Internal Applicants Only - Education Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the School of Social Sciences for an Education Manager. The role will lead and manage teams of professional services staff responsible for the education operation delivered by the school. The role oversees the development of the school's taught programmes, quality processes and the student experience. The role forms part of the school's senior professional services team, and the postholder will provide specialist strategic, planning and analytical support for the School Manager as well as offering oversight across programmes and student experience. The successful candidate will have a remit of working in education services providing expert leadership. The successful candidate will be required to engage effectively and work collaboratively with academic and professional services teams with the School's Director of Learning and Teaching alongside the Arts Humanities and Social Science College and wider University colleagues., To support the Director of Teaching and Learning at the School of Social Sciences in the delivery of education provision and academic quality. To take responsibility for the effective and efficient delivery of all services provided by the Education Teams (undergraduate and postgraduate), overseeing the operation and development of the school's taught programmes, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects in this area. Key Duties

• To take lead responsibility for effectively and efficiently delivering all services provided by the Education Team (undergraduate and postgraduate), including overseeing the areas of programme development and review, quality monitoring and enhancement, programme management, student recruitment and enrolment, student engagement/feedback, assessment, progressions and award, timetabling, and study abroad activities, student records and the management of student cases.
• To work closely with the School Manager in the implementation of the School's operations as it applies to the Education Team and wider academic support services.
• To support the Director of Teaching and Learning in implementing University and School initiatives related to teaching and learning.
• To provide, evaluate and disseminate management reports and data relating to teaching and learning.
• To attend key School committees and to represent the School at University Committees and working groups, providing input to decisions affecting teaching and learning across the institution as well as the school.
• To review, harmonise and improve teaching and learning administration and management systems across the school.
• To manage, lead and motivate a team of staff, supporting them in the effective execution of their roles, taking overall responsibility for their induction, workload allocation, Performance Development Review (PDR), and training/development needs analysis, and to engender within that team a commitment to delivering high quality services and a culture of continuous improvement and collaborative working.
• To provide expert professional support and advice to the Director of Learning and Teaching, Directors of Studies, Programme leads, and other academic staff regarding the development, implementation and continuous improvement of relevant school policies and procedures, considering available resources and school, college and institutional operational requirements and strategic priorities and the expectations of external stakeholders.
• To provide advice and guidance to Boards of Studies and School Development Groups on the development of new programmes (undergraduate and postgraduate) and the review of existing programmes, overseeing the preparation and completion of the necessary documentation, and undertaking equality impact assessments of any changes.
• To coordinate any periodic or ad hoc returns the school is required to make in respect of its UG and PG activities, including supporting the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), Annual Review and Evaluation (ARE) exercise and Periodic Review.
• To liaise closely and collaboratively with colleagues in central and college professional services to resolve in a timely manner any issues that may arise and to ensure that the School is fulfilling its role in respect of those functions devolved to it and is contributing effectively to those activities undertaken outside the school.
• Contribute to the long-term management of the school, interpreting key strategies into work priorities.
• Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas.
• Ensure the delivery of the team's service level agreements, adapting these according to changes in workload and customer requirements., To act as a point of escalation for complex school student issues, to include extenuating circumstances, student complaints, and student cases, providing an efficient advisory service to relevant colleagues to ensure the swift progression and resolution of issues in line with University and regulatory body requirements including acting as the investigating officer for all student cases and complaints.
• To ensure that the school's student administration practices and processes comply with the University's academic regulations and procedures at all times and to support staff across the School in their implementation
• To support the development of the school's international strategy as it relates to teaching activities, working with, and providing guidance to, the Academic Support Officer to support the development, approval and management of overseas partnerships and student exchanges.
• To gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in data and creating reports as appropriate.
• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• Manage and coordinate accreditation process for the BSc Human and Social Sciences programme.
General Duties
• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.
  
  1. Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent work-related experience
2. Substantial recent experience of leading, motivating and managing a large team in a specialist function, with evidence of the ability to plan and delegate work, over extended time periods, reacting to changes in workload priorities 3. Specialist knowledge of appropriate education administrative systems and processes, with the ability to provide professional advice to internal and external customers 4. Significant experience of working within an education process driven environment with proven proficiency in developing new policies and procedures to adapt to changing regulations, improve service delivery and enhance administrative performance 5. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally to a wide range of people 6. Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments 7. Experience of dealing with performance and welfare issues, with the proven ability to guide and advise 8. Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered, with the proven ability to influence and negotiate 9. Proven ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity, identifying and proposing both practical and innovative solutions, and using a detailed understanding of methodologies to select the right approach 10. Proven ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short-term project teams Desirable Criteria
• Postgraduate/Professional qualification
• Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral
  
  Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (including bank holidays), blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.
As the biggest university in Wales - and a major employer, with more than 7,000 staff - we are an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. We can offer you the chance to work in a vibrant organisation, with great benefits and opportunities for progression., Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements., Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English., The School of Social Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching across a range of subject areas, including Social Policy, Sociology, Criminology, Education, Social Psychology, and Social Work. The School has a large student population, with almost 1000 undergraduates, and 300 postgraduates. We have ESRC recognition for doctoral training in the fields of Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology, Education, and Science, Technology and Innovation and have secured a large number of ESRC collaborative doctoral awards. Our taught and postgraduate research programmes welcome students from around the world. The School hosts a number of research centres and institutes, including the University's Police Studies Institute (UPSI), now part of the University's Crime & Security Research Institute; the Wales Institute for Economic Research & Data (WISERD); the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE); the Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer); and the Seafarers' International Research Centre (SIRC). Many of the School's research centres are housed in the University's Social Science Research Park (SPARK) - a world first, and part of the University's wider Innovation Campus.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), fixed term from 1st March 2025 until 31 December 2025 Salary: £40,247 - £45,163 per annum, with 4 annual increments up to £45,163 per annum (Grade 6), final salary at top of grade. New appointments are usually made at the starting point of the salary scale. Responsible to Louise Jones, School Manager