Short Courses Manager

Reports to: Dean of Continuing Education

Salary: £39,650 to £43,400 pa (plus access to bonus scheme)

Main purpose of the job: You will be part of the management team within Roehampton Educational Services, working across the University of Roehampton more widely, leading the delivery, customer experience and income generation from the University-wide Short Course and growing Professional Education portfolio. Working directly with the Dean of Continuing Education and Heads, the post holder will be expected to support the growth and satisfaction/reputation of the University-wide Short Course/Professional Education offer, aligning our short course portfolio with the needs of interested amateurs, adult introductory and advanced learners, career changers, employers, partners and local, national and international educational and skills needs. You will oversee a team of visiting tutors in design and delivery and liaise with and support relevant academic and professional service team leaders across the University.

Key responsibilities will include stakeholder management, customer experience, tutor assistance, sales & marketing, and budget/cost management and funder reporting. You will identify and manage wider University & RESL Short Course activities through outreach, events and other business to customer and business to business sales & marketing activity. The role will be customer-led, with a positive mindset, organisational approach and creative problem-solving skills. You will have excellent communication skills and confidence working alone or as part of a larger academic team. You will possess excellent IT (Excel/CRM software), written and verbal communication skills, strong numeracy and a good understanding of the current adult educational context, within the UK and internationally.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Manage and drive effective operational systems for delivery of the Short Course and Professional Education strategy, including face-to-face, online and hybrid modes of delivery.
• Support the growth and market testing of an expanding portfolio that aligns with emerging self-funded, B2B, partner or UK funding opportunities, including the Lifelong Loan Entitlement and Skills England priorities.
• Manage and enhance streamlined administrative processes to support the expansion, operation and delivery of Short Courses and Professional Education to home and/or international markets.
• Act as the lead contact for internal and external Short Course/Professional Education enquiries, ensuring high-quality customer interactions, marketing activities, tutor ideation and careers advisory knowledge and understanding.
• Work with diverse tutor teams, University staff and academic Schools, including and not limited to Academic Heads, Finance, Learning & Teaching, Planning, Registry, Governance, Marketing, Commercial, Partnerships and Human Resources to ensure the effective management, reporting and delivery of Short Courses and CPD, including oversight of marketing materials, fee collection and online information.
• Ensure professional services, administration processes, data quality and record keeping are robust and suitable for audit and any relevant data/funding returns, including HEBCIS, ILR, AEB, LLE and/or KEF returns.
• Provide relevant research, market information and/or sector analysis to inform strategic direction and price-positioning of the Short Course/Professional Education portfolio.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, such as B2B/partnership links to enable strong customer satisfaction and/or professional recognition/accreditation needs.
• Research, understand and advise on market segregation, USP and customer intelligence within a fast-changing market sector.
• Manage effective executive and academic reporting, utilising relevant data analysis to inform strategic decision making and financial profitability analysis.
• Drive internal and external customer quality assurance processes and procedures including effective fee collection, complaints management.
• Contribute to University-wide and/or external meetings and events as required.
• Ensure sector networking, knowledge and understanding is up to date, with particular reference to UK adult learning/further and higher education policy and funding streams.
• Undertake any other requirements commensurate with the seniority of the post.

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise.

The role is a full-time, permanent role.

The appointment is offered subject to satisfactory references, and confirmation of the right to work in the UK.

It is expected that the working hours will be delivered as required by the Short Course portfolio, including evenings and weekends (37.5 hours a week). You are expected to give a full professional commitment to fulfil your duties and responsibilities.

You are expected to work flexibly to meet the needs of Roehampton Education Services Ltd, including evenings as required, within the context of the maximum working week as defined by the UK Working Time Regulations.

Roehampton Education Services Ltd. deploys a hybrid-working mode of working. This role allows for 3 days onsite, 2 days working from home.

The annual leave entitlement is 30 days p.a., with an additional 3 to 4 days for the operational efficiency initiative, usually at Christmas.

Access to the University of Roehampton Retirement Savings Pension Plan, a defined contribution scheme, provided by Royal London.

Roehampton Education Services Limited also offers a wide range of staff benefits.