Head of Business Operations - Apprenticeships Candidate Pack
The University of Law (ULaw) is one of the world’s largest law schools. With an impressive history dating back to 1876, the University employs over 900 staff and has over 14,000 students studying on their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, along with an alumni network in excess of 100,000. They were the first-ever independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers and in 2012 gained university title. With a rich heritage and a reputation for innovation and contemporary teaching practices, the University continuously focuses on developing the best legal and business minds. In 2016, they opened their leading Business School, further enhancing their reputation as a full service legal, business and educational training specialist, operating from campuses throughout the UK, Berlin and Hong Kong and an Online campus. What really sets them apart from other universities is the guiding principle that future lawyers and business leaders should learn in a realistic, professional and contemporary context, with plenty of practical interactive engagement. That’s why they keep their contact hours high and their teaching groups small. Over the past 5 years the University has doubled student enrolments and continues to grow. They are extremely ambitious and plan to expand and diversify both in the UK and worldwide. As they have grown, the continuing enhancement of their brand and reputation for teaching quality and student satisfaction has been at the core of everything that they do. Whilst their legacy and identity as a specialist legal education provider remains central to who they are, they have successfully diversified their offering into business and accounting dis- ciplines, with a rapidly expanding suite of programmes delivered in their UK and overseas campuses. They plan to expand their portfolio into new applied and professionally accredited disciplines. As a pri- vate university, they are agile and innovative, anticipating the future needs of their students, their client firms and society as a whole. In 2020 their student recruitment exceeded 10,000 for the first time in their history and, whilst they remain a predominantly postgraduate university, their undergraduate numbers are also growing strongly. In 2020 they were ranked 1st for overall student satisfaction in England in the National Student Survey. Their success is driven by their reputation as a specialist university of the highest quality, offering students a unique and practice-led learning experience.
BACKGROUND
Vision and Strategic Plan
Vision and mission
In 2025 we will be the leading global university of law, business and the professions with a network of online and worldwide locations. Digital technology will enable us to offer unparalleled flexibility, based around cutting edge facilities and environments, further removing geographical barriers to education. We will offer the same quality of teaching and learning experience, with the convenience to study where, when and how our students want. At the heart of this are our people and values. Many of our staff, stakeholders and students helped to shape our new vision and strategic plan.
Vision and Mission
Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan
Caring for our students is at the heart of everything we do. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them, supporting their ambitions and ensuring they are respected and valued.
We are deeply committed to delivering a high-quality service and education. We support and accept appropriate and managed risks, in the pursuit of growth and progress whilst maintaining quality.
We are dynamic and future-focused, anticipating and embracing change with creativity and motivation.
We are agile and adaptable, leading change and meeting the changing demands of our students and employers, all the while updating our knowledge and practice to improve our performance and the student experience.
We embrace our challenges as learning and growth opportunities and prepare our students, with confidence and resilience, to do the same.
We work together in a collegiate way, challenging one another whilst treating each other with dignity and respect - embracing diversity of experience and background that allows people to do their best and thrive.
We have a global outlook and connect across different cultures. We are a diverse, inclusive community where everyone is welcomed and valued, and our differences are a source of strength.
Our diversity and inclusion initiatives are at the heart of our strategic plan to empower our staff and student community.
Vision and Strategic Plan
Core components of our Strategic Plan
Our Learning Journey
Building on our heritage of outstanding teaching and support for our students, we will deliver excellent standards in innovative learning, teaching and applied research that transforms lives and is globally recognised However, our learning journey does not end in the classroom, and we will continue to grow our support services and technologies, deepening our care for our students and offering ever closer support networks. We were ranked top university in England for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020 and also achieved top ten placements amongst other universities for eleven further categories across the UK including: ‘The Teaching on my Course’ (4th), ‘Student Voice’ (4th), and ‘Assessment and feedback’ (7th). And in the latest Teaching and Excellence and Student Outcome Framework we were awarded silver for our teaching, learning and outcomes. Our performance in the critical categories of teaching excellence and academic support for students is sector leading.
Core components of our Strategic Plan
Our Learning Journey
Our Learning Environment
Our International Community
Our People
Our Impact
Our Learning Environment
We will transform our study and work settings through the use of the most advanced technology and resources.
By combining our physical and online campus environments and infrastructure, we will create adaptable and flexible spaces for learning and support.
Our International Community
We will establish new, and strengthen existing, pathways for international students to join us - including through our oversees campuses and our strategic partnerships.
We will embed inclusivity and multicultural values into the curriculum and develop new modules to define and address ethical issues and the rights of minority and protected groups.
Through collaboration with our international partners we will create global learning and employability opportunities.
Our People
We will develop, retain and recruit the highest calibre people, increasing the ethnic representation to reflect the diversity in our students.
