Regulation Officer - Funding

Regulation Officer
- Funding

Salary: £37,614– £ 38,577

Fixed term: 18 months

Location:

Bristol

Post responsible to:
Senior Regulation Manager

We are the independent regulator of higher education in England. We aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. The higher education sector in England is complex and diverse and the OfS’s approach to regulation recognises this. Our strategy signals a shift from an organisation in a start–up phase to an established regulator that understands its regulatory tools and how best to use them to shape incentives across the sector we regulate.

We work to ensure that students in England enjoy higher education provision that is high quality; that their access to opportunity, success and progression is not limited by background, location or characteristics; and that providers are well and sustainably led.

We are looking for a Regulation Officer to join the Regulation directorate, initially supporting the Funding Portfolio. Regulation Officers work across a range of regulatory activities, developing breadth and depth of experience over time while contributing to the OfS's statutory functions and helping to protect the interests of students through proportionate, evidence-based regulation. While this role is currently aligned to funding activity, this is an agile role and may contribute to different areas of regulatory work as business priorities evolve.

You may be involved in:

• Supporting the development and delivery of OfS funding programmes and funding allocations
• Analysing quantitative and qualitative evidence to inform funding decisions, identify risks and support regulatory activity
• Monitoring and assuring funded activity, assessing performance against objectives and recommending appropriate action where required
• Gathering and interpreting information from a variety of sources to support evidence-based recommendations for decision-makers
• Developing guidance, frameworks and processes that support the effective delivery of funding and regulatory activity
• Building expertise in funding policy, regulation and the higher education sector, contributing to the development of good practice across the organisation

You will work collaboratively within and across teams and portfolios to deliver the OfS business plan, respond to urgent work requests, and support shared objectives. The role involves clear communication with internal and external stakeholders, managing complex relationships with professionalism and sound judgement. You will produce robust, evidence–based assessments and recommendations to support effective decision–making and consistent regulatory delivery. How we do things is as important to us as what we do, and your approach will be grounded in our strategic attitudes – being ambitious, collaborative, vigilant, and vocal.

While you don t need previous experience of working in a regulator, you will bring strong transferable skills and be ready to apply them confidently in a role that helps protect students and supports confidence in the higher education sector.

Person specification (essential skills)

• Ability to:
  Manage key processes and projects independently, balancing competing priorities and building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Improve and implement processes, helping to deliver change and drive continuous improvement
• Understand and apply research, data, legislation, and the wider policy landscape relevant to the regulation of higher education
• Work with minimal supervision, using sound judgement to deliver priorities, while recognising when to seek advice or escalate issues
• Analyse and interpret complex information from a variety of sources, producing clear, evidence-based advice and recommendations
• Understand and apply regulatory tools and approaches to support assessments, decision-making, recommendations and the effective delivery of work
• Develop and share expertise in your area of work, while actively learning from colleagues and contributing to a collaborative team environment
• Produce clear written documentation…