Education Policy Manager

Salary: £35,608.00 - £37,694.00  per annum pro rata with progression to £46,049.00

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 04 January 2026

The Role

Do you want to help shape the future of education at Newcastle University? The Education Policy and Governance team within Registry and Education Services is looking for someone to join them on a part-time flexible basis to help bring about educational change and enhance the student learning experience. If you have experience of policy and process development and implementation, continuous improvement and quality assurance in an education setting we want you to bring those skills to Newcastle University to help bring about our vision of an Education for Life.

You will work across the University with colleagues and students, leading on key policy and process areas within the team’s remit, supporting committees and working groups and organising and running events.

We are based in Kings Gate in the heart of the University and Newcastle city centre.

We are committed to professional development of all our colleagues, and you will benefit from a range of development opportunities including access to QAA member benefits and sector networking opportunities.

The role is offered on a permanent basis at 0.6 FTE (approx. 22hrs per week) and we are open to a range of flexible working patterns over 3 to 5 days. The service operates on a blended working model with time working remotely and in the office. The hiring manager will discuss the requirements of the role, should you be invited to interview.

If you are considering relocating to join us, should you be successful in your application you can find out about our relocation package options.

Please provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in ‘The Person’ by uploading a letter of application along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

All informal enquiries should be directed to Rachel Dearlove, Director of Registry and Education Services (rachel.dearlove@newcastle.ac.uk)

Interviews are expected to be w/c 26th January 2026.

Key accountabilities

• Building and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the external higher education policy and quality assurance context, including regulatory requirements. Working to ensure that the institution responds to environmental changes and continues to meet its regulatory obligations and deliver its educational vision.
• Working with colleagues and students to develop, review and oversee the implementation of regulations, policies and processes relating to education.
• Providing effective support to high-level institutional committees and working groups.
• Membership of a range of committees and groups, providing input and expertise, representing the Service and enabling effective communication and collaboration with colleagues.
• Contributing to the implementation of the University’s Education Strategy. Providing sector intelligence, data analysis and, professional insights and recommendations to inform strategic priorities and their implementation.
• Writing and delivering reports/briefing papers and presentations to a variety of audiences to support the development of the student education experience (for example, analysis and interpretation of student survey results or presentations to colleagues about external regulatory issues).
• Developing institutional policies across the areas of the Service’s remit and providing specialist advice and guidance to colleagues to ensure their effective implementation.
• Managing periodic reviews of taught programmes, ensuring these are in line with University policy and national expectations for the operation of periodic review.
• Oversight and ownership of one or more processes and systems which enable the delivery and assurance of taught programmes (e.g. module and programme information, external examining processes etc.). Providing advice and guidance to colleagues on these processes and systems, reviewing and developing these with relevant colleagues.
• Designing and delivering bespoke and generic workshops or training to academic and professional services colleagues across all areas of the Service’s remit. Organising and leading events and activities for staff and students.
• Attending internal and external meetings and events to represent the Service/institution, providing expertise and input and reporting on relevant developments and issues.
• Contributing to and leading internal or external projects to support delivery of objectives aligned with the University’s Education Strategy. Collaborating with colleagues, students and external partners.
• Line management responsibility for, or supervision of, relevant colleagues as required.
• Identifying and participating in continuous learning and professional development as appropriate, keeping quality processes and support structures under review and making recommendations to improve effectiveness
• Contributing to the overall work of the service, as and when required, during busy periods or to cover colleagues’ absence.
• Any other duties, consistent with the post’s grade, as requested by the Senior Education Policy and Governance Manager, Head of Education Governance and Quality Assurance, or Academic Registrar.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (essential)

• An up-to-date knowledge of policy and practice relating to learning and teaching, quality assurance and enhancement in education.
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload and to work in a flexible and responsive way.
• Proven critical thinking and creative problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience of using own initiative to identify areas for development, and to effect positive change.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team/group to achieve tasks and priorities.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining successful internal and external working relationships and networks.
• Data insight skills, including the ability to understand and interpret complex data (qualitative and quantitative) and communicate that insight to a variety of audiences.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write audience focused evidence-based reports and make informed recommendations.
• Excellent IT skills including use of databases and web content management tools.
• Experience of scoping, establishing and steering complex policy/process/change projects to successful and timely completion.
• Experience of organising and delivering engaging and purposeful activities/events involving groups of people.
• Demonstrable commitment to own professional development as an education policy professional.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Demonstrable commitment to own professional development.
• Embraces and initiates change, promoting creativity and supporting change with and amongst colleagues.
• Uses data to inform decision making and approaches
• A clear commitment to delivering equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent or able to demonstrate relevant experience.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28915