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:
10189
Job title:
Curriculum Manager
Reports to:
Programme Manager, Design and Engineering,
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology
Salary per annum:
£30,728 – £36,661, depending on qualifications and
experience
Terms and conditions:
Academic Related
Grade:
7
Duration of post:
Fixed term contract or secondment for 8 months
Working hours:
Full time
Location:
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Closing date:
noon Thursday 5 June 2014
Type of application form accepted:
Full
Number of referees required:
Three
Unit recruitment contact:
Staffing Co-ordinator, email
MCT-Staffing@open.ac.uk
Human Resources HRG158 Issue 2
January 2010
Page 1 of 6
2. Summary of duties
Responsibility for:
(i)
Ensuring that module teams operate within the framework of objectives, policies and
procedures agreed by the academic unit and as defined institutionally;
(ii)
Through the Programme/Qualification Manager, providing a link between the module
team and the academic unit’s senior management team;
(iii)
Managing specified modules in presentation, in conjunction with Module Team Chairs,
Deanery administrators and other staff in the Faculty and University and assisting with
productions as appropriate;
(iv)
Liaising between academic colleagues and the production and administrative areas of
the University, and between the Faculty, Associate Lecturers and students;
(v)
Ensuring that modules are presented on time and to budget and (in collaboration with
Deanery staff) that necessary Faculty and University policy and procedures are followed
in relation to module presentation and production activities.
Principal Duties
Project Management
(i)
provide overall project management of module materials development within the unit to
handover to the publishing unit (LTS), with the responsibility to ensure that the project is
proceeding to schedule, specification and within the allocated resources;
(ii)
in consultation with the module team chair, arrange meetings (both face to face and online), write agendas, minutes, reports and papers for such meetings, and follow up
module team decisions;
(iii)
provide appropriate management information to module teams, e.g. student feedback,
recruitment and retention levels, throughput to other modules, etc.;
(iv)
manage the processes for monitoring whether the module team is operating within the
student workload assumptions set out in the module specification, and that other issues
bearing on student retention are taken into account at the module level;
(v)
ensure that the module team has in place appropriate mechanisms for reviewing quality,
standards and diversity issues;
(vi)
manage the presentation and production of annually updated teaching/learning
materials/activities;
(vii)
monitor and progress the production of examination papers and other confidential
module materials; service meetings for module Examination and Assessment Boards.
Budget Management
(i)
prepare resource bids on behalf of module teams and monitor module budgets for
modules managed, whether in production or presentation;
(ii)
liaise with module teams, the Deanery, and other areas of the University to ensure
costings appropriate to the project are prepared;
(iii)
advise module teams of expenditure;
(iv)
manage the module budget and exercise authority to sign off expenditure against
agreed budget heads.
Policy and Procedures
Human Resources HRG158 Issue 2
January 2010
Page 2 of 6
(i)
advise module teams of University policies and models of standard modules during the
development and specification period;
(ii)
ensure that module teams operate within university and unit policy and approval
processes;
(iii)
be responsible for module teams acting in the light of wider university and unit policies
and procedures, for example, in relation to retention issues, the implementation of elearning and such other developments bearing on module teams;
(iv)
be responsible for ensuring:
that major university systems, such as PLANET, are kept up to date in respect of
module-related data;
that all information required at the module specification approval stage is provided;
that the module materials inventory is complete and correct.
Liaison
(i)
negotiate production and presentation schedules and monitor these schedules with the
appropriate staff in the Faculty and LTS;
(ii)
act as the main administrative link between module teams and other areas of the
University and outside organisations; representing module teams at meetings inside and
outside the Faculty, often dealing with people at a more senior level, and ensuring that
Faculty and University requirements are followed in relation to module presentation and
production activities;
(iii)
initiate external consultancy contracts, monitor progress and ensure completion of work
and payment of fees;
(iv)
handle and respond to student and tutor enquiries and other queries for information on a
wide variety of module related issues from within and outside the University, recording
these on the University database (VOICE);
(v)
keep the Faculty’s senior management informed of project progress and carry out such
action at the module level as may be requested by the Faculty’s management.
Other Duties
(i)
Other appropriate activities as specified by the either the Programme/Qualification
Manager or Head of Curriculum Management.
Human Resources HRG158 Issue 2
January 2010
Page 3 of 6
3. Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential

A first degree in any subject, or equivalent background education, or work experience at a
comparable level.

ECDL or equivalent ICT skills, a commitment to developing existing ICT skills and a
willingness to learn about IT systems specific to module management.
Work and experience
Essential

Directly relevant work experience that demonstrates transferable skills such as in an
administrative or managerial role.
Desirable

Previous experience of project management from specification through to completion,
including scheduling, quality and resource management and prioritising conflicting
demands.

