Learning & Teaching Officer

Job Purpose

Job Summary:
With more than 100 programmes and over 5,000 students, Birmingham Business School is the largest School at the University and plays a pivotal role in delivering the University’s strategies for internationalisation, student experience and teaching excellence. As one of nine Learning and Teaching Officers in the School, you will lead a team of professional services staff to manage either: the administration of a cluster of programmes within the School’s educational portfolio; or the School’s student reception and front-line advisory service; ensuring the delivery of effective and efficient administrative and professional support for students and academics. Working closely with the Learning and Teaching Managers and the other academic and professional services colleagues, you will contribute to the effective delivery of the School’s education and student enhancement strategies and related policies, processes and plans ensuring continuous improvement and compliance.
You will therefore play a key role in developing administrative operations in your designated area, whilst working closely with colleagues across the School to ensure best practice is shared. You will work independently, effectively and proactively with professional services and academic colleagues in the implementation and development of School and College strategies and associated related policies, systems and practices.
Working with key staff within the School and College, the role holder will provide clear and effective management and leadership to direct, develop and enhance the allocated team to assist in the delivery of strategic ambitions.

Person Specification

Main Duties:
• Lead, motivate and manage a team of learning and teaching professional services staff, to either: deliver effective, efficient and consistent administrative support for a cluster of programmes (from student recruitment and admissions, induction through to timetabling, examinations, and to graduation and alumni engagement); or to deliver effective, efficient and consistent advice and guidance to prospective and current students, ensuring resources are allocated appropriately on a day-to-day basis.
• Deputise for the Learning and Teaching Manager as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant Programme Directors, Module Leads and professional services colleagues in Academic Services and across the School/College in providing advice and guidance and acting as a point of escalation.
• Ensure policies and procedures introduced are implemented effectively, and ensure appropriate staff are briefed promptly and effectively.
• Develop (in conjunction with academic and professional services colleagues) and manage the implementation of education and student enhancement strategies and related policies, processes, operational plans and budgets within a specific area; ensuring appropriate KPIs and targets (specifically those relating to student intake, continuation, employability, and student experience) are monitored and reported on, sharing and learning from best practice, and contributing to the periodic review of the strategy.
• Responsible for the critical analysis, review and implementation of administrative and business processes, anticipating enhancements in School and College level activity in light of changes to School, College or University requirements and expectations.
• Ensure approved School, College and University policies and objectives relating to the administration of students and programmes are effectively and consistently applied throughout and work collegiately and supportively with colleagues during any significant change in process.
• Working with the Student Engagement Officer, ensure that student feedback mechanisms e.g. module/programme review, staff student liaison committees, student reps etc. are appropriately managed and contribute to the development and effective implementation of resulting action plans.
• Working with the appropriate Programme Directors and Module Leads, manage the periodic review of individual programmes and modules identifying areas of best practice, improvements, expansion and streamlining, to include for example; competitor and market analysis, student feedback, and annual programme review etc.
• Contribute to the development and review of an annual calendar and programme of learning and teaching activity and related administration ensuring effective delivery
• Manage learning and teaching related processes and communications to ensure compliance with University procedures for areas such as: Tier IV; GDPR; student conduct, complaints and appeals; safeguarding; accreditation, quality assurance and curriculum development; examinations, assessment and feedback; partnerships, placements, and student mobility etc. and contribute to their ongoing review, revision, and documenting.
• Manage and oversee the accuracy of student data and documentation for programmes within the cluster, e.g. marks entry, student change of circumstances, student handbooks etc. and/or for the School’s Student Hub/Reception, providing data as required.
• Where required, support the effective marketing of learning and teaching programmes within the cluster.
• Provide an evidence-driven response to all received appeal submissions, liaising with the relevant academics and professional services staff as and when necessary during the formulation of a response and providing pastoral support to students as appropriate.
• Attend and contribute to Exam Boards, SSLCs, Boards of Studies, and other learning and teaching related committees as appropriate and represent the School/College on committees, boards and projects relating to learning and teaching, and contribute to continuous improvements in related policies, systems and processes.

Person Specification:
Essential:
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent relevant experience in a similar role.
• Considerable experience of learning and teaching administration and/or supporting students in higher education
• An understanding of programme administration and the student lifecycle and an awareness of issues affecting higher education (nationally and internationally) and the importance of the student experience.
• Experience of managing and motivating staff across a range of activities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work with a range of stakeholders including students and academics; establishing personal credibility and winning support.
• Proactive, highly motivated and well organised and the ability to manage, prioritise and delegate a range of complex tasks, completing them to the required deadlines.
• Willing to do things differently with a flexible, creative and proactive approach to problem solving.
• Experience of developing, implementing, maintaining and reviewing complex working systems, policies and procedures.
• Attention to detail and the ability to analyse data to formulate clear proposals/reports on complex matters.
• Effective team working skills
• A track record of delivering an excellent customer experience
• Excellent IT skills and an aptitude for learning new packages to support student administration e.g. student records systems.
• The ability to work flexibly in a fast moving, dynamic environment where change is often required immediately.
• Commitment to continuing professional development and training

Desirable:
• Budget management experience
• An understanding of relevant external accreditation organisations