Quality and Compliance Manager

The Open University; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

The Open University in Milton Keynes is seeking a knowledgeable professional to support the Validation Partnerships team. You will ensure partner compliance with university policy, UK law and external regulatory requirements, advising on complex topics to safeguard degree provision.

You will work with key stakeholders to develop, approve and reapprove partnerships, manage expert readers, and maintain auditable records, while occasionally travelling for business needs.

Qualifications

• Understanding of compliance with university requirements and UK law.
• Experience in developing, implementing and managing administrative processes.
• Experience in report writing and preparing policy papers.
• Ability to interpret policy and disseminate information effectively.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with stakeholder influence.
• Experience of line management and working in a Partnerships Team in HE.

Responsibilities

• Support OU Validation Partnerships in developing and approving new partnerships, including due diligence and risk assessments on institutions.
• Develop and amend Partnership SOPs, regulations and handbooks.
• Coordinate expert reader support and partner compliance reviews.
• Provide expert reader support and conduct Partner Compliance Reviews.
• Collate feedback and ensure conditions are met.
• Manage audit trails and supervise record maintenance for partnerships.

Skills

Compliance knowledge

Policy interpretation

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Analytical thinking

Project management

Team leadership

Travel willingness

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department: Validation Partnerships

Closing Date: 21 October 2026

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Permanent

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: Not Applicable

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

Working within the OU Validation Partnerships Team, the post holder will report to a Senior Quality and Compliance Manager (SQCM) and will be supporting new and existing partners to ensure that they are aligned to and compliant with university policy, UK law and the requirements of other relevant external bodies, such as the Regulator(s) within the four Nations.

The role holder will work closely with the Senior Quality and Compliance Manager in the development of the University’s arrangements and requirements for the approval and reapproval of new and existing collaborative partnerships, working closely with key internal and external stakeholders on the development of student policy, alongside being a subject matter expert for a range of policies and processes, providing advice and guidance on a broad range of complex topics to assure and enhance the quality and standards of their degree level provision.

Key Responsibilities

• Support OU Validation Partnerships (OUVP) in the development and approval of new validation partnerships, including undertaking due diligence and conducting risk assessments on enquiring institutions and existing partners.
• Support the continuous development of the Partnership Development and Approval and Partnership Reapproval processes, and the resulting amendments to Standard Operating Procedures, Regulations and the OUVP Handbook.
• Support the process, recruitment and training of expert reader support, for the Partner Compliance Review of new and existing Partner Institutions.
• Provide expert reader support, and undertake Partner Compliance Reviews, for new and existing Partner Institutions.
• Collate expert reader feedback and support new and existing Partner Institutions in meeting compliance requirements.
• Support the management and monitoring of conditions set, following the Partnership Development and Approval Process and Partnership Reapproval Process, including collating the feedback of expert readers to determine if conditions set are met.
• Line management responsibility, as required.
• Review updated partner policies and processes submitted mid-cycle and ensure these are managed through the expert reader process.
• Ensuring clearly mapped audit trails for all partnerships, new and existing.
• Support specific activities or working groups to ensure that OUVP is audit ready and working efficiently and effectively.
• Prepare reports and other papers as required.
• Service University committees or working groups that may from time to time be assigned, including the preparation of policy papers, agenda and minutes.
• Supervise, as appropriate, the maintenance of records and correspondence and provide accurate information and data in support of OUVP’s responsibilities.
• Liaise with colleagues in OUVP, and across the rest of the university, to provide authoritative advice, support and guidance, and support on adaptations and developments (where needed) of Partnerships’ policies and processes to ensure they are accessible, accurate, up to date and compliant with University requirements, the requirements of HE regulatory bodies across the four Nations, UK law and quality frameworks including QAA and any other relevant bodies.
• Spend time away from home at a variety of events. This post may involve travel, potentially including long-haul trips.
• Coordinate the handling of complaints and academic appeals received from students registered on OU validated awards, liaising with Student Casework Office (SCO), SQCMs and SQPMs.

Additional Responsibilities for the team, if required:

• Support, if required, the Annual Monitoring process.
• To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Director, Head, Approvals and Curriculum Partnerships, Head of Validation Partnerships and Operations, or Senior Quality and Compliance Manager.

About You

• An understanding of compliance with university requirements, relevant UK law and the requirements of Regulatory bodies.
• Experience, knowledge and understanding of developing, implementing and managing administrative processes.
• Experience of report writing, preparing papers, and the analysis and interpretation of data and other forms of information to effectively convey written and oral information to a wide range of recipients, internally and externally.
• Proven ability to interpret policy and disseminate information effectively.
• Excellent inter-personal, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, advise and support others over whom there is no formal authority.
• The ability to develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, driving policy and enhancing services for students.
• An understanding of systems and techniques used to provide digital support and communication to partners and validated students.
• Proven ability to work proactively with minimum supervision, using own initiative.
• Strong commitment to the University’s mission and values along with the ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.
• An analytical mind, able to think laterally to solve problems and make sound, evidence-based decisions.
• Willingness to travel for business purposes.
• Educated to undergraduate degree level, equivalent higher education qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of line management.
• Knowledge of quality assurance in higher or further education.
• Experience of managing a complex project to completion.
• Experience of working in a Partnerships Team in Higher Education or similar environment.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work Location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately once per week.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.