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C1 - Subject Leader
Pearson
London, , United Kingdom
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Description
At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.
Background information:
The BTEC/Technical Assessment Assessment department is part of the Qualification Development, Assessment and Awarding division of PQS. The department has end to end responsibility for delivering secure assessment materials and outcomes from Pearson to our customers.
The department works closely with our colleagues in Operations, Standards, Regulations and GQA.
The Subject Leader (SL) is the PQS officer responsible for managing their allocated assessment processes within their designated specification(s) from the PQS Vocational Qualifications portfolio.
The SL reports to the Qualification Delivery and Award Manager (QDAM), working as part of a team, across a group of subjects. Collectively the team’s aim is to deliver a professional and customer focused service.
In addition to this, the SL will deputise for the QDAM when required, and if appropriate.
Purpose:
You will deliver allocated assessment processes from the production and approval of assessment instruments (ie question papers and OSCA materials) to the completion, award and review of the assessment series.
You will ensure that the assessments on all qualifications are carried out to a high standard in accordance with all appropriate internal policies and external regulations and can withstand scrutiny by internal audit and all stakeholders including regulators, students and parents.
Key accountabilities:
Customer Service
• Managing own performance in relation to internal and external service levels (SLAs), for example timely resolution of customer queries and a high standard of customer communication.
• Identifying and responding to customer needs to ensure customers receive a high level of support.
• Focusing on delivering excellent customer service throughout all tasks, projects and processes.
• Communicating professionally in a clear and timely manner.
Assessment Activities
• Understanding the implications of, and adhering to regulatory and internal procedures and obligations at all stages.
• Evaluating the quality and content of assessment instruments, approving them as valid and fit for purpose.
• Ensuring the maintenance of standards within the subject area at the correct level.
• Preparing reports to centres following each exam series.
• Delivering secure grade boundaries that are defendable.
• Running meetings and/or undertaking quality assurance activities relevant to the safety of certification
• Responsible for the accurate and timely production of assessment related materials for a set of subjects
• Running standardisation & awarding meetings.
Planning, Project and Information Management
• Updating and reporting on key management information to the QDAM, ensuring all data is up to date and accurate, for example monitoring marking quality and EAR progress.
• Producing and maintaining plans of work based on the management information to ensure milestones are met.
• Escalating issues and risks to the QDAM in a timely manner together with potential solutions. Leading on cross department projects, ensuring all team members are briefed and engaged and the projects are delivered to deadline.
• Adapting to new situations and ambiguous circumstances, understand the reason for change. Identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Working with colleagues to agree, implement and review impact of change.
Quality Management
• Maintaining good working practices to maximise accuracy, economy, efficiency and security, for example ensuring quality of marking is completed correctly and to deadline
• Taking responsibility for the quality and standards for a specific set of subjects
• Ensuring awards meet regulatory and Awarding Manager requirements
• Conducting annual subject reviews to identify and implement improvements
• Preparing materials and implementing action plans required for Business Assurance audits and regulatory scrutiny activities
• Understanding and operating within the content production Quality Management System (ie 10 stage Process) once the appropriate training has been undertaken. This could include: commissioning materials from AAs, preparing for, and attending QPEC meetings, proof reading question papers, collating and marking up AA comments for typesetting.
Content Management
• Acting as the Awarding Body officer throughout the production of assessment content for a set of subjects
• Managing and facilitating the completion of specified tasks and documentation related to the production of assessment instruments, for example question papers, mark schemes
• Managing and facilitating the production of other assessment content, for example ICE documents, Examiner Reports.
Relationship Management
• Motivating and leading their subjects and teams of Senior AAs through constant change in order to deliver against business targets.
• Reviewing performance against business targets regularly in order to deliver improvements to the quality and efficiency of the assessment process.
• Recruiting Senior AAs whilst following the appropriate process.
• Managing Senior AAs, continuously assessing their performance and giving regular feedback, taking action in relation to poor performance, and completing annual appraisals of their performance (eg Senior AA Review) and identifying opportunities for development.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with Senior AAs
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with internal stakeholders to develop mutually acceptable service level agreements
• Managing relationships effectively within own area
• Managing own workload and offering support and mentoring to new joiners and coordinators.
Other Activities
• Undertaking any further tasks necessary to deliver key objectives as required
• The postholder is expected to demonstrate a flexible approach to the role. As such, the contents of this job description may change from time to time.
Key challenges
• Working to tight, and immoveable, deadlines
• Working within a regulated framework
• Attention to detail even with repetitive tasks
• Flexibility of working patterns during peak periods
• Reacting positively to change.
• Adapting to the challenges created by the introduction of new qualifications
• Adapting to different IT systems
• Supporting Assessment Associates in their use of new technologies
• Influencing and working closely with Assessment Associates and internal stakeholders.
• Simultaneously managing tasks for multiple examination series.
Qualifications
Education, qualification & training
• Degree or equivalent qualification
Previous experience
• Experience of a customer facing role
• Experience of an administrative role
• Experience of assessment
• IT literacy (intermediate)
Personal style & behaviour
• Highly motivated individual with personal drive and energy
• Able to prioritise and manage own workload
• Actively seeks information and is able to handle it appropriately
• Prepared to be flexible in their approach to problem solving
• Ability to manage own development
• Resilient in high pressured environments
Additional Information
• Working Pattern 37.5 hour core working week
• Overtime is available when required
• Flexible working pattern available
• During peak times of activity there are restrictions on leave
• Some weekend work may be required.
This role will close on the 6th February 2017