At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead provider engagement and manage high-profile events in higher education.
- Company: Join the OfS, a key regulator in the higher education sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, health benefits, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on higher education while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Strong project management and communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Provider Relations Manager to lead and drive forward our communications and engagement with providers we regulate. You will lead the OfS’s programme of provider engagement – managing our hugely important visits programme as well as delivering high-profile events and webinars aimed directly at senior leaders in universities and colleges – and oversee our annual stakeholder survey, which will form how we communicate with our diverse range of regulated providers.
You will help develop processes to gather intelligence on the sector, programme strategic engagement activity direct to providers, and ensure that the insights gathered from providers are acted on and shared effectively across the organisation.
Sitting within the Strategy, Delivery and Communications (SDC) Directorate, the communications team drives the OfS’s external and internal communications, including public affairs, media relations, digital publishing, stakeholder engagement, events and public information. Communications is essential for the organisation to drive progress towards our strategic goals.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong project management and communications skills who wants to work at the heart of higher education regulation.
What you’ll do
- Lead the OfS’s provider visits programme, ensuring visits run smoothly and to a high standard, including managing briefings, matching visitors and shaping future phases of the programme.
- Develop and oversee the chair and chief executive visit programme, acting as liaison with board and committee members.
- Manage how feedback from provider visits is used internally, shared back with providers and used to improve ways of working.
- Lead the operational delivery of the OfS’s annual stakeholder survey, analyse findings and develop strategic improvements to provider engagement.
- Lead programming for OfS accountable officer and chair events, including quarterly webinars, new accountable officer and chair induction events and mailings, which involved developing content, agendas, speeches and briefing notes.
- Develop and implement a provider engagement strategy, identifying key audiences and creating proactive engagement opportunities such as policy roundtables and regional meetings.
- Write briefing papers and discussion points for the chair and members of the OfS’s Provider Panel.
- Advise on and implement provider engagement activity for strategic communications plans and launches.
- Activity manage the Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Events and Communications Co-ordinator, and Administrative Resource Unit colleagues who support visit delivery.
What you’ll need
- Demonstrable project management skills, including the ability to plan, manage and deliver complex projects to time, coordinating resources and tracking progress.
- A track record of successfully working across teams and organisational levels, collaborating with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
- Outstanding written communication skills, including the ability to present complex policy and technical information in a clear, accessible way tailored to specific audiences – from briefings and speeches to event content.
- Excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to work proactively and autonomously without close supervision.
- The ability to make sound judgements and give strategic advice.
- Experience of working in or with the higher education sector.
Our Total Reward Framework offers a range of benefits to suit your way of life. These include:
- Comprehensive learning and development – we’re invested in your future.
- Annual leave starting at 25 days per year, plus public holidays.
- Access to the highly regarded Civil Service defined benefit pension scheme.
- A variety of health-related benefits.
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.
Work 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 days in a typical week.
To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working – for example job share and part-time working – is available.
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 and we will be happy to help.
For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.
Strategic Provider Engagement Manager in London employer: Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises professional growth and development within the higher education sector. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we provide comprehensive benefits including generous annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance. Join us in making a meaningful impact on higher education regulation while enjoying a collaborative culture that values your contributions and insights.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Provider Engagement Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the higher education sector, attend relevant events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. The more you engage, the better your chances of landing that Strategic Provider Engagement Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your project management skills! Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed complex projects in the past. Be ready to discuss these during interviews to demonstrate your ability to deliver results.
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your communication style! When speaking with potential employers, adapt your language to match their tone and values. This shows that you understand their needs and can effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application directly, so make sure to submit it through our platform. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your journey and ensure you’re considered for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Provider Engagement Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Strategic Provider Engagement Manager. We want to see how you can contribute to our provider engagement strategy!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since outstanding written communication is key for this role, ensure your application reflects your ability to present complex information clearly. Use examples that demonstrate your knack for tailoring content to different audiences.
Highlight Project Management Experience:We’re looking for someone with strong project management skills, so don’t forget to include specific examples of projects you've managed. Show us how you planned, coordinated, and delivered successful outcomes!
Apply Through Our Website:To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Office for Students
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research the organisation and its key stakeholders. Understand their mission, values, and recent initiatives in higher education regulation. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare specific examples of complex projects you've managed successfully. Highlight your ability to coordinate resources, track progress, and deliver results on time. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating complex information in a clear and accessible manner. Since the role involves writing briefings and speeches, consider preparing a short presentation on a relevant topic to showcase your communication skills during the interview.
✨Engage with Strategic Insights
Be ready to discuss how you would gather and utilise feedback from provider visits. Think about strategies for improving engagement and how you can contribute to the development of the provider engagement strategy. Show that you can think critically and strategically about the role.
