JOB DESCRIPTION

Faculty/Directorate: Senior Leadership Team
Grade of post: Senior Staff
Salary:  Competitive 
FT or % P/T: Full-time
Permanent/Temporary: Fixed-term (1 year)
Principal location of work: Headington campus (with travel, including travel abroad)
Immediate line manager: Vice-Chancellor 
Staff managed: Executive Assistant (TBC)

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be accountable to the Vice-Chancellor for the University’s programmes of study, its academic standards, its teaching quality and the delivery of student outcomes. 

Specific responsibilities delegated from the Vice-Chancellor include: 

• The development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the University’s Education and Enterprise pillar in support of the University’s 2035 Strategy. 
• The development of the University’s strategy to support student outcomes, employability and enterprise; to support successful accreditation by relevant professional and statutory bodies; leadership of curricular and extra-curricular developments to improve student employability.
• The implementation and oversight of a demonstrable strong academic advisory model underpinned by the principle that we ensure appropriate levels of contact between staff and students and ensure the quality of that contact.
• The University’s feedback and assessment processes, ensuring that they are of high academic standards and maintain the quality of an Oxford Brookes degree, and that they take due account of the need not to over ­ assess students.
• The development of pedagogic practice at Oxford Brookes University, including oversight of pedagogic skills amongst academic staff and the adoption of new educational practices in accordance with the University’s mission.
• The ownership of the University’s quality assurance and enhancement procedures, ensuring that they are fit for purpose, streamlined and responsive; oversight of relationships with the QAA; responsibility for ensuring the successful outcome of institutional audits, including TEF.
• Working with the Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellors responsible for the University’s widening access, participation and retention activities, to help to promote access to Oxford Brookes University; supporting the transition of students and ensuring that students can succeed once they are enrolled.
• The University’s portfolio; processes for programme approval and review, ensuring that they are fit for purpose, streamlined, and responsive; and related to this the appropriate structures for the academic year.
• Increasing and enhancing the external profile and reputation of the University in the wider academic and policy community.
• Oversight of education strategy and governance across the institution.
• The enhancement and optimisation of the University’s league table positioning at a national and international level and the use of internal measures of experience to inform and influence policy. 

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) shall also be responsible and accountable to the Vice-Chancellor for major projects to bring about educational enhancement which will be developed in discussion with the Senior Leadership Team or its nominated body. 

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) does not directly manage staff involved in the delivery of professional services, but is expected to play a leading role in informing and influencing strategy and direction. 

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) is a member of the University’s executive board (the Senior Leadership Team). 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The candidate should be an acknowledged leader in teaching and scholarship and/or research. They will provide evidence of high standing in their field and will be known and respected in a relevant professional community. Such a profile is a prerequisite to the incumbent being accorded the appropriate level of respect and credibility internationally, in the UK Higher Education sectors and the University. 

Key competencies, capabilities and experience: 

• Significant Board level leadership experience or equivalent relevant to the role context.
• Significant academic track record in a field relevant to the role context, with distinction in teaching and scholarship and/or research.
• The ability to support continuous organisational change and development.
• The ability to think strategically, to help develop a vision for the future of the University in and beyond the context of the current strategy.
• Demonstrable experience of leadership and turning plans into action.
• Significant experience of working in a large and complex organisation or equivalent and capacity to undertake management at a senior level.
• Scholarship and/or research leadership: securing, rewarding, nurturing scholarship and research including the securing of external grants.
• Financial management and significant budgetary planning.
• Initiative, judgement, decision-making and change management.
• Track record of facilitating the highest quality teaching, scholarship and research, administrative and service outcomes through the active recruitment, development and management of people and financial resources;
• Involvement in relevant professional communities and understanding of the role of professional practitioners.
• Track record of successful cooperation and collaborative working relationships, both internal and external, in order to deliver University Strategy. 

Attributes and skills: 

• The ability to inspire and motivate.
• Proven capabilities as a team leader.
• Good negotiating skills, flexibility and open- mindedness.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills for written work, public relations, networking and team building.
• Ability to make considered, well-balanced and reasoned decisions.
• Inclusive and collegial management style.
• Ability to represent the University at formal events and meetings with outside bodies and to establish relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to understand developments in the Higher Education arena, both nationally and internationally and a high regard for learning and teaching practices, scholarship and research.
• Willing to travel both nationally and internationally.
• Ability to treat staff and students with respect and develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues, students and external groups.
• Understanding and supportive of the need for consultation, collegiality and maintaining the University as the critic and conscience of society.
• Understanding of the complexity and diversity of the University and ability to adapt their approach and style accordingly. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Faculty/Directorate: Senior Leadership Team
Grade of post: Senior Staff
Salary:  Competitive 
FT or % P/T: Full-time
Permanent/Temporary: Fixed-term (1 year)
Principal location of work: Headington campus (with travel, including travel abroad)
Immediate line manager: Vice-Chancellor 
Staff managed: Executive Assistant (TBC)
Qualifications required for post: Higher degree or an equivalent professional qualification
Experience required for post: Experience of establishing and maintaining international partnerships, representing and championing the organisation externally. 