Experience of working in an educational or publishing environment.

Experience of working in a changing environment, and a keenness to work with new
policies and procedures.
Personal abilities and qualities
Essential

Proven ability to organise own workload to ensure that objectives and deadlines are met
within resource constraints and to remain effective under pressure.

Ability to anticipate and analyse problems, propose workable solutions, manage and
resolve conflict.

Good communication skills, including the ability to interpret and convey information
effectively in written and oral form, to persuade and influence others in a constructive way
and to negotiate and prioritise activity.

Effective team-working and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work pro-actively
and independently, to work flexibly across boundaries and to demonstrate commitment to
diversity principles and practice.

The ability to be self-critical and reflective in relation to own role and work, to learn from
experience and to operate with integrity, accountability and commitment.

Commitment to the aims and culture of the OU.

Willingness to adapt to a new role within a short period of time, given appropriate support
and development
Desirable

Awareness of external factors affecting the OU.

Experience of budgeting and budgetary management
Human Resources HRG158 Issue 2
January 2010
Page 4 of 6
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
n/a
5. About the unit/department
The Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology is one of the largest faculties of The
Open University (OU) with a turnover of approximately £80m, and with over 200 academic
staff, including academics based in our Regional and National Offices, as well as researchers,
administrators, curriculum managers, project officers, and secretarial support staff. With over
50,000 students from a wide range of educational and social backgrounds studying our
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and research degrees, our curriculum and
research make a difference to people’s lives. Our modules provide breadth across the
technical and scientific education demanded by the national and international knowledge
economy, with the curriculum depth (from foundation through to postgraduate level) to provide
the pull-through from lower- to higher-level skills. Our coverage ranges from quantitative
analysis to policy, from engineering to design, from information to interaction, from vendor
qualifications to technology management.
The breadth of our research enabled the Faculty to host returns to five Units of Assessment in
the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and to contribute to further units of
assessment across the University. Our research is currently evidenced as world leading or
internationally excellent in a number of areas. It directly informs our teaching and ensures that
the Faculty remains at the forefront of pedagogic innovation and technology-enhanced
learning. In addition the Faculty is developing an ambitious enterprise agenda to exploit our
capabilities through partnerships, consultancies and other relationships.
The Faculty consists of three academic Departments:

Computing and Communications

Engineering and Innovation

Mathematics and Statistics
These strong interdisciplinary groups work collaboratively across departments/disciplines and
with other faculties.
Curriculum and Module Support:
While the academic support to our modules is provided by the Departments listed above, the
Faculty's curriculum is developed and managed by Programme Committees covering five
subject areas. Each of these subject areas hosts programme ‘homes’ of varying sizes, in
which our 35 Curriculum Managers are organised. Secretarial and clerical support for the
Modules, Programmes and the Curriculum Managers is organised within the same framework.
Curriculum Managers work as members of a variety of teams, including module production
teams, Programme teams and groups set up to support particular aspects of our modules.
Curriculum Managers provide the key link between the academic and administrative
dimensions of module development, liaising with staff from the areas of Learning and Teaching
Solutions, Student Services, Finance and Marketing. The job requires considerable
organisational and communication skills, flexibility and leadership.
Human Resources HRG158 Issue 2
January 2010
Page 5 of 6
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 Karen Ross, on ext 52598, or email Karen.Ross@open.ac.uk or Mary Keys, on ext
58667, or email Mary.Keys@open.ac.uk
If you have any questions regarding the application process please email MCTStaffing@open.ac.uk.
7. Where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by:
noon Thursday 5 June 2014.
Email your application to:
MCT-Staffing@open.ac.uk
Or post it to:
The Staffing Co-ordinator, Pentz Building
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology
The Open University
Walton Hall
MK7 6AA
8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by the Programme Manager, Design and Engineering.
Other members of the interview panel will be notified to candidates nearer the time. The
interviews will take place as soon as possible after the closing date.
The selection process for this post will include:
(a)
a completed application form, please ensure you complete all sections of the form;
(b)
a letter of up to 500 words briefly describing why you are applying for this post.
NB: It is important that candidates complete all sections of the application form in full. The
selection panel will be paying particular attention to the following section of the application
form: Describe briefly the nature of your present appointment, and any other position which
you have held that you consider relevant to this application. Please provide details and
evidence of how you meet the person specification.
A CV is not required and will not be used as part of the selection process.
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 be sent to shortlisted
candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
Human Resources HRG158 Issue 2
January 2010
Page 6 of 6