By uniting academic and business professionals, we will innovate and personalise our students’ future teaching and learning, bringing knowledge from the front line of practice.
Our Impact
Graduates will leave ULaw with the experiences and skills to drive change, helping to transform the future of society and the professions.
They will have not only a world class qualification, but also a sense of purpose and empowerment that they can have a positive impact on their environments.
Through our pioneering Employability Service we will shape our graduates into the next generation of professionals. They will be digitally confident, have broad project management skills, and strong leadership potential.
CAMPUSES
1.
Birmingham Campus
2. Bristol Campus
3. The University of Law at Chester
4. Guildford Campus
5. Leeds Campus
6.
London Bloomsbury Campus
7.
London Moorgate Campus
8.
Manchester Campus
9.
Nottingham Campus
10. University of Law at UEA in Norwich
11. University of Law at Exeter
12. University of Law at Liverpool
13. University of Law at Reading
14. Hong Kong Centre
All of our campuses are in thriving commercial areas and offer the same fully-resourced facilities, including well equipped IT suites with PCs for DVD and i-Tutorials, comprehensive law libraries with all the latest legal texts, quiet study areas and places to relax.
15. Online
16. University of Law at Newcastle
17. GISMA Berlin
18. University of Law at Sheffield
Birmingham
Nottingham
Hong Kong
Guildford
Moorgate
Bristol
Apprenticeship Scheme
With a rich heritage in post-graduate legal education, The University of Law (ULaw) launched their first apprenticeship programme, based on the trailblazer solicitor apprenticeship programme, in 2017. This initial programme was designed to support a L3 apprentice to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours to a L7 standard over a period of 6 years. The launch of this programme has led to very successful partnerships between the University, employers and apprentices. In 2021 two additional graduate apprenticeship programmes were created based around the solicitor apprenticeship standard. The two new programmes are open to postgraduate students who will study with us for between 27 – 31 months prior to their End Point Assessment. Over the three programmes, The University currently supports 420 solicitor apprentices, from over 200 client firms/organisations within various legal sectors. All three programmes combine work-based and online supervised study, together with practical and academic activities at ULaw campuses which prepare apprentices to undertake the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam Parts 1 and 2. Apprentices who successfully complete these assessments are entitled to apply to the SRA to be admitted as solicitors at the end of the programme. In addition, apprentices will also complete ULaw assessments, providing them with the opportunity to be awarded an LLB and/ or LLM in Legal Practice and Skills (Hons) from ULaw. As well as supporting the apprentices academically, ULaw has built on their experience of working closely with employers to ensure competencies in the workplace are developed and nurtured throughout. The apprenticeship programmes use a blended learning method to ensure the programme reaches all geographical locations across England, widening opportunities for participation and is designed so that it can be tailored to the role undertaken by the apprentice and develop the practical skills employers require.
Main Function of Job
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Head of Business Operations is a key member of the Central Operations team with overall responsibility for the delivery of all aspects of Apprenticeships operations, ensuring effective co-ordination and integration of administrative and operational systems and processes. The postholder will lead the enhancement and continuous improvement of service delivery, improving standards and performance, including managing the relationship with central services on behalf of the department to meet the strategic requirements of the department and the University.
Main Function of Job
Specific Responsibilities
Reporting to Deputy Director – Business Operations (dotted line to National Programme Director - Apprenticeships) Location Any UK campus/home- working
Direct Reports TBA
Specific Responsibilities
• To work with the National Programme Director to develop and implement strategic plans in accordance with the University strategic planning cycle and in support of the University’s Strategy.
• To lead on collating management information to help inform strategic planning and to monitor progress against development plans.
• To work with the Deputy Director – Business Operations to develop and implement services, processes and systems to support the delivery of the department’s objectives and enhance the student/client experience.
• To manage all support staff in the department and take responsibility for their professional development.
• To develop robust plans and processes for delivery of programmes/courses, collaborating closely with colleagues in the programme design team and the central quality unit teams. • Ensure that interdependencies across all functions and integration with University wide systems and processes are identified and incorporated into plans so that the service to students/clients is as seamless as possible. • To work closely with central, specialist and global shared services departments to ensure that service provision to students/clients is planned, coordinated, delivered consistently and effectively, to the standards required by the University. • To liaise and collaborate with the staff in the relevant central quality units for the continuous improvement of systems, processes and service levels – enabling training to take place and participating in audits aimed at identifying problem areas and improvements.
• To ensure appropriate administrative support for academic staff in the department.
• To oversee the development, planning, organisation and evaluation of student/ client inductions and events/activities across all programmes/courses within the department, working closely with Programme Directors and Heads of Departments.
• To represent the department on University committees and working groups and liaise on behalf of the department with central departments.
