Benchmark Role Profile for Head of Service (APML6)
Version 2.0
Last amended: March 2015
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Head of Service
School/Department:
Salary:
Job Family and Level:
Administrative, Professional and Managerial Level 6
Contract Status:
Hours of Work:
Location:
Reporting to:
The Purpose of the Role:
The purpose of the role is to develop, lead and manage the work of the service, comprising of two
large customer facing teams. To take an active role in managing critical and urgent issues,
project activity across campuses, and developing management procedures, ensuring that quality
standards are set, achieved and maintained to the benefit of the University community.
Main Responsibilities:
1.

To plan, develop and report on the strategic development of the role and
structure of the service, ensuring the service is meeting the changing needs
of the University.
Contribute at a strategic level to the continuing development of the
department as a whole through participation at relevant committees and
forums. To inform and influence department policy formulation and service
level statements.
Member of the departmental management team which considers, develops
and aligns department strategy with the overall strategy of the University.
20%
 To lead, manage and analyse the role and work of the service to ensure
provision of high quality customer focused services, to agreed service levels
to the University
 To provide direction, leadership, support and guidance to line managers
within the service.
45%


2.
% time
per year
Responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the service and managing the
associated change. This is demonstrated through the following activities:
 Development of service level agreements (used to focus staff attention on
key areas for service delivery)
 PDPR, management team meetings, and regular line manager 121 meetings
Benchmark Role Profile for Head of Service (APML6)
Version 2.0
Last amended: March 2015
(used to monitor performance and progress whilst communicating direction
or change)
 Staff welfare monitoring (communicating relevant policies and procedures
and applying them fairly, taking responsibility for disciplinary matters,
considering requests for early retirement, management of sickness absence
etc).
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Significant and continuous project management responsibilities including
formal reviews of services across the campuses and the department, and
implementation of all recommendations and strategies
 Providing strategic planning reports and recommendations on the future
development of the service with a planning timescale of months and years
 Responsible for managing the service staffing budget of almost £1 million
annually. With service continuation and expectation, discretion is required
to match current service provision by using temporary staff to cover
absences/shortfalls whilst ensuring pay remains within the allocated
budget.
 Responsible for managing the operational budget of around £350k pa
 The role holder also has a duty to ensure that the service achieves
additional income generation
 To assess and report for planning purposes on the future budgetary
requirements of the service.
Management of critical and urgent issues that may have significant impact on
the service
To represent the service at senior levels within the University and the wider
community to promote the work activities of the department and keep up to
date with the requirements of the higher education sector in general.
To keep abreast of current and emerging developments in the field of
expertise, in both the education sector and in business that may be used to
enhance the service and efficiency
Any other duties appropriate to the grade and role
20%
7.5%
2.5%
2.5%
2.5%
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications/
Education
Skills/Training
Essential
Relevant degree or equivalent.
Desirable
Proven change management skills.
Proven advanced analytical and
problem solving capability.
Operational planning, management
and business process skills
Experience
Recognised training in relevant
standards.
Substantial experience of managing a
large team and service.
Highly developed understanding
(theory and practice) of the
relevant fields
Benchmark Role Profile for Head of Service (APML6)
Version 2.0
Last amended: March 2015
Experience of developing a significant
team and project management.
Experience of working with and
influencing senior management.
Widespread awareness and
understanding of University
activities and objectives
Experience of budget management at
a significant level
Experience of developing solutions
and contributing to strategic planning
Statutory/Legal
Proven ability to motivate staff.
A well-developed understanding of
governing regulations and legislation.
Decision Making
i) Taken independently by the role holder;
 Own workload prioritisation and associated delegation of work to staff.
 Any operational decisions on service provision.
 Implementation decisions following Senior Management’s approval of change.
 Responses to complaints and associated negotiations.
 Proactively write reports and recommendations.
 Management decisions in critical and urgent situations.
 Short-listing candidates for interview and chairing decisions during interviews.
 Project management decisions.
 PDPR
 Disciplinary measures (in accordance with University policy).
 Project progress reporting.
ii) Taken in collaboration with others;
 Responses to complaints involving other services or teams
 Negotiations for service delivery involving other services or teams.
 Responses to requests for information (depending on topic).
iii) Referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder;
 Approval for recommendations for policy change.
 Reports requiring senior management approval or which would impact on departmental
strategic change.
 Items with additional budgetary implications.
Additional Information
The University of Nottingham strongly endorses Athena SWAN principles,
with commitment from all levels of the organisation in furthering women’s
careers. It is our mission to ensure equal opportunity, best working
practices and fair policies for all.