Senior Regulation Managers
Salary: £56,209 – £58,820 plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension
Fixed term contract: 18 months
Location: Bristol
We are the independent regulator of higher education in England. We aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
The higher education sector in England is complex and diverse and the OfS’s approach to regulation recognises this. Our strategy signals a shift from an organisation in a start–up phase to an established regulator that understands its regulatory tools and how best to use them to shape incentives across the sector we regulate. We work to ensure that students in England enjoy higher education provision that is high quality; that their access to opportunity, success and progression is not limited by background, location or characteristics; and that providers are well and sustainably led.
We are looking for a number of Senior Regulation Managers to work across the Regulation directorate on a wide range of complex and high‑impact regulatory activity. This is an agile role that supports the OfS’s statutory functions and plays a critical part in protecting the interests of students and maintaining confidence in the higher education sector.
Senior Regulation Managers work across multiple projects over time, providing leadership, oversight, and expert judgement to support effective, proportionate, and evidence based regulation.
Leading, overseeing and assessing provider applications for registration, degree awarding powers, and university title
You will provide leadership within and across teams, managing complex casework, supporting colleagues, and ensuring delivery against the OfS business plan. The role involves working closely with internal and external stakeholders, managing sensitive or high‑risk issues with professionalism and sound judgement. You will lead the development of clear, robust, and evidence‑based recommendations to support regulatory decision‑making and consistent delivery.
How we do things is as important to us as what we do, and your approach will be grounded in our strategic attitudes being ambitious, collaborative, vigilant, and vocal.
While you may not have worked previously in a regulator, you will be interested in taking on a role where your judgement, leadership, and analytical skills help protect students and support confidence in the higher education sector.
Person specification (essential criteria)
1. lead and manage a flexible team of staff, their wellbeing, performance and development need
2. understand and interpret the OfS’s regulatory framework and to use this to undertake assessments, risk assessments, and interventions; to implement and communicate aspects of the regulatory framework and support teams to do this
3. reach and convey reliable and robust judgements on the basis of complex and, at times, imperfect information and articulate the OfS’s approach clearly to providers
4. work with high levels of complexity and ambiguity
5. think broadly about the theory and practice of regulation
6. adopt a systems approach to service design and delivery
7. work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver the team’s functions
8. undertake professional line management and activity management in a complex environment through a matrix structure
9. effectively communicate policies and requirements clearly when working in teams and teams that include external members
10. produce clear written documentation to comply with the OfS’s tone of voice guidance.
Senior Regulation Managers may work across different areas over time, but this role may be suited to candidates who have experience of, or a strong interest in, one or more of the following core areas:
Quality assessment supports the OfS’s responsibilities for safeguarding academic quality and standards. This work involves leading structured assessment processes, working closely with external academic assessors, and producing clear, high‑quality, evidence‑based reports to inform regulatory decisions. It is well suited to those who are confident engaging with both academic and professional stakeholders, synthesising complex evidence, and exercising judgement in assessments that directly affect student outcomes. This work requires a willingness to undertake 4–6 site visits per year (typically over two consecutive days).
Complaints work involves overseeing the assessment of concerns raised within a regulated framework and ensuring fair, balanced, and well‑reasoned outcomes. This area requires careful handling of detailed evidence, a strong understanding of regulatory or statutory frameworks, and the ability to manage challenging or sensitive cases with professionalism and impartiality. The work plays a key role in maintaining trust in regulatory processes and protecting students’ interests.
Across all areas, you will contribute senior‑level insight, support consistent and proportionate regulatory delivery, and help strengthen how regulation is designed and implemented across the OfS.
To find more about the OfS and our work, visit Home – Office for Students
To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter. Your covering letter should be no more than 1000 words and should clearly explain how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification.
Applications will be shortlisted using criteria 1, 3, 4 and 9 within the person specification. Applicants should ensure they address these points fully in their application.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn.
If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview. As part of the interview process, you will be asked to complete a case study based task on the day.
During the interview, you will also be asked to present your findings from the case study and discuss your approach. The remaining essential criteria will be assessed through competency-based questions and discussion.
Working for us
The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.
We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Flexibility is important to the OfS, as we recognise that it can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation–wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two to three days in a typical week.
To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working, for example job share and part time working, apply to this role.
In addition, our Total Reward Framework offers a range of benefits to suit your way of life. These include comprehensive learning and development, annual leave starting at 25 days per year (plus public holidays), access to the highly regarded Civil Service pension scheme and a variety of health benefits.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application stage, please contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.
Closing date for applications: Monday 22 June at noon
For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.
