Assessment Administration Lead Executive

Advance HE; Heslington; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

USS pension

Enhanced family leave

31 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Hybrid work

Employee Assistance Programme

Personal Financial Wellbeing advice

Job summary

Advance HE in York is hiring a Lead Executive for Assessment Administration to drive efficient, accurate, and standards-aligned assessment processes. You will lead a team of Coordinators, manage performance, and support improvements for stakeholders across higher education and related institutions.

Reporting into the Assessment Delivery Manager, you will shape high-quality applicant experiences, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain robust communications while working in a fast‑paced

Qualifications

• Significant experience coordinating assessment administration processes or similar within education or related sector.
• Strong team leadership, coaching, and people management experience.
• Experience in regulated, policy-driven, or compliance-focused environments.
• Experience managing quality assurance and quality enhancement activities.
• Experience using online assessment systems and supporting customer enquiries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Assessment Administration Coordinators to deliver high-quality service.
• Oversee end-to-end administration of peer review assessment processes with published timelines.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, service standards and policies.
• Support production of operational reports and manage day-to-day financial activities.
• Coach and develop the team; coordinate resource planning and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Stakeholder management

Organisational skills

Problem-solving

Tools

Online assessment systems

Databases

Digital platforms

Job description

Assessment Administration Lead Executive

Location: These roles have a nominal office of York, with expected minimum attendance of once a fortnight

Salary: £38,508 gross per annum

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Applications close on 14th September at 9am. Interviews will take place via MS Teams w/c 21st September.

Benefits

• A generous pension plan with USS
• Enhanced family leave benefits
• 31 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid work
• Employee Assistance Programme access
• Personal Financial Wellbeing advice access

… to name a few.

The Role

This role is responsible for ensuring assessment processes are delivered efficiently, accurately, and in line with service standards, regulatory requirements, and organisational values.

Reporting into the Assessment Delivery Manager, you will lead a team of Assessment Administration Coordinators, manage operational performance, support continuous improvement initiatives, and help shape high-quality assessment experiences for applicants, reviewers, institutions, and stakeholders.

This is an exciting opportunity for an organised and collaborative leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and is committed to driving operational excellence.

Job requirements

As Lead Executive, you will:

Assessment Process Delivery

• Lead and manage a team of Assessment Administration Coordinators to achieve high-quality service delivery.
• Oversee the end-to-end administration of peer review assessment processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to published timelines.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, service standards, and organisational policies.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of assessment services and sector developments to support customer enquiries.
• Ensure all communications are professional, appropriate to the audience, and aligned with higher education values.

Service Support and Administration

• Manage and oversee the triage of application and post-recognition enquiries, ensuring timely and effective resolutions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional contacts, contract holders, reviewers, and subject experts.
• Support the production of operational reports, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reporting.
• Manage day-to-day financial administration activities, including purchase requisitions, purchase order amendments, invoicing, refunds, and credit notes.
• Ensure all financial transactions comply with organisational policies and audit requirements.

Team Leadership and Resource Management

• Coach, mentor, and develop a team of coordinators to maximise performance and engagement.
• Support training initiatives and knowledge-sharing activities across the assessment delivery team.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure effective resource planning and business continuity during periods of fluctuating demand.
• Support effective communication and operational delivery with external associates and reviewers.

Continuous Improvement and Transformation

• Lead customer satisfaction and service enhancement initiatives.
• Support organisational transformation projects and system improvements.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce administrative burden.
• Provide feedback and recommendations on systems, processes, and operational performance.
• Maintain guidance documentation, ensuring version control and accuracy across communication channels.
• Contribute to service reviews, operational planning, and performance improvement activities.

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Significant experience coordinating assessment administration processes or similar functions within education or a related sector.
• Strong team leadership, coaching, and people management experience.
• Experience working within regulated, policy-driven, or compliance-focused environments.
• Experience managing quality assurance and quality enhancement activities.
• Experience using online assessment systems, databases, and digital platforms.
• Experience providing high-quality customer service to senior and international stakeholders.
• Budget management experience.
• Experience working collaboratively across complex matrix teams.
• Understanding of the higher education sector and the ability to quickly develop specialist service knowledge.

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and support others to do the same.
• Strong written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Confident verbal communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to navigate multiple digital systems while maintaining accurate records.
• Strong problem-solving and decision‑making abilities.
• Collaborative and adaptable approach to working across teams.
• Ability to remain calm and professional when managing enquiries and complaints.
• Demonstrable commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
• Proven ability to take ownership and deliver results.

Desirable

• Experience implementing service, process, or systems improvements.
• Knowledge of inclusive assessment approaches.
• Project management qualification and/or experience.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work from the York office with attendance typically required one day every fortnight.
• Ability to travel to alternative sites and locations as required.

What you’ll get

You’ll have the opportunity to shape how finance supports the organisation, influence decision‑making at all levels, and lead a team committed to delivering an excellent service. In return, you’ll join a collaborative and values‑driven organisation where your expertise, leadership and ideas will make a real difference.

If you’re an experienced finance professional who combines strong operational leadership with a passion for developing people and improving processes, we’d love to hear from you.

Advance HE is a member‑led, sector‑owned charity that works with institutions and higher education across the world to improve higher education for staff, students and society.

Our strategic priorities of: maximising membership impact and value, supporting leadership, management and governance development for transformational change and developing educational excellence for the higher education of the future supports the work of our members and the sector.

It is our people and the people we help that really make us who we are!

Advance HE is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background.

No agencies please