Lead Specialist - Compliance and Operations (Regulation) in London

Location: London / Hybrid

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 + bonus & benefits

Working Pattern: Hybrid - typically 2 days per week in the London office, with the majority of the role worked remotely.

We are working with a leading organisation within the education and qualifications sector that is looking for an experienced Lead Specialist - Compliance & Regulation to join its regulatory team. This is a senior specialist role where you will work closely with internal teams, regulators and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements across the full lifecycle of qualifications and assessments.

The role offers the opportunity to work in a highly influential position, providing regulatory advice, managing regulatory correspondence and helping shape improvements across the organisation.

The Role

As Lead Specialist, you will:

• Provide expert advice and guidance on regulatory requirements and compliance.
• Work closely with business teams to strengthen regulatory compliance throughout the design, development, delivery and awarding of qualifications.
• Lead responses to regulatory requests, ensuring they are accurate, clear and delivered within required timescales.
• Identify regulatory risks, trends and areas for improvement.
• Lead regulatory compliance reviews and deep dives, working with teams to identify issues and implement improvement plans.
• Support root cause analysis and the development of effective corrective actions.
• Provide advice and updates to senior management on regulatory matters and risks.
• Maintain accurate records of regulatory correspondence and identify emerging themes.
• Lead appeals processes and contribute to annual regulatory compliance and self-assessment activity.
• Deliver training and guidance to colleagues on regulatory requirements and changes.
• Respond to queries relating to the interpretation and application of regulatory requirements.
• Support business development and bids by identifying and managing potential regulatory risks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, government agencies and other external stakeholders.
• Represent the organisation at external meetings and industry forums.
• Contribute to responses to regulatory consultations and policy developments.

About You

We are looking for someone with strong experience in regulatory compliance, assessment or qualifications, ideally within an awarding organisation, regulator or closely related environment.

You will ideally have:

• Strong knowledge of the UK regulatory and policy landscape for qualifications.
• A deep understanding of the Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition.
• Experience working within an awarding organisation, regulator or similar regulated environment.
• Knowledge of international and computer-based/onscreen assessments.
• An understanding of assessment methodology and validity.
• Experience within the English Language assessment market would be highly advantageous.
• Experience working collaboratively to improve compliance and regulatory processes.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience working with senior-level stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to interpret complex regulatory documentation and communicate it clearly to others.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience identifying risks and developing practical improvement plans.
• A proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach.

Desirable

• Programme or project management experience.
• Experience of risk management.
• Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing improvement plans.

What's on Offer?

£60,000 - £70,000 salary

Bonus

Excellent benefits package

Hybrid working, typically 2 days per week in a London office

Predominantly remote working outside of key meetings and collaboration days

Opportunity to work in a senior regulatory position with significant stakeholder exposure

The chance to influence regulatory compliance and improvement across a large organisation.