Job title: Academic Registrar
Salary/ Rate: £65,000-£80,000 (dependent on experience)
Responsible to: Chief Academic Officer
Responsible for: Student Registry, Quality Assurance, Academic Governance, and Information Governance
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours per week / FTE : Full time (37.5 hours)

JOB PURPOSE:

• To provide robust and strategic leadership and management of an efficient and effective student registry function that encompasses quality assurance and enhancement, regulation, governance and compliance. You will ensure that UA92 remains fully compliant and fulfils all statutory and legal obligations, operating with good practice, a culture of strong compliance, maximum value for money and continuous improvement. 
• To work closely with the UA92 Board, Executive Team and colleagues as a member of the group leadership team, ensuring UA92 is well led, appropriately governed and focused on achieving core business objectives providing advice and guidance, as appropriate. 
• Deputise for the members of the Executive Team as required, discharging all responsibilities professionally, acting as a positive ambassador externally and a strong role model internally. 

ROLE SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Senior Management 

• Provide strategic leadership for your portfolio area and give professional advice and operational support to the Executive team in order to ensure UA92’s strategic objectives are achieved.  
• Take an active role in the leadership and management of UA92, working with and supporting other members of the leadership team, deputising for members of the Executive Team, as required.  
• Act as an ambassador for and senior representative of UA92 internally and externally, demonstrating institutional values and acting with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. 
• Leading on projects within the UA92 Strategic plan that align with portfolio of responsibility. 

Portfolio Delivery 

Student Registry 

• Lead the further development and revision of academic regulations, processes and procedures. 
• Advise colleagues, apprentices and students on regulations, processes and procedures ensuring a culture of regulatory compliance. 
• Ensure student and apprentice data is recorded and maintained accurately on the Student Record system and that IT and information systems are developed to effectively support the needs of the business and make data returns for external bodies that align with portfolio of responsibility. 
• Ensure the effective operation of all Boards of Examiners, including the external examination and moderation processes. 
• Provision of management information that align with portfolio of responsibility. 
• Ensure the requirements of Lancaster University, the Home Office and UKVI are met for recruitment, enrolment and monitoring of international students on student route visas. 
• Oversee academic course portfolio developments from inception to and validation. 
• Oversee periodic reviews and internal/external quality assurance and enhancement events and regulatory commitments.  

Student cases 

• Oversee student cases, including academic appeals, academic misconduct, Extraordinary Mitigating Circumstances and complaints process, ensuring all formal complaints are investigated and reported in line with necessary regulations. 

Quality Assurance and Enhancement 

• Oversee and ensure the efficient and effective operation of all academic quality assurance procedures. 
• Work in partnership with the Student Experience team to ensure all student representation mechanisms are effective and support continuous and timely improvement to the student experience. 
• Ensure robust mechanisms for module, programme and broader student experience evaluation, are in place with timely data provided to drive improvement of the student experience. 
• Initiate and support the timely approval and re-approval of modules and programmes. 
• Ensure adherence to franchise and validation arrangements associated with Lancaster University with an efficient and effective cycle of academic committees and groups. 

Academic Governance 

• Ensure effective academic governance and management through the development and implementation of robust structure, planning, monitoring and review frameworks which provide confidence in the academic structures and management of UA92.  
• Lead in statutory and requested returns and interactions with the OFS, HESA, – Lancaster University, Department for Education and OFSTED where relevant. 
• Remain agile and efficient in the management of compliance and governance, introducing processes that are impactful and most effective and efficient, avoiding process for the sake of process.  

Governance, Regulation, Legal, Compliance and Risk 

• Office for Students (key liaison, ensuring framework in place to meet regulatory requirements, conditions of registration, working with Accountable Officer (AO), advising the AO, Senior Leadership Team, and where appropriate, the Board, on the requirements/conditions of registration, ensuring submissions happen in timely manner etc). 
• Manage Quality and Registry elements of franchise relationship with Lancaster University. 
• Develop UA92 policies and implement structures, systems, and procedures to ensure all data collection, storage, processing and disposal is in line with legal requirements and good practice guidance, maintaining high standards of information governance. 
• Manage internal and external audit of academic activity for the institution, ensuring regular compliance checks are made and reported on. Manage external stakeholder related to this, including External Examiners in partnership with Lancaster University.  
• Ensure UA92, its Board, the Chief Academic Officer and the CEO are fully supported in discharging their statutory, and operational responsibilities, ensuring compliance with all necessary legal, regulatory and reporting requirements, engaging positively with all bodies to which UA92 is accountable and ensuring timely reporting where necessary. 
• Lead on Information governance and GDPR. 
• Provide advice and triage matters for external legal advice and guidance as required. 

People, Team and Resource Management 

• Lead, motivate and manage colleagues, ensuring high levels of productivity and standards of performance with a constant focus on core business to achieve business plan targets. 
• Set clear objectives, undertake reviews and provide constructive individual and Team feedback. 
• In partnership with the People Team, deal with any performance issues quickly and robustly, ensuring individuals are supported as they work to resolve these issues. 
• Ensure individuals and teams are empowered and supported to achieve their full potential, encouraging creativity, innovation and personal and team development. 
• Manage budgets tightly and in accordance with financial and resource plans, aiming to maximise value for money. 

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Champion the UA92 brand and foster a culture of innovation, growth, shared responsibility and individual accountability always putting provision of an excellent student experience in primary focus. 
• Be a pro-active, effective and supportive team member. 
• Maintain a cost-conscious and efficient approach when undertaking all aspects of the role in order to manage resources effectively, optimise performance and contribute to the future success of UA92. 
• Comply with national legislation, UA92 policy and best practice in respect of confidentiality and information governance and security. 
• Contribute to a safe and healthy learning and work environment ensuring awareness of individual responsibilities and compliance with Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. 
• Participate in objective/target setting and review/appraisal of your own performance to inform personal development aligned to the role and progression/remuneration decisions. 
• Participate in mandatory and other training and development opportunities. 
• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity for students and colleagues ensuring an inclusive and supportive learning and work environment. 
• Provide high quality reports and presentations for internal and external audiences. 
• Demonstrate flexibility and undertake any other duties for which the post holder has the necessary experience and / or training, when required. 

This job description is intended as a general guide to the duties attached to the post. It may therefore be altered from time to time, in consultation with the role holder, to reflect the changing needs of UA92. 

PERSON PROFILE

To view the person specification please click here.