Job Purpose

To lead the newly established Graduate School team within the College of Social Sciences, delivering a high-quality, consistent, and student-focused service for postgraduate research (PGR) students and their supervisors. The role will have operational responsibility for coordinating the PGR lifecycle and driving forward improvements in processes, student experience, and service resilience. The postholder will be key in embedding a unified Graduate School model, supporting academic excellence and alignment with the University and College strategies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Provide clear leadership to the Graduate School team, managing staff across central and School-based roles. Set objectives, support development, and foster a collaborative team culture aligned with University values.
2.  Manage the delivery of end-to-end PGR administration, including admissions, progression, thesis submission and examination, funding, and student records. Ensure operational alignment with policy and regulatory requirements.
3.  Act as the key interface between the Graduate School and academic colleagues, Heads of School, PGR Directors, and central services. Promote effective communication, shared ownership of the student experience, and a culture of partnership.
4.  Lead service improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, standardise processes, and reduce the administrative burden on academic staff. Promote data, digital tools, and performance metrics to underpin continuous improvement.
5.  Ensure robust implementation of University policies and external compliance requirements related to postgraduate research, including UKVI, ethics, research integrity, and funding.
6.  Lead the monitoring of PGR-related KPIs (e.g. submission rates, student satisfaction) and contribute to governance reporting within the College and wider University.
7.  Support the successful implementation of the new Graduate School model, including transition planning, communications, and staff engagement activities.
8.  Represent the College at internal and external forums on PGR matters, contributing to sector-wide initiatives and the development of best practice.
9.  Manage relevant operational budgets and resources efficiently, ensuring value for money and effective deployment in line with strategic priorities.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualifications

Essential

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree) or equivalent, with evidence of continuing professional development in relevant areas.
A2. Knowledge and understanding of the UK postgraduate research environment.

Desirable

B1. Relevant postgraduate or professional qualification in management/related discipline.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

C1. Proven ability to lead and manage operational change, including service redesign and team development.
C2. Detailed understanding of the postgraduate research (PGR) student lifecycle and associated academic and administrative processes.

C3. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and implementing service improvements.
C4. Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build positive relationships across professional and academic staff groups.

C5. Demonstrated capability in managing performance, setting clear expectations, and supporting staff development.
C6. High level of digital literacy, including student records systems, data analysis tools, and workflow management platforms.

C7. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and maintain accuracy under pressure.
C8. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentation to senior stakeholders.

Desirable

D1. Understanding of compliance frameworks relevant to postgraduate research, including UKVI, ethics, and research governance.
D2. Familiarity with cross-institutional collaboration and sector-wide initiatives to support researcher development and wellbeing.

Experience

Essential

E1. Substantial experience in leading and managing professional services/operational teams to deliver excellent stakeholder services.
E2. Track record of delivering service improvement and/or managing large-scale administrative functions.

E3. Experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
E4. Evidence of effective planning and delivery of operational priorities in a complex, devolved organisational environment.

Desirable

F1. Experience of working across multiple service areas or Colleges in a large University.
F2. Experience of developing, monitoring, and reporting on KPIs related to student success or related service performance.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date:  27 May 2025