Senior Quality Assurance Officer

Job id: 082707. Salary: £37,332 to £42,099 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 18 January 2024. Closing date: 01 February 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: NMES Faculty Office.

Contact details: Joanna Gillis. joanna.gillis@kcl.ac.uk

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Professional & Support Services.

Job description

The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences is seeking to appoint a Senior Quality Assurance Officer. Based at the Strand Campus the post holder will work closely with the Quality Assurance team and Vice-Dean (Education) to support a range of Quality Assurance processes.

This post will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of quality-related processes within the Faculty, including annual updates to programme information, supporting the programme and module approval and amendments process, accreditation, and the assessment agenda, providing specialist advice and support to both academic and professional services staff. The post holder will work with the Quality Assurance team and key role-holders both within the Faculty and across the College to ensure processes are delivered effectively and in accordance with Faculty and College priorities, requirements and policies.

We are looking for a pro-active, enthusiastic colleague who has a commitment to continuous improvement to join the team. The successful candidate will have proven organisation and communication skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to deal with competing and shifting priorities often to tight deadlines. Knowledge of Quality Assurance in higher education is desirable.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

Responsibility for coordinating the process for approvals for new programmes and modules, or changes to existing provision. This includes providing advice and guidance to professional services and academic colleagues, organising and servicing meetings, using the existing system to enter and process information and using SharePoint to maintain and share information internally.

Leading the annual process of updating programme information for publication for the academic departments in the Faculty, in line with College requirements. Working to interpret the outcomes of module and programme changes and determine how these relate to existing programme materials, liaising with departments where required.

Support the examination and assessment agenda in the Faculty, including academic appeals, working closely with the Faculty Assessment Board Chairs (UG and PGT), Quality Assurance Manager and Senior Programme Manager, and leading on the processes for ensuring accessibility to exam scripts for students.

Assist the Quality Assurance Manager in other quality processes, such as annual monitoring, periodic programme review, and accreditation by professional bodies.

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Quality Assurance procedures, proactively identifying areas of improvement for service users as needed, dealing with enquiries and queries as required.

Writing and updating policy and guidance documents in conjunction with Faculty office-holders.

To represent the Faculty Education Team at relevant College meetings and share best practice with Quality Assurance colleagues.

To manage specific projects for the Faculty and Departments as required by the Quality Assurance Manager, Associate Director, Education or the Director of Operations.

To be the point of contact in the Education Team regarding the guidelines and processes for all students who teach (UG TAs/GTAs), including training, development, and monitoring, working closely with the PGR Co-ordinator and Faculty TA Lead.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to draft documents and correspondence for a broad range of audiences.

2. Ability to deal with a wide variety of people in a professional and assured manner.

3. Excellent attention to detail, with an ability to maintain high levels of accuracy when dealing with large volumes of documentation.

4. Excellent data analysis skills, with the ability to assimilate large and complex sets of information quickly and accurately.

5. Excellent IT skills (including Word, Excel, SharePoint).

6. Experience of interpreting complex regulations and processes and explaining these to a varied audience in a straightforward and engaging manner.

7. Experience of anticipating problems and applying proactive and innovative approaches to resolve issues.

8. Experience of formal committee servicing, including drafting agendas and minutes.

9. Ability to multi-task, balancing competing priorities under pressure of deadlines and workload.

10. Proactive with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

11. Experience of administration in Higher Education.

Desirable criteria

1. Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.

2. Knowledge of Quality Assurance within the Higher Education context

3. Experience of managing and refining processes, preferably within an academic environment.

4. Experience of managing projects.

5. Experience in the use of databases, student records systems (e.g., SITS) and website content management system.