Job title:Academic Registrar

Reports to:Registrar & Secretary

Grade:Senior Staff

Location:Moulescoomb

Department:VC’s office

Overview of the role:

The Academic Registrar will be play a pivotal role in the delivery of the University’s strategic plans for education and the student experience and its commitment to advancing operational excellence in its academic administration. The role holder will be responsible for:

•taking a strategic, proactive, user-focused, and fully-integrated approach to academic services and the provision of student support via Service Centres;

•ensuring the highest standards across academic services while maintaining a flexible approach to allow for innovation;

•leading and developing proactive and high-performing teams within their areas of responsibility;

•increasing collaboration and communication across University professional services and Schools;

•supporting a seamless student experience throughout the student journey, from admission through to graduation;

•innovating and, where needed, challenging existing processes in order to optimise performance and create a culture of continuous improvement;

•engaging with and advising the University’s Executive Board on changes within the sector and the University’s responses;

•leading the University’s academic policy response to a new external regulatory landscape.

Main responsibilities of the role

Service leadership and Operational Excellence

•To provide strategic leadership and development of student-centred academic services in accordance with the University’s strategic priorities.

•To identify how to deploy and develop organisational structures, practices, policies and technology to meet the current and future needs of the University and particularly its students.

•To develop an expectation of continuous improvement in all aspects of the work of the Directorate.

•To coordinate the alignment of academic service functions with the work of staff based in schools and the longer-term development of these relationships.

•To lead improvement projects via the University’s Operational Excellence programme and take overall leadership of the programme.

•To represent the University in relevant external networks, including the Academic Registrars’ Council.

Academic governance, quality and enhancement

•To lead the University’s engagement with the new regulatory landscape created under the Office for Students (OFS).

•To provide high level advice to the academic community, in particular the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and the Student Experience (PVC E&SE) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Heads of School and Directors of Education, in respect to governance, policy and regulations; to draft policy and prepare papers.

•To have responsibility for the interpretation and development of the University’s academic regulations and compliance with statutory duties in relation to institutional compliance, student achievement, assessment and records management. To provide detailed advice on complex academic, regulatory and policy matters.

•To lead the Secretariat which services Academic Board and its sub-committees.

•To work closely with the PVC E&SE in framing the University’s internal quality enhancement agenda – working with academic schools and relevant professional services and supporting the institutional response to the ongoing development of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

•To ensure, in conjunction with the Head of Admissions, that appropriate entry qualifications are developed and approved, and that admissions policies and procedures are compliant with all external requirements including those of QAA, UKVI, OFFA, PSRBs, DBS.

Student record and data governance

•To provide a high-quality student administration service covering all stages of the student’s academic journey from admission to graduation, including enrolment, assessments and examinations, Panels and Boards of Examiners, awarding and graduation.

•To develop and manage the University’s student record system, working with Strategic Policy & Planning to ensure a strategic approach to all external submissions and contributing to the production of data statistics and analysis when required for internal and external purposes.

•To drive forward continuous enhancement of the student record system (Tribal SITS) with the aim of ensuring accurate and timely recording of student and academic data.

•To develop and manage the University’s curriculum management infrastructure, paying close attention to data quality and usability in regard to process improvement.

Policy, Evaluation and Insight

  • To lead the Surveys and Data analysis team, with particular responsibility for overseeing the key client relationship with the PVC E&SE.
  • To coordinate, alongside the Registrar and DVC, the sharing of expertise and support around Business Intelligence, Management Information and reporting.
  • To lead a primarily ‘UEB-facing’ service, providing enhanced support to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar & Secretary and others in relation to policy, horizon scanning and briefings.

Member of:The Registrar & Secretary’s Senior Management Team and will sit on the Operations Leadership Group.

Key relationships:PVC Education & Student Experience, PVC Research & Enterprise, Heads of School, Heads of Professional Services, School Administration Managers.

Team and areas of responsibility

  • Academic policy and governance
  • Quality & Standards
  • Admissions
  • Registry (inc UKVI compliance and tuition fees)
  • Timetabling
  • Examinations
  • Graduation Ceremonies
  • Doctoral College/Graduate School
  • Policy, Evaluation and Insight team

General responsibilities

These are standard to all University of Brighton job descriptions.

  • To undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser grade.
  • To adhere to the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible.
  • To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

The person specification focuses on the knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills (both general and technical) required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise (E).

Essential criteria / A, I, E
Knowledge/Skills / •Excellent interpersonal skills and personal authority, with the ability to strategically influence and engage a broad range of internal and external stakeholders whilst respecting cultural sensitivities.
•Intellectually confident, credible – possessing the gravitas required to be a senior leader within the University and to act as an external ambassador.
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrating clarity and focus and the ability to influence, guide and challenge.
•A strong empathy for academic endeavour at a research-intensive University with the intellectual ability to form partnerships of mutual respect with the University Executive Board and senior academic leaders to improve the University’s performance.
•A strategic thinker who is able to anticipate trends in higher education, and apply creative flair when translating this intelligence into innovative service delivery.
•The ability to work collegially with the University Executive Board, Academic Board, senior academics, fellow Directors of Professional Services, the Operations Leadership Group, the Registrar’s Senior Management Group and other staff.
•Strong organisational skills and the ability to determine priorities in the face of changing and competing demands and tight deadlines.
•The ability to control and manage large budgets and resources at a scale commensurate with the level of the role.
•The ability personally to write clear and persuasive Board papers and business plans and to use fact-based evidence as part of influencing skills.
•An ability to understand the University’s organisational culture and to operate within a complex, comprehensive and large scale University, understanding the expectations and subtleties of an organisation which functions on a decentralised model.
•An intelligent, flexible and proportionate approach to implementing regulation and a preparedness to take ownership in this area.
•The ability to engage effectively with the Students’ Union and the wider student body.
•A deep knowledge and interest in HE policy. / A, I
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Qualifications / A university degree / A
Experience / •Proven experience of policy development and successful implementation at an institutional or wider level.
•Significant experience at a senior and strategic level within a large, complex organisation, ideally within the HE sector.
•Demonstrable change management skills and track record in leading and implementing complex and large-scale change and creating a culture of continuous improvement.
•Proven track record of showing major influence at institutional and wider levels. / A
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Managing people / •Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to lead high-volume, high-quality and diverse teams, adopting a collaborative style whilst holding senior members of staff to account. / I
  • Senior Staff Salary
  • This is a full time post
  • The annual leave entitlement is 30 days per annum. In addition, to the eight Bank Holidays, there are university discretionary days between Christmas and New Year.
  • More information about the department/school can be found hereProfessional Services Departments or here Academic departments (schools and colleges)
  • Read the University’s 2016 - 2021 Strategy
  • The University has an attractive range of benefits and you can find more information about them on our website.

April 2018