Head of Higher Degrees and PPD Office

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £36,320 - £46,970 per annum

Annual leave

Maternity, adoption and shared Par ent

Auto-enrolment pension

Staff counselling service

Travel discounts

Relocation support

Development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Cambridge is seeking a proactive Head of Higher Degrees and PPD Office to lead the administration of postgraduate and professional development programmes within the Faculty of Education. You will supervise seven staff, manage day-to-day operations, and ensure compliance with university requirements.

You will collaborate with academic programme leaders, supporting course development and quality assurance, while driving process improvements to better serve students and staff

Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple administrative responsibilities and deadlines.
• Experience leading and supporting a team.
• Experience reviewing and improving administrative processes.
• Experience within safeguarding frameworks in education.
• Experience using IT applications and advising on databases and social media.
• Ability to analyse and present data effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee administration of postgraduate and professional development programmes.
• Lead a seven-strong team and manage HR and cross-unit coordination.
• Oversee admissions, registration, assessments and examinations.
• Manage student records, programme budgets and compliance.
• Collaborate with academic leaders on course development and quality assurance.
• Improve systems and procedures to meet student and staff needs.
• Coordinate student recruitment information and marketing materials.
• Analyse data to support teaching allocations and faculty decisions.
• Act as secretary to Faculty committees and Disability Liaison Officer.
• Liaise with university departments on student administration, regulations and procedures.

Skills

Team management

Data analysis

Communications

Workflow improvement

Safeguarding knowledge

IT applications

Relationship building

Deadline management

Tools

Databases development

Social media management

Job description

About Us

The University of Cambridge is one of the world's leading academic institutions, renowned for its excellence in education, research, and innovation. For nearly 800 years, we've been at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries, shaping global knowledge across diverse fields. We boast 31 Colleges, over 150 faculties and departments, and a thriving ecosystem of museums, libraries, and research centres.

The Benefits

• Salary of £36,320 - £46,970 per annum


• Generous annual leave allowance


• Generous maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement and other family-friendly schemes, including workplace nurseries


• Auto-enrolment pension scheme with a generous employer contribution


• University Staff Counselling Service


• Travel benefits and retail discounts at over 2,000 local and national stores


• Relocation support schemes


• Development opportunities

This is an excellent opportunity for a talented and detail-focused administrator with superb management skills and a focus on developing processes to join our world-renowned university.

The Role

As our Head of Higher Degrees and PPD Office, you will oversee the administration of postgraduate and professional development programmes within the Faculty of Education.

Leading a team of seven staff, you'll oversee day-to-day management and HR matters, while co-ordinating administrative activities across the student lifecycle. You will be involved in admissions, registration, assessments and examinations, alongside managing student records, programme budgets and administrative processes to ensure compliance with University requirements.

You will also work closely with academic programme leaders and the Director of Learning and Teaching, supporting course development, quality assurance and Faculty planning. Contributing to the improvement of systems and procedures, you'll strive to ensure the office continues to meet the needs of students and staff.

Additionally, you will:

• Co-ordinate student recruitment information, course publicity and marketing materials


• Analyse and present data to support teaching allocations and Faculty decision-making


• Act as secretary to Faculty committees and the Disability Liaison Officer


• Liaise with University departments on student administration, regulations and procedures

About You

• Experience of managing a complex range of administrative responsibilities and meeting competing deadlines


• Experience of managing and supporting a team


• Experience of reviewing and improving administrative processes


• Experience of working within a safeguarding framework, such as in a school, local authority or other educational setting


• Experience of using IT applications and advising on the development of databases and social media in a professional setting


• Experience of analysing and presenting data and information


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills


• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships

The deadline for applications is the 15th November 2026

Other organisations may call this role Office Manager, Academic Administration Manager, Student Administration Manager, Postgraduate Administration Manager, Education Administration Manager, Faculty Office Manager, University Administration Manager, or Programme Administration Manager.

Informal enquiries can be addressed to Thury Agustsdottir Faculty Business and Operations Manager, email at [e-mail]

Please quote reference JR51471 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.