Senior Regulation Manager

Job summary

Senior Regulation Manager

Salary: £56,209 – £58,820 plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension

Location: Bristol

Post responsible to: Head of Regulatory Portfolio

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.

Job description

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Regulation Manager to join the Regulation directorate in one of our agile regulatory roles. While Senior Regulation Managers may work across different areas of the directorate during their time with the OfS, the initial assignment for this post will be within our funding portfolio.

You will lead workstreams related to the OfS's funding function and be responsible for leading areas of activity within our programme of funding allocations, alongside the monitoring and assurance of this funding. Working with complex datasets, funding information and regulatory evidence, you will help ensure that public funding is allocated effectively, transparently and in support of the OfS's strategic priorities.

You may be involved in:

• Leading elements of the OfS's funding allocation and assurance processes

• Analysing and interpreting complex datasets, funding information and regulatory evidence to support decision-making

• Developing clear, robust and evidence-based recommendations on funding and regulatory matters

• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and impact of funding programmes and initiatives

• Identifying and managing risks associated with funding allocations and funded activities

• Working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to develop funding methodologies, processes and guidance

• Communicating complex analytical findings clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.

This role is particularly suited to individuals with strong analytical capabilities who enjoy working with data and evidence to solve complex problems. Candidates are likely to possess excellent numerical and reasoning skills, with the ability to interpret and advise on complex or unusual data, funding and regulatory issues, and to translate detailed analysis into clear and actionable recommendations.

You will also provide leadership within and across teams, managing complex workstreams, supporting colleagues and ensuring delivery against the OfS business plan. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will manage sensitive or high-risk issues with professionalism and sound judgement, building effective relationships and driving high-quality outcomes in a complex and evolving regulatory environment.

How we do things is as important to us as what we do. You will demonstrate leadership through our strategic attitudes of being ambitious, collaborative, vigilant and vocal, helping to deliver effective regulation while supporting colleagues and fostering a positive and inclusive working culture.

To find out more about the OfS and the type of work you may get involved in, visit Home – Office for Students

Person specification

About you

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 skills)

Ability to:

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,209, Office for Students contributes £16,283 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application process

To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter. Your covering letter should be no more than 1000 words and address how your skills and experience can be applied to the Regulation of Higher Education, as outlined in the job advert.

Applications will be shortlisted against criteria 1,3,4,7 and 9 so please ensure you address these fully in your application.

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview. As part of the interview process, you will be asked to complete a task.

During the interview, you will also be asked to present your findings 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 or 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 use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. In a typical week, we expect colleagues to spend several days working from the office, balancing business needs, team collaboration and individual responsibilities.

To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working, for example job share and part time working, apply to this role.

Reasonable adjustments

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 recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk and we will be happy to help.

Closing date for applications: Monday 7th September at noon.

Interviews: TBC

For information: the OfS does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : RecruitmentTeam@officeforstudents.org.uk
• Telephone : 01179317444

Recruitment team

• Email : RecruitmentTeam@officeforstudents.org.uk

Further information

Careers - Office for Students

Attachments

Why work for the OfS Feb 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 425kB)