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:
7237
Job title:
Senior Manager Collaborative Provision
Reports to:
Head of Research Degrees
Salary:
£36,862 - £44,016
Terms and conditions:
Academic Related
Grade:
Grade 8
Duration of post:
3 years fixed term contract
Working hours:
37 hours per week
Location:
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Closing date:
noon 11th August 2011
Type of application form accepted:
Short version, Curriculum Vitae 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
Description of Duties
The post holder will report to the Head of Research Degrees Office and provide support
for the management, and implementation of the University’s arrangements for
safeguarding the quality and standard of its collaborative provision with regard to research
degrees in affiliated research centres. The post holder will also offer support and
guidance to the University’s partner institutions and to liaise with academic, academic
related and support staff in this endeavour.
The ARC Senior Manager is expected to:
1. work with and support the Research Degrees Committee and management groups
in its substructure, nominated faculty academic staff, ARC research degree
coordinators, and members of the research degrees office with regard to the
institutional management of the ARCs and sponsoring establishments and to
promote the aims of the ARC programme.
2. manage the infrastructure in support of the quality assurance monitoring and
enhancement of the institutional relationships with ARCs and sponsoring
establishments in accordance of Part 2 of the QAA Code for Quality and Standards
for Collaborative Provision.
3. manage the enquiry, approval and contractual arrangements and ongoing annual
monitoring and tri-annual review visits and closure, where necessary, undertaking
review visits as required.
Main Duties
To be the first point of contact and source of authoritative advice and guidance for the
management of QA infrastructure in accordance with Part 2 of the QAA Code for Quality
and Standards for Collaborative Provision by:
1. Managing the programme of visits to ARCs including:

Ongoing forward planning of the visit schedule agreeing visit dates with ARCs and
reviewers

Preparing documentation and processes for effective and efficient review, pre-,
during and post-visits

Briefing reviewers

Running workshops for staff development and disseminating good practice

Undertaking visits as an administrator

Managing follow up actions resulting from visits
2. Being Secretary to the ARC Management Group; preparing papers and reports for this
and other groups and committees as required and managing the business of the
Group between meetings. Overseeing ARCMG governance substructure.
3. Negotiating contractual agreements for new ARCs and maintaining a rolling
programme of contract renewals, inclusive of UKBA Tier 4 requirements.
4. Working with the Head of Quality Assurance in taking forward recommendations
arising from Collaborative Audit and annual internal quality assessment, as required.
Preparing for changes to QAA Code of Practice and audit procedures.
5. Overseeing implementation of the ARC programme’s annual cycle of institutional
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management including but not exclusively:
 The annual institutional monitoring process, collating and analysing responses
and feeding back appropriately to the ARCs
 The review visit and approval processes and documentation in line with expected
quality enhancement and amendments to QAA policy and practice.
 New enquiries, due diligence and the ARC application and approval process
 Facilitating networking and communication with and between ARCs, including the
regular ARC conference (currently held every 2 years)
 Liaising with other parts of the University as required to ensure appropriate service
delivery to ARCs (e.g. library, Research Career Development team, Faculty
contacts, IET student survey team)
 Manage the policy framework for Faculty engagement, e.g. routing review visit
reports via Faculty Research Sub-Committees or equivalent and student progress
reports via ADR or nominee
6. Maintain a manual of written procedures for institutional management and maintaining
the institutional records. Keep under review all documentation and processes
supporting the programme to ensure they are ‘fit for purpose’ and revised in line with
evolving good practice.
7. Keep under review the Terms of Reference of the ARC Management Group and its
sub-structure, working with its Chair, the Head of Research Degrees and the G7 ARC
Manager.
8. Develop the Annual Institutional Monitoring, review visit and approval processes and
documentation in line with expected quality enhancement and amendments to QAA
policy and practice.
9. Represent the ARC programme in the University wide Collaborative Provision
management groups, implementing actions as required in relation to the ARC
programme.
10. Manage the student survey and feedback arrangements. Supporting the Head of
Research Degrees Office in managing complaints and appeals from ARC students.
11. Line Management of G7 ARC Manager post.
Accountability
The postholder is accountable to the Head of Research Degrees for the work s/he
undertakes.
3. Person specification
Qualifications, experience and expertise
Essential:

A first degree or equivalent

Relevant experience of work in Higher Education sector.

Experience of postgraduate research degree administration

A thorough understanding of the requirements of the Quality Assurance Agency and
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experience of higher education quality assurance assessment, together with ability to
apply these within the specific context of the ARC programme.

Ability to take ownership of and resolve complex problems.

Ability to handle multiple projects and tasks, with strong project management skills.

Excellent written and oral communication skills; Substantial experience of report/letter
writing for a range of audiences such as students, senior management and committees

Able to deal sensitively with people of other cultures.

Ability to organise and motivate others to work to deadlines.

Ability to be a team-player, but also able to work independently.

Ability to work flexibly and, at times, under pressure, to meet deadlines with competing
priorities.

Ability to use judgement in difficult negotiation situations.

Able to build relationships, internally and externally, delivering a high quality of service
both to internal and external clients and stakeholders.

Experience of managing financial information relating to fee and other types of
invoicing

Friendly, approachable, patient and facilitative.

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact appropriately with senior members
of staff within and outside of the OU.

ICT competency commensurate with the requirements of the role
Desirable:
Experience of line management
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
Travel to UK and overseas ARCs required – 2- 3 visits per annum lasting approximately 2-3
days each for overseas visits, 1 day for UK visits.
5. About the unit/department
The Research School has an integrated research support function. Working closely with
the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), we are responsible for the
management and administration of the University's research and enterprise activities.
The School is organised into five teams, each supporting a specific area of work:

Grants and Contracts - research grant applications, bids, tenders and awards

Innovation and Enterprise - intellectual property management, knowledge transfer,
and business and community engagement

Policy, Governance and Information - coordination and dissemination of information
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about the University's research; support for research assessment, governance,
policy development and research ethics matters

Research Careers Development - training and development for research staff and
students

Research Degrees - postgraduate research student administration
The University’s Research & Enterprise Hub is maintained by the Research School.
This intranet site links to useful research-related sites and resources across the
university - of interest to research staff, students, managers and administrators, and
others in service units supporting research.
See also the OU’s external research portal: www.open.ac.uk/research.
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 Vivien Bacigalupo on 01908 653103 or email V.M.Bacigalupo@open.ac.uk
If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Univ-SecRecruitment@open.ac.uk
7. Where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: noon 11th August 2011.
Post it to:

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 of no more than 1500 words

Your completed application form (short version)

A Curriculum Vitae
Name/Job title:
Mrs Diana Griffiths
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
8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Vivien Bacigalupo. Interviews will take place on 25th
August 2011.
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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 data will not be accepted.
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