or ownership is adopted.

Accountable for the delivery of university awards ceremonies, in accordance with the academic calendar(s), ensuring that all required professional services, are represented, and engaged with the delivery. Maintaining a good level of awareness and knowledge of sector trends, practice, and developments.

Uphold and guard the student, academic and research regulations and policies and the interpretation of them. Hold the same regard for other internal/external policies and procedures. Work with the Assistant Registrar to implement practice which enhances the student experience and upholds the values of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Liaise and support the Assistant Registrar to create and maintain institutional groups/methods for engaging and supporting college management, college registrars, course directors and others. This will serve to support consultation but also to brief and inform colleagues in the institution on developments and requirements.

Accountable for clear, effective, and timely communication as appropriate to internal and external stakeholders. To help produce data / content for reports for the Assistant Registrar, Academic Registrar and others that are authoritative and support institutional decision making. Ensuring conformity with university norms, practices and policy, and identifying and resolving issues necessary to course scheduling.

Accountable for ensuring that customer services provided to University staff, applicants and students are delivered efficiently and to a high standard. Assist in establishing service level agreements with internal customers and service providers. In doing so, help establish a Customer Service culture, seeking feedback from applicants, students, partners and stakeholders and adjusting services to reflect customer needs and requirements.

Accountable for the provision of personalised exam timetables for all students, ensuring that the student experience is optimised, and that all personalised timetables are available within the stipulated timeframe.

To take a lead role for the development of data quality processes to strengthen data sets to support reporting and data analysis, ensuring well documented and efficient systems and procedures are in place. This involves the identification, development and implementation of information technology solutions to streamline work undertaken. To identify and specify new functional requirements and enhancements and to modify and develop existing functionality. 

To work closely with stakeholder groups to ensure expectations are effectively managed. Accountable for ensuring timely and effective communication. To build and maintain excellent relationships within The Registry and the wider University and with 3rd parties/other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to help facilitate excellent service delivery. This will include liaison with software providers and other HEIs in order to identify and manage all of the requirements, timelines and knowledge transfer throughout the team and relevant stakeholders.

Responsible for operational advice in relation to the existing policies and to influence any future changes. This will include performing a key role in any University wide projects which impact upon or use data within the remit of the team.

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

• Educated to degree level standard or equivalent significant work based experience

Experience

• Previous people management experience – experience of leading staff teams and deploying resources
• Experience of planning and delivering graduation ceremonies the education sector
• Confidence and successful experience in using software applications, particularly involving the manipulation of complex information
• Experience of working in a service setting and responding to feedback by improving service provision
• Experience of understanding and applying data protection requirements
• Demonstrable experience of working with complex record systems and proficient use of MS Office and other software
• Demonstrable experience of working with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation and running business analysis workshops
• Demonstrable experience of working in the Higher Education sector

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Creating innovative solutions to problems, addressing the root cause
• Working collaboratively across boundaries to achieve common goals
• Logical thinker able to construct & implement innovative solutions
• Demonstrable analytical skills, including attention to detail, and ability to present technical information and data in an accessible way
• Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance on data governance and data quality
• Ability to act on own initiative including the management of day to day workloads and priorities, including the resolution of conflicting priorities from different functional areas
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an ability to prepare reports, specification and plans and present these to variable audiences
• Excellent leadership and decision-making skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy in dealing with a wide range of contacts both internal and external to the University
• Ability to apply knowledge of management information systems to develop new and existing areas of work in order to enhance new and existing processes
• Demonstrable success in being able to operate as a team player whilst equally able to operate independently
• Ability to motivate and encourage teams in a demanding, customer-facing environment
• Ability to evidence leading by example on organisation values, behaviours and attitudes
• Ability to manage and plan people and non-people resources to meet business priorities
• Ability to influence other members of the organisation in a drive to meet customer expectations
• Ability to demonstrate the building and maintaining of strong working relationships with stakeholders
• Ability to adapt and be flexible
• Ability to understand and apply regulations/rules e.g. GDPR

Business Requirements

• Adopt the University’s Core Values and Underpinning Behaviours
• Willingness to work flexibly including, when required, during evenings and weekends
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University and external sites in a cost effective and timely manner, as required

Benefits

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

Find out more about pay and rewardsFind out more about pay and rewards

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

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If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

Important information

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Please visit Applying from Overseas for more information.

What is Adaptive Working?

Adaptive working is about enabling a high-performing, flexible, and responsive work culture where the place, time, and manner of working are tailored to the specific work activity. This approach ensures that the working environment, including both physical and social surroundings, supports employees to perform at their best and meet the university's evolving needs.

In addition, adaptive working involves intentionally designing workspaces to support a range of activities and disciplines, providing the right environment for meaningful in-person connections and effective collaboration. This includes ensuring that employees have access to the necessary equipment and resources from their first day at the university.

Adaptive working encompasses different modes of working such as site-based, remote or hybrid working. It is a broad framework within which all staff can operate effectively according to their role.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

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Further details

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Why join Derby?

Challenging, interesting and constantly changing, the University of Derby is an extraordinary place to learn and an incredibly rewarding place to work.

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The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.