Academic Operations Manager (Apprenticeships)

Teaching & Learning - Apprenticeships

About the University of Sunderland 

The University of Sunderland offers life-changing opportunities for 27,500 students across its campuses in Sunderland, London, Hong Kong, and through global partnerships with learning institutions in 19 countries. We're proud to be a top 50 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2024), with top-quality facilities, inclusive culture, and our vibrant, ever-changing city.

The University of Sunderland is at an exciting stage of development in relation to its higher and degree apprenticeships provision. We now offer apprenticeships in all Faculties, across a wide range of subject areas, built on strong partnerships with employers across the region and beyond. The University is known for its commitment to academic excellence, tackling inequality and its approach to widening participation. That commitment is firmly embedded within our approach to apprenticeships as part of the University’s core business, in line with our ambitions as a university to be student-focused, professions-facing and society-shaping.

About the role

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and self-motivated Academic Operations Manager to support the Academic Director of Apprenticeships with academic leadership of higher and degree apprenticeships across the University, leading on operational matters relating to academic quality, compliance, and staff development.

This opportunity would suit an experienced academic who has an interest in progressing to a cross-institutional role in which they will work collaboratively with colleagues across the academy, to drive and implement improvements to enhance learning, teaching, and assessment within higher and degree apprenticeship programmes. This new role will involve the planning and delivery of staff development activities, providing support and advice to programme teams, analysis of data to inform quality enhancement and contributing to policy development.

What you can bring 

Applications are invited from candidates with a strong commitment to high quality learning and teaching in a Higher Education environment. Candidates should be qualified to at least Masters level and have experience of teaching, academic leadership and programme development in the HE sector, with a teaching qualification and/or HEA fellowship.  The successful candidate will also have a comprehensive knowledge of the regulatory frameworks surrounding apprenticeships provision.

What we can offer you 

Our University is not just a place of academic excellence, but also a community that embraces inclusivity and support. We value our staff and offer a rewarding package that goes beyond just salary. At the University of Sunderland, we prioritise not only your professional growth but also your happiness and well-being.

• Enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement of 36 days, along with an additional 5 closure days over the Christmas break and 8 Bank Holidays. 
• Enrolment into our workplace pension scheme, ensuring your financial security for the future. 
• Access to our “My Lifestyle Benefits Platform”, where you can enjoy online discounts at hundreds of retailers every day. Plus, take advantage of exclusive schemes that allow you to purchase a new car, bike, or technology at a discounted rate. 
• Your health and well-being are important to us. That's why we provide access to discounted private medical insurance, health cash plans, and guidance on financial well-being.
• For those with young children, our on-site nursery offers exceptional care and education for children from birth to school age, operating throughout the year.
• Maintaining an active lifestyle is made easy with discounted membership for CitySpace Fitness, our state-of-the-art facility for sports and social activities. 

Equality, diversity & inclusion 

We strongly believe that an inclusive university, where a diverse range of individuals feel valued and have equal opportunity to get into work and reach their potential, is good for our staff, students, university, and society.

Our work on equality, diversity and inclusivity has never been more important. We believe inclusivity is an essential value at the heart of what we do, and we want all our staff to be part of that journey with us.

Our recent staff survey conducted in 2023 showed that 97% of our staff believed that we were committed to achieving an inclusive university.

The closing date for applications is Monday 20^th May 2024 (23.59 GMT).

Interviews/assessments are likely to take place on Monday 3^rd June 2024

If you hold the skills, qualifications and experience we are looking for, we would love to hear from you. 

For further information about the post or an informal discussion, please contact Sarah Beck, Academic Director of Apprenticeships, via email: sarah.beck@sunderland.ac.uk.