Deputy Head of Assessments position at Central London

OUR CLIENT
A major membership & qualification body
 
MAIN CONTACTS
External:

• Service providers:
  • Assessment systems providers
  • Print contractors
• Producers of assessment material

Internal:

• Assessments Team Managers (Standards, Production, Operations, Systems)
• Centre Support Manager
• Product Development Manager and E-Learning Manager
• Global Development Team
• Membership Journey Team: Membership Progression Manager and Membership Renewals Manager
• Quality Assurance Policy Manager and Qualifications Quality Assurance Manager
• Procurement & Facilities Manager
• Finance Team

MAJOR OBJECTIVES

To contribute to the achievement of the organisation’s business plan objectives and the efficiency and effectiveness of our client by:

• Deputising for the Head of Assessments in all aspects of the role when required;
• Providing additional strategic leadership and management capabilities to the Assessments' team and to our client;
• Identifying ways in which assessments, and the processes and policies relating to these, can be improved for the benefit of the wider business;
• Creating efficiencies in, and maximising the effectiveness of, the operations of the Assessments Team, through skilled matrix management

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Leadership and Management

• To deputise for the Head of Assessments and to lead the Assessments team in the delivery of current plans and objectives in their absence
• To provide additional senior leadership capability within the Assessments team, and to take both an operational and strategic view of Assessment activities and the wider business
• To support the Head of Assessments in the development of an annual plan for the Assessments Team, and to subsequently ensure delivery of the plan through matrix management of the team managers, and to manage the associated resources
• To ensure that all appropriate stakeholders are identified and managed effectively, both internally and externally
• To plan, develop, deliver and manage the annual budget for Assessment activities
• To work with the Head of Assessments to ensure that the resources available to the Assessments team are effectively utilised and managed

Policy Development and Representation

• To develop and implement policy relating to the implementation of new products, as these affect Assessments, and to ensure appropriate communications are in place across the organisation
• To define, agree, plan and implement new policy initiatives, as identified by the Head of Assessments
• To monitor and manage these initiatives, ensuring effective use of available resources, processes and procedures
• To take an active role in managing all stakeholders, both internal and external, and to represent our client externally, at conferences, workshops and seminars as appropriate
• To write and present papers externally when required, under guidance from the Head of Assessments

Boards, Panels and Working Groups

• To prepare papers or reports when required, for any Board or Panel, including, but not limited to the Learning and Development Board, Education, Training and Monitoring Panel and Assessment Panel
• To actively support the creation of papers for Boards and Panels by others as appropriate
• To attend and present at a range of Boards, Panels and Working Groups as required by the Head of Assessments or the Director of Education

Customer-centricity

• Develop friendly, positive and supportive relationships with external and internal customers, and to provide them with excellent service
• Actively learn from customer feedback, comments and suggestions, including complaints, to review and improve existing processes, and by doing so to anticipate other customer’s needs. To communicate this knowledge to relevant colleagues
• Meet and exceed service standards for customers of the team, both internal and external
• Understand situations from the perspective of customers so that appropriate and relevant solutions can be identified

Corporate social responsibility

• Apply the principles of the CSR policy in your day-to-day role, particularly reduce-reuse-recycle
• Adhere to our client’s responsible business practices, such as high standards of governance, raising employment standards for employees, and forming trade and community partnerships with appropriate organizations

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION - ESSENTIAL

Knowledge

• development and delivery of online assessments

Skills

• demonstrate a high level of personal gravitas and leadership
• successful management, coordination and motivatation of a diverse project team, involving contribution of varied team members (both internal and external consultants) via matrix management
• an effective and confident communicator in speaking and writing, including conveyance of complex information succinctly and in a customer-centric way
• preparation and management of budgets
• persuasion and influencing of others in an appropriate manner to gain agreement, support and buy-in
• being able to undertake effective analysis, creative thinking and problem solving
• presention of proposals and being able to argue/justify a case
• successful management of a busy and varied workload
• ability to use MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project and Outlook effectively

Aptitude

• self-management and accountability, demonstrating strong personal drive to make things happen
• consultation and collaboration to achieve the best results
• working with diplomacy and pragmatism
• focussing strongly on customer needs, demonstrating a positive ‘can do’ attitude
• innovation, demonstrating openness to new ideas and welcoming change
• assimilating and applying new information quickly
• seeking to develop new skills, knowledge and understanding

Experience

• client /partner /stakeholder relationship management
• preparing business cases /working papers to update stakeholders and seek agreement for proposals
• delivering via successful matrix management

Education

• Degree-level standard or equivalent

Personal Qualities

• tenacity to see things through to their effective conclusion
• strong personal presence and a belief in own abilities
• taking personal ownership and responsibility
• rapid assimilation of new information, knowledge and ways of working
• remaining calm under pressure, including managing unfamiliar information and processes

Other

• Able and willing to travel in the UK and possibly internationally to represent our client at external events as required
• Able to work on own initiative
• Able to work as part of a team
• Positive, constructive, supportive and flexible approach

NEXT STEPS

• If you are interested in applying, next step is to send us your CV (word doc.) and a few key bullet points as to why you are a good match to the role requirements. Please also confirm: your nationality/right to work permanently in the UK; notice period; salary expectation for your next move and send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• If you meet all the essential criteria for this role upon application, we will then arrange a time to have a preliminary chat over Skype video call/normal telephone call to explore your background & career objectives in detail  

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:  5th October 2012 (earlier applications welcomed!)

Kind Regards,
The FJWilson team

This vacancy is being advertised by F.J.Wilson Ltd.  The services advertised by F.J.Wilson Ltd. are those of an Employment Agency.
No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, colour, religion, disability or sexual orientation, and we will gladly accept applications from all sections of the community. Furthermore, all qualifications listed are indicative and we confirm that we are willing to accept applications from persons holding equivalent qualifications.