Quality And Compliance Manager

UK Management College; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Management College seeks an experienced Quality and Compliance Manager to run the College's compliance function and ensure robust governance, quality assurance, and risk management across the institution.

The role leads assurance activities, supports audits and inspections, and guides improvements in compliance systems and workflows. On-site, 37.5 hours weekly, Manchester location, permanent contract.

Qualifications

• Degree qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience in compliance, governance, quality assurance, risk management, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of compliance frameworks and internal controls.
• Ensure institutional policies and procedures remain aligned with relevant regulatory requirements and sector best practice.
• Monitor compliance activities across departments and identify areas of risk, inconsistency, or non-compliance.
• Support regulatory reporting requirements and institutional assurance activities.
• Line manage and support Compliance Officers, promoting high professional standards and accountability.
• Allocate workloads and monitor performance against organisational objectives and regulatory deadlines.
• Develop team capability through coaching, training, and performance management.
• Support the identification, assessment, and mitigation of institutional risks.
• Contribute to business continuity planning and regulatory resilience initiatives.
• Prepare reports and provide analysis for senior leadership and governance committees.
• Support internal audits, external inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Support the design and delivery of quality enhancement initiatives.
• Analyse quality and compliance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure recommendations arising from audits, reviews, and investigations are effectively implemented.
• Support the development and optimisation of compliance systems and workflows.
• Promote the effective use of digital tools and data management systems.
• Support data protection compliance and information governance requirements.
• Collaborate with professional services teams to improve operational efficiency and assurance processes.
• Provide clear and practical advice on compliance, governance, and regulatory matters.
• Deliver training sessions and awareness briefings to staff.
• Develop positive relationships with stakeholders across the College.
• Communicate complex regulatory requirements effectively to a wide range of audiences.

Skills

Compliance frameworks

Governance principles

Risk management

Communication

Analytical and report-writing

Data protection

Organisational skills

Education

Degree qualification or equivalent in compliance, governance, quality assurance, risk management

Job description

Quality and Compliance Manager

Department: Quality and Compliance

Reports to: Head of Quality and Compliance

Location: Manchester / UKMC Group Locations

Salary: £38,000 - £45,000 per annum

Proposed Start Date: ASAP

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week : Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00 pm (On-site)

About the Role

UK Management College is seeking an experienced and proactive Quality and Compliance Manager to join our Quality and Compliance team. This role is responsible for the operational management of the College's compliance function, ensuring robust governance, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and risk management processes are embedded across the institution.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting institutional assurance, audit readiness, quality enhancement, and continuous improvement activities. Working closely with academic and professional services colleagues, you will provide leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure compliance obligations are met effectively and consistently.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance and Regulatory Assurance

• Lead the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of compliance frameworks and internal controls.
• Ensure institutional policies and procedures remain aligned with relevant regulatory requirements and sector best practice.
• Monitor compliance activities across departments and identify areas of risk, inconsistency, or non-compliance.
• Support regulatory reporting requirements and institutional assurance activities.

Team Leadership

• Line manage and support Compliance Officers, promoting high professional standards and accountability.
• Allocate workloads and monitor performance against organisational objectives and regulatory deadlines.
• Develop team capability through coaching, training, and performance management.

Risk Management and Governance

• Support the identification, assessment, and mitigation of institutional risks.
• Contribute to business continuity planning and regulatory resilience initiatives.
• Prepare reports and provide analysis for senior leadership and governance committees.
• Support internal audits, external inspections, and compliance reviews.

Quality Enhancement and Continuous Improvement

• Support the design and delivery of quality enhancement initiatives.
• Analyse quality and compliance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure recommendations arising from audits, reviews, and investigations are effectively implemented.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Support the development and optimisation of compliance systems and workflows.
• Promote the effective use of digital tools and data management systems.
• Support data protection compliance and information governance requirements.
• Collaborate with professional services teams to improve operational efficiency and assurance processes.

Training and Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide clear and practical advice on compliance, governance, and regulatory matters.
• Deliver training sessions and awareness briefings to staff.
• Develop positive relationships with stakeholders across the College.
• Communicate complex regulatory requirements effectively to a wide range of audiences.

Professional Development

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of higher education regulatory requirements and sector developments.
• Represent the Quality and Compliance team at meetings, working groups, and institutional initiatives.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the level and nature of the post.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• Degree qualification or equivalent relevant professional experience in compliance, governance, quality assurance, risk management, or a related field.

Experience

• Experience working within a compliance, quality assurance, governance, or risk management environment.
• Experience coordinating compliance activities across multiple departments or teams.
• Experience supporting audits, inspections, or regulatory reviews.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or line managing staff.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong understanding of compliance frameworks, governance principles, and risk management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and report-writing abilities.
• Ability to interpret data and produce evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Understanding of data protection and information governance requirements.

Personal Attributes

• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgement.
• Proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Strong collaborative working style.
• Ability to remain calm and effective when dealing with complex compliance matters.

Desirable Criteria

• Postgraduate qualification or professional certification in compliance, governance, risk management, quality assurance, or project management.
• Experience within the Higher Education or Further Education sector.
• Knowledge of regulatory bodies such as OfS, HESA, and UKVI.
• Experience supporting business continuity planning.
• Experience leading quality enhancement or organisational improvement projects.
• Experience delivering formal training programmes.
• Experience improving systems, processes, or digital compliance solutions.

Why Join UKMC?

At UKMC, we are committed to delivering an outstanding educational experience supported by strong governance, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. We offer a collaborative working environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the College's continued success.