About us: We have an exciting opportunity for a skilled Quality Enhancement professional to further their career in a future-focused university that is committed to providing outstanding learning and teaching for all our students. The role combines operational leadership of academic partnerships activity with supporting the Head of Quality Enhancement in the broader leadership of our university-wide quality enhancement services.
We are a friendly and welcoming team, committed to sustaining strong working relationships across the University and beyond. We support the development, review, and continuous enhancement of our academic programmes, our professional body relationships, and our UK and international educational partnerships (including apprenticeships). It is an exciting time join us, as we reshape our operating model for learning and teaching support services in light of our ambitious institutional strategy. As Deputy Head, you will play a key role in defining the future role and shape of the Quality Enhancement Team, working closely with key stakeholders in Faculties and other professional services and at partner institutions.
About you: You have specialist expertise and knowledge of quality enhancement in a higher education context, with a track record of making substantive contributions to successful projects and initiatives. You understand the key opportunities, challenges, and risks associated with delivering learning and teaching in partnership with other UK and international providers, ideally with in-depth knowledge of at least one substantive area of academic partnerships development activity relevant to the UWE context. Enthusiastic and collaborative with excellent communication skills, you are able to motivate individuals and teams to deliver high-quality, agile, customer-focused services. You are passionate about providing all students with an outstanding educational experience that enables them to achieve their best.
About Student and Academic Services: From the first point of registration to graduation and beyond, our team of over 400 professional staff is committed to enhancing the student experience, and ensuring that every student is able to make the most of the extensive opportunities available throughout their journey. This is enabled by working closely with all areas of the University, the Students’ Union, and a wide range of external stakeholders.
We are responsible for developing and maintaining the comprehensive regulatory and quality management and enhancement framework that underpins the University’s academic provision, including support for the academic governance structures. We take responsibility for ensuring that the quality and standards of the University’s awards are maintained and enhanced across the organisation, and in its current and future academic partnerships. We also play an important part in helping Faculties develop relevant, sustainable, and robust curricula in order to maintain and enhanced the quality of learning opportunities available to all students. The development of policy to support our students and their academic endeavours sits within our remit, including areas of student conduct, professional suitability, safeguarding, handling complaints and appeals, and responsibility for our Prevent duties.
Our teams lead on the management of key University business systems, registration activities, and all programme administration, including timetabling, assessments, examination boards, and arranging professional placement opportunities. We also take responsibility for the operational relationships with our partner organisations.
In partnership with the Students’ Union and our student representatives, we work to ensure the student voice is a key part of our approach to enhancement activities across all areas of our work and the wider University. As part of this, we facilitate the National Student Survey and the University’s internal student engagement strategies.
Our dedicated team of staff provide advice and support on a wide variety of emotional and practical issues, from money management, fees and funding to programme-related issues, faith and spirituality, and general wellbeing. Our services also provide essential support for students with mental health difficulties, disabilities and learning difficulties, improving the quality of experience, smoothing the progression through the University, and ensuring that everyone is able to realise their full potential.
In all our activities, we are driven by a culture of continuous improvement, implementing enhancements to our service delivery to support an exceptional staff and student’s experience.
Where is this role based?
This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed – £300m has been invested recently on new state-of-the-art learning spaces and accommodation while we continue to develop incredible new facilities to enhance our offer even further.
Frenchay campus has excellent transport links; as well as being located near the motorway network, we are within walking distance of two train stations, our bus terminus connects us to the local bus and metrobus network, and we also have a range of cycling and changing facilities.
Why UWE Bristol?
We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West, with 32,000 students, 250,000 alumni, and 4,000 staff from across the globe. We are both globally connected and regionally embedded, with a strong network of employer and partner connections.
We have a lot to be proud of at UWE, our achievements include scoring above sector average for student satisfaction, we are ranked 36th in The Guardian Best UK Universities 2022 and 39th in the latest Times Higher Education ‘Table of Tables’.
We are an ambitious and values led university. We’re focused on solving future global challenges through outstanding learning, world-leading research and a culture of enterprise, and we are looking for people who share our core values to help us achieve those aims.
With inclusivity as a core value, UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community. We support and celebrate the diversity of our staff and students as a key driver for innovation and success, promoting pathways and achievements to inspire and generate confidence and ambition.
In addition to progressive pay rates, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including:
- A generous holiday allowance of 27 days pro rata
- Up to 12.5 bank holiday/closure days per year
- Hybrid working
- Excellent defined benefit pension schemes
- Access to employee assistance programme
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities
- Family-friendly policies and wellbeing initiatives
- Onsite nursery at our frenchay campus.
- Retail savings via the wider wallet scheme
- Option to participate in the cycle to work scheme.
We also boast an excellent in-house Learning & Development team who provide a wide variety of in-house training courses and development programmes, and our Academic Practice Directorate supports our academic colleagues to ensure the highest in professional teaching standards.
Proud to be part of a vibrant, multicultural city that celebrates diversity, we’re always on the lookout for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our growing staff community of over 4,000 individuals and find yourself in a stimulating and supportive environment where you’ll thrive. Add your individuality to ours to help set us apart.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Multiple Heritage or other Minority Ethnic and (fe)male candidates as we are currently under-represented in these areas within UWE Bristol however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.
Further information
If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Heather Moyes on 0117 328 7125 or email Heather.Moyes@uwe.ac.uk
Closing date: Tuesday 15 February 2022.
Interviews will take place on Friday 4 March 2022.
This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part-time.
The University’s normal practice is that new appointments will be made at the starting point of the grade.
UWE Bristol is a campus-based University, and it is important for our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus-based with the opportunity for hybrid working.
University’s normal practice is that new appointments will be made at the starting point of the grade.
We are able to sponsor qualifying candidates for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. Please read our Skilled Worker Guidance to assess if you will be eligible to be sponsored under the criteria.
Please also refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist which provides details of which documents are acceptable to prove your right to work in the UK. Should you be shortlisted you will be asked to produce your right to work documents at your interview.
UWE is committed to equality and values diversity; to work for an employer that aspires to achieve excellence through inclusion, please visit: uwe.ac.uk/jobs using reference: R03679
For information and to apply please click here