JOB DESCRIPTION
• To represent the department at regular University Operational meetings, focussing on a problem-solving approach to institutional issues and the implementation of strategy and operations.
Specific Responsibilities
•
To lead and manage university change projects as directed by the Director - Operational Delivery or the Chief Operating Officer. To contribute to the development of policies and procedures at University and department level. Ensure that all policies and procedures are effectively implemented and consistent with the department and the University’s requirements.
•
• To manage risk and compliance processes (including corporate accountabilities, audit, risk management and other compliance related activities such as data protection, disability access, equality and diversity).
• To engage with and support safeguarding and PREVENT policy implementation for the department.
•
To work with the National Programme Director - Apprenticeships and Academic Registry to co-ordinate the planning and preparation for Ofsted audit and inspection activities.
• To work with the Head of Apprenticeship Compliance to ensure that the University is fully compliant with ESFA funding rules. • To put in place effective processes for ensuring that on-programme administration of apprenticeships meet compliance requirements that appropriate records are kept to evidence compliance, and that all administration and record-keeping meets the requirements for Ofsted and ESFA. • To continuously review operational readiness and delivery, identifying risks and putting in place plans to manage and mitigate risks.
• To work with the Deputy Director – Business Operations to continuously review the departments organisational structures and resource allocation. Implement changes where necessary to achieve strategic aims and objectives. • To monitor the quality of services through audits, feedback from staff and students/clients and systems stress testing to eliminate predictable failure points and ensure that the highest levels of administrative delivery are achieved at all times.
• To support the Governance Committee for the department by organising meetings, providing information and record keeping for the Committee.
• To develop and maintain appropriate external relationships with industry, partners or other stakeholders and networks as required.
Reporting Line:
• This role reports to the Deputy Director – Business Operations. It will have a strong dotted line into the National Programme Director – Apprenticeships.
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required to perform other duties as assigned by members of the Executive Board from time to time.
The job holder has a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons with whom they come into contact at work. The job holder also has a duty to co-operate with the University in complying with any statutory duty or requirement concerning health and safety at work. In particular, they must familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and its safety and fire procedures.
This job description is to be read in conjunction with the relevant Roles and Responsibilities Career Level document.
This job description is correct at November 2021. It may vary in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes within the market place, in [insert department] and the University.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Education
Essential •
Graduate level or equivalent.
Education
Desirable •
Maths or numeric based degree.
Skills
Skills
Experience
Essential •
Behavioural Skills
Proficient knowledge of course administration design, delivery and monitoring.
Special Circumstances
• Substantial experience of supporting the delivery of academic programmes. • Compilation and interpretation of management information for performance monitoring. • Ability to partner across functions and interact effectively with all staff levels. • Proven ability to communicate effectively with staff at all levels. • and to work effectively and collaboratively with academic and administrative colleagues. • Proven ability to motivate, negotiate with and influence both individuals and teams. • Experience of working with and influencing senior management. • Sound analytical skills. • The ability to communicate precisely and succinctly (oral and written). • Ability to multi-task on concurrent projects, under tight time frames. • A high level of initiative, self-motivation, and resourcefulness. • Excellent IT skills.
Desirable •
Experience of working with remote/offshored staff
•
Strategic thinker.
• Creative. •
An understanding of academic planning in a multi- programme/multi-site environment.
Experience Essential • Developing and implementing complex administrative processes. • Liaising closely with programme, administration and academic teams for successful delivery. • Practical application and experience of undertaking student administration and information processes. • Possesses a good selection of design skills and experience at a senior level. • Demonstrable strong customer relationship management. • Managing and implementing change including project management. Previous experience in an educational establishment, particularly in programme/academic administration. • Policy development. • Applying and interpreting regulations and regulatory frameworks SPECIAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE Essential • Desirable • Knowledge of student records systems and related support systems involved in student administration.
Desirable •
Experience of Ofsted inspection.
• In-depth knowledge of ESFA funding rules and their application BEHAVIOURAL SKILLS Essential • Self-starter, high personal motivation. • Goal oriented. • Analytical approach to problem solving. • Excellent interpersonal skills. • Decision maker with the ability to communicate key goals and priorities to staff. • Credibility. • Organised with excellent prioritisation skills. • Ability to take macro view, identify issues and apply strategic solutions. • Able to deal with high volumes of tasks simultaneously. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Essential • Flexibility in working hours will be required to meet demands of the role. • Some travel to different locations will be required.
Application Process
The University is being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG) .
To arrange a brief conversation please contact our advisor Sian Gardiner of MRG on 020 3962 9900 / 07932 717 458 or at sian.gardiner@mrgpeople.co.uk .
Applications should contain a CV and Covering Letter and should be sent to Sian Gardiner at the Management Recruitment Group sian.gardiner@mrgpeople.co.uk.
Closing Date is Sunday 16th January 2022.
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