Senior Academic Services Officer

Novus; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave

Well-being days

Significant pension contribution

Retail discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

UCEN Manchester is seeking a Senior Academic Standards Officer to coordinate and enhance academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance across our higher education provision. You will work with academic staff, service departments, students and partners to ensure processes are delivered efficiently and in line with policies.

In this hybrid role, you will analyse assessment outcomes, identify risks, produce reports and support enhancement across the institution, contributing to

Qualifications

• Level 5 qualification (or equivalent), or substantial relevant experience in a higher education administration, academic registry, governance, quality assurance, or student records management role
• GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
• Evidence of continued professional development relevant to the role.
• Experience working within higher education administration, registry, governance or quality assurance environments.
• Strong knowledge of academic regulations, assessment processes and student records management.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and produce meaningful reports.

Responsibilities

• Act as a specialist officer within the Academic Services team, supporting the delivery of academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory functions.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to staff and students on academic regulations, policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and oversee academic administration processes including student registrations, academic misconduct cases, mitigating circumstances claims and recognition of prior learning applications.
• Support complex or exceptional student cases, ensuring the consistent application of regulations and appropriate escalation where required.
• Lead the administration and servicing of committees, panels, programme validations and assessment boards, ensuring accurate documentation, high-quality minutes and effective action tracking.
• Maintain the integrity, accuracy and quality of student record data through systematic validation, reconciliation and compliance checks.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Stakeholder liaison

Problem solving

Independent working

Education

Level 5 qualification or equivalent

Job description

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Higher Education Quality Standards and Strategic Partnerships Directorate at UCEN Manchester as an Senior Academic Standards Officer.

This is a permanent, full-time position (35 hours per week) based at our City Centre Campus, operating with some flexibility with hybrid working on occasions.

UCEN Manchester is the higher education arm of The Manchester College, delivering an expanding portfolio of career-focused higher education programmes designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and experience needed for successful professional careers.

As UCEN Manchester continues to develop and strengthen its higher education provision following the securing of Degree Awarding Powers, we are seeking a highly organised, analytical and proactive professional to play a key role in supporting academic governance, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and student record management across the institution.

About the Role

As an Senior Academic Standards Officer, you will play a central role in ensuring the effective delivery, coordination and continuous improvement of academic administration, governance and quality assurance processes across UCEN Manchester's higher education provision.

Working with a high degree of autonomy and professional judgement, you will provide specialist advice and guidance on academic regulations, assessment governance, student records management, quality assurance requirements and compliance matters. You will work closely with academic staff, service departments, students and external partners to ensure that academic processes are delivered efficiently, transparently and in accordance with institutional policies, partner university regulations and sector expectations.

The role will involve coordinating and supporting a wide range of academic and regulatory activities, including assessment boards, academic misconduct cases, mitigating circumstances, student registrations, programme validations, committee servicing, quality reviews and student data management.

You will also undertake detailed analysis of assessment outcomes and student profile data, identifying trends, risks and areas for improvement, producing reports and evidence that support informed decision-making and enhancement activities across the institution.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Act as a specialist officer within the Academic Services team, supporting the delivery of academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory functions.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to staff and students on academic regulations, policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and oversee academic administration processes including student registrations, academic misconduct cases, mitigating circumstances claims and recognition of prior learning applications.
• Support complex or exceptional student cases, ensuring the consistent application of regulations and appropriate escalation where required.
• Lead the administration and servicing of committees, panels, programme validations and assessment boards, ensuring accurate documentation, high-quality minutes and effective action tracking.
• Manage arrangements for programme committees and governance meetings, ensuring papers are prepared, quality assured and distributed in a timely manner.
• Develop strong and collaborative relationships with academic departments, professional service teams, partner universities and awarding bodies.
• Maintain the integrity, accuracy and quality of student record data through systematic validation, reconciliation and compliance checks.
• Oversee the collection, verification and processing of assessment marks within internal and partner institution systems.
• Support the organisation and delivery of assessment boards, including preparation of reports, student profiles, governance documentation and regulatory advice.
• Manage the publication and communication of assessment outcomes to students in line with institutional and awarding body requirements.
• Undertake detailed analysis of assessment and student performance data, producing reports that inform enhancement activities and strategic decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and documentation, contributing to service excellence and operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to quality reviews, audits, validations and enhancement projects through the preparation of reports, evidence and documentation.
• Support staff development by promoting understanding of academic regulations, governance requirements and quality assurance processes.
• Represent Academic Services and Registry functions at meetings, working groups and institutional initiatives where required.
• Lead designated areas of academic administration, governance and quality assurance activity, acting as the principal point of contact and subject matter expert.

What We Are Looking For

• Level 5 qualification (or equivalent), or substantial relevant experience in a higher education administration, academic registry, governance, quality assurance, or student records management role
• GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
• Evidence of continued professional development relevant to the role.
• Experience working within higher education administration, registry, governance or quality assurance environments.
• Strong knowledge of academic regulations, assessment processes and student records management.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and produce meaningful reports.
• Experience supporting committees, boards, validations or quality assurance activities.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to advise and influence a range of stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• The ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement within established regulatory frameworks.

Benefits

• 35 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• 3 well-being days per year.
• Significant pension contribution.
• Retail discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Why Join UCEN Manchester?

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and success of UCEN Manchester's higher education provision. You will play an important role in supporting academic quality, student success and regulatory compliance, while helping shape and strengthen academic services within an ambitious and evolving higher education environment.

We are the largest provider of College Higher Education within the region, and in the top 10 nationally. Our student outcomes and experience (e.g., NSS) exceed benchmarks and, as an ambitious and high-quality provider, are currently within a Degree Awarding Powers (DAP) probationary period.

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At UCEN Manchester, we're committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or victimisation, where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity. UCEN Manchester is committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities where we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and student community that reflects Greater Manchester's and the UK's rich diversity and vibrancy.

The closing date for this job advert is 15/10/2026. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!