Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Post Number:
Job Description
School/Department:
Academic Registry (formerly Student and Academic Administration)
Post Title:
Academic Registrar
Level/Grade
MSA7
Registrar
Posts Responsible to (and Level):
Posts Responsible for (and Level):
It is expected that the Academic Registrar will establish close
working relationships with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and
Student Experience)
All staff in department
Job Purpose:
You will be fundamental to the delivery of the University’s Education and Student Experience strategic
ambitions, which are themselves vital to achieving the University’s overall corporate aims.
UK higher education is changing very rapidly. You will be expected to organise Academic Registry
services and the resources allocated to the service to maximise benefits to the University and provide an
excellent, responsive and pro-active professional service across the University.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities (6-10 bullet points maximum)
% Time
1. Lead the formulation of the Academic Registry’s strategy, staffing structure and
resources in support of the University Strategy and ensure that service objectives
are successfully met.
5%
2. Lead the design and delivery of excellent Academic Registry services across the
student lifecycle from recruitment to graduation in a hub (centre) and spoke
(faculties) operating model and benchmarked against best practice in service
delivery.
30%
3. As Secretary to Senate, and working in close collaboration with the PVC
Education and Student Experience, lead the development, oversight and
implementation of institutional academic policy and the University’s academic
regulatory framework.
15%
4. Lead the design and implementation of the University’s Quality Management and
Enhancement Framework to support a risk based approach and including
oversight of all QAA and Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body related
activities.
10%
5. Lead the development and oversight of the University's Student Records System.
10%
6. Oversee financial planning for the Academic Registry to ensure its various
sections operate efficiently within budget and provide value for money. Initiate
5%
1
and implement ways of improving efficiency and effectiveness to engender a
culture of continuous improvement.
7. Lead, develop and manage staff within the Academic Registry to provide a
professional working environment that enables staff to meet and exceed their
potential.
10%
8. Work across the University as a senior member of professional staff, and bring
broader knowledge and expertise to pan-University work outside their direct
areas of responsibility.
5%
9. Work with senior staff across the University to maximise the University’s external
profile. This may involve working directly with external print and broadcast
media.
5%
10. Represent the Registrar and the University externally as required.
11. Any other duties determined by the Registrar and commensurate with the level
of the post.
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)
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Vice-Chancellor, Provost, PVC Education and Student Experience, PVC Internationalisation,
Registrar – development of strategy and delivery against key University aims
Registrar – operational delivery and support
Deans of Faculties and Associate Deans with responsibility for education and student
experience – knowledge of academic activities
Other directors of professional services – cross professional services working and organisation
of service provision to faculties
Academic Registrar’s Council – sector wide networking
Quality Assurance Agency and other external organisations
Academic Registry staff - to ensure cohesive service delivery to customers
Special Requirements:
Willingness to work non-standard hours as reasonably required to fulfil role
2
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
How to be
assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
Postgraduate degree, and/or professional
qualification
X
Application
Proven leadership in a range of demanding and
influential roles.
X
Application and
Interview
Extensive knowledge and experience of the
Higher Education sector and a wide ranging
network of contacts within the sector.
X
Application and
Interview
Proven experience in leading successful
organisational change
X
Application and
Interview
Extensive experience of working within a
regulatory framework
X
Application and
Interview
X
Interview
Planning and Organising:
Strategist with the ability to see the big picture
clearly, with sound insights, instincts, creativity,
flair and the ability to exploit these qualities in
others.
Interview
Able to champion and oversee the Academic
Registry’s contribution to the University’s
strategy and to lead on Academic Registry’s
strategies and plans.
X
Interview
Able to maintain an overview of wider strategies
and developments that impact upon own area
X
Problem Solving and Initiative:
Able to make judgements on significant new
problems where precedent may not apply
X
Interview
Able to develop innovative solutions and practical
implementations for strategic and operational
change.
X
Interview
X
Application and
interview
Management and Teamwork:
Inspirational leadership qualities together with
evidence of managing successfully and
delegating through a non-direct report structure.
Considerable personal presence is required to
achieve visibility through a disparate internal and
external audience.
3
Application and
interview
Able to implement successful change
management initiatives and formulate strategic
plans that reflect and support the priority needs
of the University
X
Interview
Able to recognise and deal with obstacles and
difficulties.
X
Communicating and Influencing:
Confident communicator able to explain and
discuss education and student experience
activities within the University
X
Interview
Ability to write clearly and concisely and present
information to disseminate management
information on a regular and timely basis
X
Interview
X
Interview
X
Interview
Other Skills and Behaviours:
Epitomising the best aspects of professional
services at the University of Southampton
Special Requirements:
Flexibility to work unusual hours on occasions
Membership of a professional body (e.g. AUA
etc.)
X
Application
Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification
School/Department:
Academic Registry (formerly Student and Academic
Administration)
Post Title:
Academic Registrar
Post Number:
Please tick one of the following statements:
This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU
4
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