Head of Student Life Operational Compliance, Assurance & Quality

Head of Student Life Operational Compliance, Assurance & Quality

The University of Wolverhampton is seeking to appoint an exceptional strategic leader as its inaugural Head of Student Life Operational Compliance and Assurance.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead a newly established function at the heart of the University's Student Life Directorate, providing strategic leadership for operational compliance, governance, quality assurance and institutional improvement across one of the University's most diverse and evolving portfolios.

Working directly with the Director of Student Life, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the University's Student Life services remain aligned with an increasingly complex higher education regulatory landscape whilst driving innovation, organisational learning and continuous improvement.

The role has been created as part of the University's commitment to strengthening institutional assurance across student support, safeguarding, disability inclusion, wellbeing and collaborative partnership provision.

A significant aspect of the role will involve leading the implementation of the University's new Student Life Partnership Assurance Framework—a sector-leading approach to assuring Student Life provision across collaborative partnerships through evidence-based assessment, proportionate operating models and ongoing institutional oversight.

You will establish and chair the University's Student Life Assurance Panel, providing governance and professional leadership for partnership onboarding, annual assurance reviews and institutional risk assessment.

Alongside partnership assurance, you will lead the Directorate's approach to operational compliance, service evaluation, organisational risk, policy development and quality improvement, ensuring that Student Life continues to respond proactively to emerging legislation, Office for Students requirements and sector best practice.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader who enjoys building new services, influencing organisational change and helping shape the future direction of Student Life within higher education.

We are looking for an experienced strategic leader with the credibility, judgement and vision to operate confidently within a complex and highly regulated environment.

• leading governance, operational compliance or assurance activity within higher education or another highly regulated sector;
• interpreting legislation, regulatory requirements or policy and translating these into effective operational practice;
• leading organisational change, quality improvement and service development;
• developing productive relationships with senior stakeholders across complex organisations;
• managing organisational risk, governance and institutional assurance;
• leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing without direct authority.

• exceptional strategic thinking and analytical ability;
• strong political awareness and professional judgement;
• excellent communication and influencing skills;
• the ability to balance regulatory compliance with innovation and service improvement;
• a collaborative leadership style with a commitment to developing others;
• a passion for improving the student experience through evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Experience with in higher education, student services, governance, quality assurance, safeguarding, disability inclusion or collaborative partnerships would be highly advantageous.

The Head of Student Life Operational Compliance and Assurance will:

• provide strategic leadership for operational compliance, governance and quality assurance across the Student Life Directorate;
• lead implementation of the University's Student Life Partnership Assurance Framework;
• chair the Student Life Assurance Panel and oversee partnership onboarding and annual assurance;
• lead operational risk management, compliance reviews and assurance activity across Student Life;
• translate emerging legislation and Office for Students regulatory requirements into operational policy and practice;
• oversee service evaluation,…