Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the
information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference:
8694
Job title:
Associate Lecturer Services Manager
Reports to:
Assistant Director, Associate Lecturer
Services
Salary:
£30,424 - £36,298
Terms and conditions:
Academic-related
Grade:
7
Duration of post:
1 year from commencement
Working hours:
Full time
Location:
OU in the South West - Bristol
Closing date:
Thursday 28 February at 12 noon
Type of application form accepted:
Long application form with a covering letter
outlining how you meet the person
specification
Number of referees required:
3
Unit recruitment contact:
Sue Tatlow
2. Summary of duties
Working as part of the integrated UK-wide Associate Lecturer Services team, the postholder is responsible for the management of all processes and procedures associated
with the employment of Associate Lecturers attached to the regional/national centre
including:
1. Management of the Associate Lecturer Services team in the regional/national centre
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directly line manages a supervisor and indirectly manages the Associate
Lecturer Services team in the region/nation
ensures that the team works closely with the wider Associate Lecturer Services
team to deliver a seamless and consistent service across the UK
liaises with faculty staff to ensure the appropriate level of clerical support is
provided to them by the team
2. Management of processes and procedures in relation to the employment of
Associate Lecturers:
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manages processes for the recruitment, selection and appointment of Associate
Lecturers, including the issue of contracts
works with faculty staff to plan and manage Associate Lecturer appointments
provides management information on student number forecasts for each module
presentation
manages processes in relation to termination of Associate Lecturer
appointments
manages processes for the payment of Associate Lecturer salary, fees and
expenses
advises faculty staff on policies and procedures relating to Associate Lecturer
employment
ensures that personal data and records relating to Associate Lecturers are
updated and retained appropriately
manages leave processes for Associate Lecturers including maternity and
paternity leave and leave of absence
oversees the provision of advice to Associate Lecturers relating to their
employment
monitors and evaluates processes to ensure agreed service standards are
maintained
proactively seeks to improve service standards across the Associate Lecturer
Services teamProvision of support to senior staff on issues relating to Associate
Lecturer employment.
3. Management of Tutor:Student allocation process:
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manages operational processes and systems to create and allocate groups of
students to Associate Lecturers, based on management information and in
consultation with faculty staff
coordinates adjustment to planned student groups as student numbers change,
communicating with faculty staff and Associate Lecturers as required
4. Tutorial planning and timetabling:
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plans future accommodation needs and tutorial venue requirements
liaises with Regional Services team to match tutorial plans to available facilities
and to manage the booking of venues
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ensures that feedback from Associate Lecturers on venues is fed back to
Regional Services
ensures that tutorials are planned and recorded appropriately
5. Provision of support to senior staff on issues relating to Associate Lecturer
employment:
 provides management information for a range of purposes
 supports senior staff with fact-finding and investigations in relation to the
performance of Associate Lecturers
3. Person specification
Criteria
Education,
qualifications and
training
Essential
A first degree or equivalent skills
and experience
Desirable
Knowledge, work
and other relevant
experience
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Experience of managing a
team of staff
Experience of planning and
managing complex operational
activities
Experience of managing
change
Knowledge of and
commitment to equality and
diversity policy and practice
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Excellent interpersonal and
communication skills
Proven negotiating and
influencing skills
Proven ability to lead, manage
and develop staff
Excellent organisational skills
Proven ICT skills including a
high level of competence in
Microsoft Word, Excel and
Outlook
Proven ability to interpret and
present data
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Skills and
capabilities
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Personal qualities
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Ability to use initiative to deal
with non-standard issues
Ability to work effectively as
part of a distributed team
Evidence of a flexible and
adaptable approach to the
workload and changing
priorities
Evidence of setting and
meeting high standards for
service, and the ability to
challenge others positively in
order to seek improvement
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Experience of working
in higher or further or
adult education
Awareness of the
external environment
and government
policies as they impact
on the University
Ability to use access
databases
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Special working
conditions e.g.
shift working
Ability to communicate change
in a positive and effective
manner through influencing
and persuasion
Willingness to work unsocial hours
occasionally and to travel to other
University locations
Additional
requirements
4. Role specific requirements e.g. shift working
Occasional evening/weekend work and travel to other University locations
5. About the unit/department
STUDENT SERVICES
Student Services is responsible for the provision of educational and administrative
services to students and for the recruitment, staff development and supervision of
Associate Lecturers and residential schools staff. It is the largest Unit of the University
with an annual budget of more than £90 million. More than 7,000 staff (1,100 ‘internal’
staff and 6,500 Associate Lecturers) are employed by the Unit at or through:
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four central sub-units based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
3 National Centres based in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and ten English regions.
The Director, Students, who is the Head of Student Services, is a member of the ViceChancellor’s Executive and reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor. Student Services is
divided into four functional areas as follows:
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Student Recruitment and Financial Support
Teaching and Learner Support
Assessment, Credit and Qualifications
Business Services
The activities within the functions are supported from seventeen sub-units, of which four
are based at the Walton Hall campus and thirteen are located throughout the UK. In
addition there is an office located in Dublin from where services are provided to support
particular markets.
The management structure for Student Services is headed by the Student Services
Executive which comprises:
 Director, Students
 Director, Business Services
 Director, Assessment Credit and Qualifications
 Director, Student Recruitment and Financial Support
 Director ,Teaching and Learner Support
 Director, Learner Support Services
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Director, Associate Lecturer Services
The Directors of Functions, in addition to their Student Services-wide functional
responsibilities, each manage one of the Walton Hall based sub-units or one of the
English sub-units.
Teaching and Learner Support
Main Aims:
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to develop and deliver teaching and learner support services in furtherance of
the university’s academic objectives and mission;
to contribute to the defining of challenging student service standards;
to develop and deliver teaching and learner support services that are high
quality, cost-effective and inclusive;
to contribute to the integration of teaching and learner support across university
functions and locations.
The Teaching and Learner Support sub-unit has over 100 staff at Walton Hall and 150
staff in AL Services in regions and nations. It liaises closely with the regional and
national centres in delivering teaching and other services to students.
It includes the following teams:
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Associate Lecturer Services
Associate Lecturer Support and Professional Development
Careers Advisory Service
Communications
Disabled Student Services
Learner Development
Learning, Design and Technology
Residential Schools
Widening Participation and Offender Learning.
Associate Lecturer Services
The Associate Lecturer Services team, led by Dr David Knight (Director, Associate
Lecturer Services) is a UK-wide team of staff based at Walton Hall and in the 13
regional and national centres. The team, working in liaison with faculty colleagues in
regions and nations, is responsible for the recruitment, appointment and employment of
the University’s 6,500 Associate Lecturers teaching students on over 400 modules.
The team is planning to restructure to align with Student Support Teams from
2013/14. .
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application
please contact Diane Rees on ext. 63151 or email diane.rees@open.ac.uk
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Sue Tatlow
on ext. 63123 or email R03-Recruitment@open.ac.uk
7. Where to send applications
Please ensure that your application (long application form with a covering letter setting
out how you meet the Person Specification) reaches the university by 12 noon on
Thursday 28 February.
Post it to:
Sue Tatlow
Department/Unit:
Regional Services
Address:
4 Portwall Lane
Bristol
BS1 6ND
Post code:
Or e-mail your application to: R03-Recruitment@open.ac.uk
8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Diane Rees, Manager Associate Lecturer
Services. The interviews will take place at the OU in the South West offices in Bristol
date TBC.
The selection process for this post will include an interview and other exercises.
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been
shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to
shortlisted candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.