The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Reporting to the Associate Director of Student & Academic Services, the Head of Student Registry plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of student-related administrative processes. With a team of 65 staff, this leadership position manages a diverse range of teams, including:
 

• Registration and Records: Responsible for enrolment, and maintaining accurate student records.
• Student Fees and Funding: Responsible for student tuition fees, overseas scholarship and bursary programmes, student hardship and providing guidance on student finance.
• Examinations and Results: Responsible for examinations processes, including timetabling, invigilation, and the release of examination results.
• Student Engagement and Progress: Responsible for casework across several formal student procedures including complaints, fitness to study and fitness to practice.
• Student Conduct and Appeals: Responsible for student disciplinary matters, both academic and non-academic, managing the student appeals process and handling cases from the OIA.
• Data Insight & Business Support: Responsible for data management, analysis and reporting.

These activities underpin business critical functions across the University, allowing others to discharge their operational, legal and regulatory obligations. The Student Registry teams also manage external relationships with organisations such as the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) and the Student Loans Company (SLC). First and foremost, the service has a student-centred approach which aims to ensure students are supported by people and processes, in a fair, transparent and consistent manner.

Main duties and responsibilities
 

• Leadership and management of the Student Registry, ensuring that processes, systems and services align with, and support delivery of the University's overall strategic objectives.
• Utilise deep knowledge of registry processes, legal and regulatory obligations, to provide expert advice, to ensure ongoing compliance, and to champion sector good practice. Use a range of inputs, feedback and the root cause analysis of data to identify and realise opportunities to improve student services through the use of technology, process improvement, and best practice sharing.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team across all teams within the Student Registry to efficiently deliver an excellent level of service.
• Responsible for developing the operational plans and overseeing the day-to-day delivery of the Student Registry, ensuring efficient and effective services to students and colleagues across all Schools.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of all student data and records, and implement robust quality assurance processes.
• Regularly review policies, processes and systems, to make things more straightforward and joined-up for students, with consistency across Schools and maximising the value of data as an asset.
• Expand and exploit networks and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including students, faculties, academic schools, and external partners.
• Manage the budget and resources of the Student Registry effectively and efficiently.
• Represent the Student Registry at University committees and working groups.
• Keep abreast of sector conditions and developments to identify best practice and ensure readiness for any events or market change.
• Be an active member of the Student Administration and Academic Affairs Senior Management Team (SMT) as well as a member of the wider Student & Academic Services Leadership Team
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• Proven leadership experience in a higher education environment within a Student Registry or a related area (assessed at: application/interview)
• Demonstrable experience of change leadership within a service environment, with a track record of improving efficiency whilst maintaining excellent service levels (assessed at: application/interview)
• Robust understanding of student record systems, and how these support effective business delivery and ongoing compliance within the current regulatory context (assessed at: application/interview)
• Experience and knowledge of good data management ensuring compliance with GDPR and robust information security (assessed at: application)
• Strong understanding of UK higher education, and the legal and regulatory landscape, to the level required to provide expert advice to senior leaders (assessed at: presentation/interview)
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills (assessed at: presentation/interview)
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams (assessed at: application/interview)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills (assessed at: application/interview)
• Experience in managing budgets and resources effectively (assessed at: application/interview)
• Excellent IT skills, including experience with student information systems (SIS) and other relevant software (assessed at: application/interview)
• Experience in using data analysis and reporting to communicate key insights and compelling narratives (assessed at: application/interview)
• Strong commitment to student success and a student-centred approach (assessed at: stakeholder panel/interview)

Further Information

Grade: 9

Salary: £60,907- £68,528 

Work arrangement: Full Time - Hybrid (minimum 60% on campus in Sheffield)

Line manager: Associate Director of Student & Academic Services (Student Administration and Academic Affairs)

Direct reports: Student Registration and Records Manager, Student Conduct & Appeals Manager, Student Fees and Funding Manager, Data Insight and Business Support Manager, Student Engagement and Progress Manager, Student Examinations and Results Manager, Senior Business Support Officer / PA.

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/saas/home/student-administration-academic-affairs

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Jamie Butler, Associate Director of Student & Academic Services: on jamie.butler@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place between 1-2 May and 6-9 May 2025. This will consist of an interview, presentation and stakeholder panel. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 21st April 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact interviews@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
 

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 7/04/2025 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.