At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team ensuring compliance and quality in higher education regulation.
- Company: Join the Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education in England.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, and flexible working options.
- Other info: No closing date for applications; apply early to secure your chance!
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives and shape the future of higher education.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and experience in policy development required.
The predicted salary is between 79498 - 83299 £ per year.
Salary: £82,082 - £86,006 plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension
Fixed term contract: 12 months
Location: Bristol
About us
We are the independent regulator of higher education in England. We aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
The higher education sector in England is complex and diverse and the OfS’s approach to regulation recognises this. Our strategy signals a shift from an organisation in a start-up phase to an established regulator that understands its regulatory tools and how best to use them to shape incentives across the sector we regulate. We work to ensure that students in England enjoy higher education provision that is high quality; that their access to opportunity, success and progression is not limited by background, location or characteristics; and that providers are well and sustainably led.
About the role
As part of our continuing regulatory work, we are looking for a ‘Head of Portfolio’ role within our regulation directorate. This role is one of a number of agile roles responsible for delivering our core regulatory work for a particular aspect of the regulatory system.
As a Head of Regulatory Portfolio, you can expect to be leading a team delivering case work, monitoring and leading the assessment of compliance of providers, and developing our regulatory approaches. The post holder will have lead responsibility for a portfolio of assessments leading to the potential award of Degree Awarding Powers (DAPs). You will take responsibility for team and case progress, managing risks and timely completion of assessments and ensuring the quality of reports. You will also be a member of the senior management team that leads policy development, planning and delivery across our quality-related work strands.
About you
Key to success in this role will be your ability to understand and interpret complex regulatory and legal frameworks, regardless of whether or not you have previous experience working in a regulator, in order to reach fair, evidence-based judgements on complex issues. You will be equally adept at quickly adapting to working within higher education and able to learn and understand the key issues and challenges facing the sector. You will be people focused, committed to our mission of driving positive outcomes for students, and able to work at pace within complex and ambiguous environments.
Regardless of the focus of your portfolio, you will be an experienced leader of people and able to demonstrate an ability to motivate, develop and deliver exceptional results through people across an organisation. You will understand the role and value of a regulator and, regardless of your professional background, show an understanding of how effective regulation works in practice.
How we do things is as important to us as what we do, and your approach will be grounded in our strategic attitudes - being ambitious, collaborative, vigilant, and vocal.
We are interested in hearing from candidates with experience of working in relevant roles in the higher education sector, as well as those who have experience of other regulators or regulated environments. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with previous experience in assessing quality and standards within higher education.
If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please get in touch with our Recruitment team (Recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk) to arrange.
Person specification – essential criteria
1. Demonstrable ability to understand and interpret complex regulatory and/or legal frameworks to develop strategic and operational approaches.
2. Demonstrable ability to develop case strategy and reach and convey impartial, risk-based, reliable and legally robust judgements on the basis of complex and imperfect information, and in novel and ambiguous circumstances.
3. Demonstrable ability to develop quickly a comprehensive technical knowledge and understanding of the areas in which the OfS regulates individual providers.
4. Demonstrable intellectual credibility, analytical capability with the ability to take a broad view of issues, events and activities and understand their likely impact or wider implications.
5. Demonstrable ability to lead a team of multi-disciplinary experts to work flexibly in a complex and ambiguous environment.
Shortlisting will be carried out using criteria 1, 2, 4 and 5 within this person specification. Applicants should ensure they address these points fully in their application.
Person specification – desirable criteria
6. Demonstrable ability to influence a diverse set of external stakeholders through complex and contentious issues.
7. Demonstrable experience delivering organisational change to processes, culture and delivery.
Application Process
When applying for the role, you will be required to submit a CV and a covering letter. Your covering letter should be no more than 1,500 words and must demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the person specification criteria 1, 2, 4 and 5.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn.
Working for us
The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.
We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Flexibility is important to the OfS, as we recognise that it can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two to three days in a typical week.
To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working, for example job share and part time working, apply to this role.
As this is a fixed term role, we are open to secondment arrangements from other regulatory or public sector bodies. For more information, please contact recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk
To find more about the OfS and our work, visit Home - Office for Students
Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application stage, please contact us at recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk and we will be happy to help.
Closing date for applications: Friday 23 October at noon
Interviews are planned from week commencing 9th November
For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.
Head of Regulatory Portfolio in Bristol employer: Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Bristol where your analytical skills can directly impact the higher education sector. With a strong commitment to diversity, flexible working arrangements, and a focus on employee development, the OfS fosters a collaborative culture that empowers staff to thrive while ensuring every student has access to high-quality education. Join us to be part of a meaningful mission that shapes the future of higher education in England.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Regulatory Portfolio in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the regulatory landscape of higher education in England. Understanding the key policies and frameworks that govern this sector will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of higher education regulation. Attend relevant conferences or webinars, and engage with thought leaders on platforms like LinkedIn to gain insights and make valuable connections that could support your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in managing multi-disciplinary teams. The OfS values collaborative working, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led teams through complex challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current issues affecting higher education, such as access and participation, quality standards, and financial viability. Being well-informed will allow you to speak confidently about these topics during interviews and show your commitment to the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Regulatory Portfolio in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role:Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Head of Regulatory Portfolio position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be no more than 1500 words and must clearly demonstrate how your skills and experiences meet the personal specification. Use specific examples from your past roles to illustrate your capabilities in leadership, compliance monitoring, and policy development.
Highlight Relevant Experience:In your CV and cover letter, emphasise any previous experience you have in regulatory roles or similar environments. Discuss your ability to interpret complex regulatory frameworks and your experience in influencing stakeholders, as these are crucial for this role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since the role involves leading a team, it’s important to showcase your leadership skills. Provide examples of how you have successfully led teams in the past, particularly in complex environments, and how you foster collaboration and continuous improvement.
How to prepare for a job interview at Office for Students
✨Understand the Regulatory Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current regulatory frameworks and policies that govern higher education in England. Be prepared to discuss how these impact the role and the OfS's mission.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Highlight your previous leadership roles and how you've successfully managed teams in complex environments. Use specific examples to illustrate your ability to foster collaboration and drive continuous improvement.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be ready to discuss your analytical capabilities, especially in interpreting complex legal frameworks and making sound judgements. Prepare examples of how you've applied these skills in past roles.
✨Engage with Stakeholder Management
Prepare to talk about your experience in influencing external stakeholders. Discuss how you’ve navigated complex issues and built relationships that support organisational goals.