Background 

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Educational Partnerships) will provide academic leadership for and champion the next phase of the University’s development in international and UK recruitment and partnerships. 

Over the last six years, Oxford Brookes has transformed its strategic approach to student recruitment and partnerships. This new role will help to take this even further, working closely with Professional Services and Academic Faculties to develop academic partnerships that help to build our international reputation, extend our educational reach and diversify our income streams across a broader portfolio. The postholder will drive the diversification of our educational portfolio, bringing together colleagues across the University to achieve our goals. 

Overall purpose of post 

The University has developed an institutional strategy which will guide it through to 2035. Developing the University’s educational partnerships is a central element in this strategy. The PVC (Educational Partnerships) will lead the University’s UK and international partnership agenda, driving the development of a strategy which will support the diversification of our portfolio through educational partnerships which contribute to our educational reach and financial sustainability.  

As a successful senior leader, the postholder will be expected to offer an influential and authoritative face for the University externally, as well as providing strong and authoritative leadership across the University. They will represent Oxford Brookes with key partners, both in the UK and internationally, championing our work and position as one the UK’s leading, modern universities. They will work closely with other members of the Senior Leadership Team and with Faculties and Directorates to deliver the University’s strategic goals, particularly those which relate to the further development of the University’s partnership strategies, always ensuring that our values and guiding principles are upheld.  

Main duties

The successful candidate will: 

• Play a leadership role in formulating and driving the implementation of the University’s strategy 2035 and enabling strategies and policies, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team. In particular, they will play a leadership role for the ‘Partnerships and Place’ pillar.
• Provide senior academic, strategic leadership on student recruitment through partnership activities, including: 
  • Work closely with the Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Engagement (MRE) to formulate a strategy that optimises TNE and progression partnerships. 
  • Work closely with the Director of MRE to further develop an Apprenticeship strategy and UK partnerships that support our recruitment goals. 
  • Understand and champion the needs of the international student market, keep abreast of government policy surrounding international students and represent the University in sector fora on these issues (e.g. UUKI, UA International). 
  • Chair key committees and meetings that support the delivery of these aims. 
  • Play a key role in the student number planning process, working closely with Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellors to maximise strategic student recruitment and programme capacities across our portfolio, while maintaining appropriate balance with associated external quality metrics. 
• Strategic leadership of the University’s global TNE partnerships: 
  • Work with the Head of Educational Partnerships (MRE) to identify and develop institutional partnerships which have the potential to enhance the University’s reputation, recruitment and global footprint. 
  • Work with faculties to identify and deliver faculty or school specific partnerships that enhance our organisational goals. 
  • Represent the University externally and nurture relationships with appropriate international regulators, accreditation bodies, politicians and other stakeholders. 
• Lead the Identification of opportunities for expansion into alternative forms of provision, including online delivery and degree apprenticeship provision, including partnership opportunities in these areas.  

PERSON SPECIFICATTON

All of the following criteria are considered essential.

Education/Training

• PhD (desirable) or equivalent professional qualification.

Relevant Experience

• Proven experience of working at senior leadership level within HE, including at Board and executive level, and in the effective delivery of lasting change.
• A strong record of working successfully with colleagues to develop and lead activities to improve partnership development at institutional and international level.
• Proven leadership, including of those who do not have a direct reporting relationship, and successful strategy formulation and implementation in an HE context.
• Experience in representing universities externally and internationally to enhance reputation and commercial activities.
• Excellent understanding of contemporary political, cultural and policy issues in HE, including in relation to TNE and online provision and experience of applying this awareness in an HE setting.
• A good understanding of regulatory frameworks and commercial arrangements and sensitivities, including in an international setting.
• Good knowledge of successful TNE arrangements.
• Good knowledge of successful online arrangements.
• Good knowledge of successful partnerships between HE and FE.
• Good knowledge of successful Degree Apprenticeship provision.

Relevant Skills/Aptitudes

• Excellent interpersonal skills, and an assured and confident communicator in all settings.
• The ability to operate effectively as part of the Senior Leadership Team and to collaborate with senior colleagues.
• An inspirational and authoritative leadership style that motivates colleagues and gains their trust and respect.
• An ability to influence colleagues of all levels and a strong track record in negotiation.
• Sound judgement and problem-solving skills, combined with the ability to take difficult decisions, and to deliver.
• High levels of personal motivation and resilience, diplomacy and tact.
• A commitment to the University’s values, aims and objectives, and an enthusiasm for what it seeks to achieve.

Special Requirements

• Ability and willingness to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice.