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:
VRF 11738
Job title:
Graduate School Director
Reports to:
PVC Research and Academic Strategy
Salary:
£72,837 - £85,369 depending on experience and
qualifications
Terms and conditions:
Senior Academic and Related Staff
Grade:
Grade SS2
Duration of post:
Permanent
Working hours:
37 hours, Monday to Friday
Location:
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Closing date:
Noon 2nd November 2015
Type of application form accepted:
Short version, CV and covering letter
Number of referees required:
3
Unit recruitment contact:
Univ-Sec-Recruitment@open.ac.uk
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2. Summary of duties
This is a three year secondment opportunity for a senior academic. The Director will be
expected to retain an active research profile and supervise graduate students.
Purpose Statement
The inaugural Director of the Graduate School will provide academic leadership for the Open
University research degrees programmes, and will have the opportunity to shape the Graduate
School. Our post graduate research student community is currently around 1,000 students of
whom two-thirds are directly registered with the Open University and about one third through
our Affiliated Research Centres. Our directly registered students are a mix of full and part time
students, and a range of research degrees is offered (PhD, MPhil, EdD).The university has
ambitious plans to grow the student numbers over the next few years.
The Graduate School is currently envisaged to include the following activities:
 Provide strategic leadership for policy and practice in response to the internal and
external environment.
 Raise the profile and visibility of doctoral provision, both internally and externally as a
coherent programme within the University, including leading on student recruitment
and publicity. Respond to funding opportunities such as Doctoral Training Partnerships
and other institutional level funding opportunities.
 Be responsive to changes in the external and internal environments, and communicate
these internally and to a broad external audience.
 Co-ordinate generic research student and supervisor skills and development, including
transferable skills and professional development in partnership with the academic
professional development unit.
 Quality assurance and enhancement procedures for the Open University’s research
degree programmes and its collaborative provision through the Affiliated Research
Centre Programme fit with the overall quality and enhancement policy; the Quality
Assurance Agency Code of Practice for Quality and Standard and any other funder
requirements. . Provide the central administrative infrastructure for the management of
research degrees.
There is a possibility to extend the Graduate School to include coordination of aspects of PGT
provision and the Director would play a key role in developing the case for such an extension.
The Graduate School will include the current Research Degrees Office, and is expected (at
least initially) to remain part of the Research, Scholarship and Quality Unit. The Graduate
School is expected to have a Management Board with representatives from faculties, chaired
by the Director.
Main responsibilities
External relations
1. Advises PVC RAS on the external environment e.g. changes to government HE
policies (including UKVI) which impact on the Graduate School and appropriate
strategic responses from the Open University.
2. Identifies and takes forward collaborative working and establishes relationships,
including with funders (public, private and charitable sector), other universities and
existing and new Affiliated Research centres.
3. As an external and internal ambassador, raise the visibility of research degrees at the
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Open University, including developing a funding, marketing and recruitment strategy to
grow the Open Universities research student numbers.
Governance, strategy and policy development
4. Transform the Graduate School from a concept into a reality and prepare for a formal
launch in Autumn 2016. This will include close working with the PVC RAS, Director
RSQ and the interim Executive Deans of the faculties.
5. Advises the PVC RAS and takes a lead role in developing institutional strategy and
policy for the Graduate School, including external arrangements such as Doctoral
Training Partnerships. This will include collaboration with the Director RSQ to ensure
alignment with and informing of the wider research strategy and policy.
6. As an ex officio member of the Research Degrees Committee (RDC), reporting to the
RDC governance aspects of the Graduate School strategy and policies. The Director is
also expected to attend the Research Committee.
Quality assurance
7. Working with the Head of Research Degrees, ensuring the quality assurance and
enhancement procedures for the Open University’s research degree programmes and
its collaborative provision through the Affiliated Research Centre Programme fit with
the overall quality and enhancement policy; the Quality Assurance Agency Code of
Practice for Quality and Standard and any other funder requirements.
Management
8. Chairing and working with the Management Board, on which all faculties and institutes
will be represented, to deliver a high quality research student experience from enquiry
through to alumni status and to ensure coordination of management policies.
9. Working with the Head of Research Degrees and the Director RSQ, ensuring the
services provided by the Research Degrees Office are efficient and effective and
appropriately reflected in and resourced through the RSQ Unit Plan. This will include
working with the Director RSQ on the structure and shape of the Research Degrees
Office as part of the Graduate School.
10. Support the Director RSQ in the line management of the Head of Research Degrees.
Research
11. Managed through their original faculty, to undertake research and student supervision
in the usual manner.
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2. Person specification
The post-holder will specifically demonstrate the ability to:
 Lead intellectually and strategically on the development and delivery of research
degrees for the University;
 Work with the PVC RAS and academic and support units of the University to
develop and embed a new Graduate School, including developing and
communicating a strong and compelling vision;
 Maintain excellent working relationships with stakeholders across the University
and externally;
 Lead on organization-wide cultural and operational change and planning.
The successful candidate will be able to provide demonstrable evidence of:
Essential
 Strong leadership and management competencies at a senior level.
 Successfully led on change initiatives at Department, Unit or University level
strategic and evidence-based thinking and planning.
 the presence and experience to represent The Open University to internal and
external communities
 outstanding inter-personal, negotiating and influencing skills;
 Substantial knowledge and experience of research degree provision.
 Commitment to equal opportunities
 Successful supervision of PhD students to completion
 Ability work as part of a team
Desirable
 Understanding of online teaching and training provision through a Virtual Research
Environment
 Experience in attaining match funding for PhD students with external partners
 Strong research standing involving inclusion in REF2014 submission
Note: Essential elements are those, without which, a candidate would not be able to do the job. Applicants who have
not clearly demonstrated in their application that they possess the essential elements will normally be rejected at the
short listing stage. Desirable elements are those which it would be useful for the post holder to possess.
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
N/A
5. About the unit/department
The Director of the Graduate School will be based in the current Research Scholarship and
Quality (RSQ) Unit, which will become part of a new Research and Academic Strategy Unit.
The current RSQ Unit includes the following offices:
 The Research and Enterprise Office is responsible for supporting the University’s
activities for identifying and accessing external income to support research, enterprise
and knowledge exchange activities. It also supports the ethical review process for
research projects.
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
The Research Strategy Office, supports the development and implementation of
institutional strategies and plans for OU research. It also manages processes related
to the Research Excellence Framework 2014, and the provision of management
information and strategic intelligence on research and scholarship.
 The Research Degrees Office is responsible for managing all administration
processes, policies and underpinning infrastructure for research degrees and research
degree students. It also oversees partnership arrangements with the Affiliated
Research Centres, and manages the Virtual Research Environment. The Graduate
School Director will have strategic oversight of the Research Degrees Office, which
consists of about 15 members of staff.
More information about the current RSQ Unit and all its five offices can be found at:
http://intranet6.open.ac.uk/research-scholarship-quality/main/
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 with the
PVC Research and Academic Strategy please contact Wendy Jordan on 01908 655181- or
email pvc-ras@open.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Univ-SecRecruitment@open.ac.uk.
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: Noon 2nd November
2015.
You should enclose:

A covering letter, clearly indicating how you believe you meet the person
specification. Please ensure you provide relevant examples as evidence to support
your statement on no more than two sides of A4.

Your completed application form (short version).

CV
Post it to:
Name/Job title:
Diana Griffiths, Recruitment Co-ordinator
Department/Unit: University Secretary’s Office
Address:
Room 202, Charles Pinfold Building
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
Post Code:
MK7 6AA
Or e-mail your application to: Univ-Sec-Recruitment@open.ac.uk.
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8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Kevin Hetherington. The interviews will take place on
the 13th of November 2015.
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.
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