Leadership Development Scheme Officer

Do you want toshape thefuture ofhighereducation?

Do you want to build a career in regulationorpublicpolicy?

Do you believe that students from all backgrounds shouldbenefitfrom high quality higher education?

If so, the Office for Students (OfS) could be the place for you.

The Of Sis  the independent regulator of higher education in England.

We regulate more than 400 higher education institutionscollectivelyteaching 2.4 million students.

We work to fostera diverse, sustainable sector thatmeets students’ needs.

We areseekingdriven, creative,futureleaders to join our Leadership Development Scheme.

Over two yearsand three placements, you willtake on complex projects in a fast-paced environment, developinga broad range of skillswhileshapingworkthat benefitsstudentsacross the country.

Over
threedynamicplacementsacross the organisation
, you will:

• Take on
  challenging,high impactprojects
  thathelp deliver higher education policy.

• Gain
  in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience
  in regulation, strategy, andpolicy-making.

• Develop the
  leadership skills
  and technical capabilities to make a difference in the lives of thousands of students.

• Purpose-driven work:Our mission is to ensure that students from all backgrounds canbenefitfrom high‑quality higher education. Youwill be contributing to important work, fromday‑to‑day regulatory activitytoshapingnew initiatives,which makes a meaningful difference for students.

• Professional development:We place real emphasis on professional development and continuous learning. Through varied,impactfulwork, you will build the skills and experience to become a leaderat theOfSand beyond.

• Supportive environment:You willparticipatein a rich training programme,receive personalised support from adedicatedmentor, and have access to a range of development opportunities.

• Career progression:By the end of two years,youwill bewell placedto apply to afull time regulatory role.
  
  Most Leadership Development Officers who apply to permanent roles receive a job offer.

We’relookingfor hard working,creativethinkerswithacommitment to ensuring students from all backgrounds benefit from excellent higher education.

Youwill appreciate how your work fits into our organisational priorities, and have the aptitude for analysis, problem-solving and detail that enables you to make well-reasoned decisions.

And as a natural communicator both in writing and in person, youwill enjoy the challenge of collaborating with people at all levels and balancing different perspectives in everything you do.

Applications are now open

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of higher education–and your career.

Applications closeat midday onMonday9

March.

Year 1: £32,946

Year 2:£37,614 (subject to meeting assessment criteria at the end ofyear
1)

Plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension.

To find out more about the Leadership Development Scheme, you can join one of our information sessions. We are running live online session sat
12-1pmon 19 Februaryand3-4pm on 27 February.

You can sign up to attend these here:

19 February 2026, 12-1 pm

Information Webinar 1 of 2

27 February 2026, 3-4 pm

Information Webinar 2 of 2

The Of Sregulates  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,sexorsexual orientation.

Flexibility is important to theOfS, as we recognise that this can enable people to work more effectively. To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants we have a flexible and hybrid working approach which applies to this  practice, this typically meansworkingan average of two to three days in the office each week.

This is more than a job–it'syour chance to drive positive change in a sector thatimpactsmillions of futures. Join the Office for Students.