Policy Officer (Maternity Cover)

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University is a leading, modern, university with an established track record of success in teaching and research, student satisfaction and graduate employability, set amidst one of the most prosperous and beautiful areas of the country.

This role will be responsible for reviewing the university's policy development framework and for specific areas of policy compliance around equalities and diversity, ethics and complaints. Your chief responsibility will be to undertake, in collaboration with other stakeholders across the university, a complete and through-going review of the university's current policies. You will also provide specific support on the university's compliance with equalities and diversity legislation, support the monitoring of complaints made to the university and from time to time work on specific policy related projects, for instance the university's compliance with the new EU general data protection regulations. You will be highly literate with experience in policy development and articulation. You will likely be looking for a role in which working with a diverse range of individuals and departments across the university. In addition to your experience in policy development you will ideally have a detailed understanding of some of the compliance issues in a higher education background that you will work with. Crucially you will be able to work with discretion in application of general principles to specific circumstances.

You will have excellent communication skills, team working skills and a methodical and proactive approach to your work are essential for this role along with excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and accuracy.

Salary on first appointment is normally to the bottom of the scale, although in exceptional circumstances an appointment further up the scale may be considered. 

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits. 

 

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Information Governance Officer.

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No Line Manager Responsibility.

PURPOSE OF THE POST: To undertake a major review of the university's policy framework under the overall direction of the Director of Planning and Policy.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• To develop a high-level compliance register for the university, to ensure that appropriate policies exist and are developed in conjunction with relevant Schools and Departments across the university.
• To develop a framework for the development, approval and regular review of policies alongside an appropriate approvals matrix.
• To ensure that all policies are reviewed and appropriately impact assessed by the relevant policy owner.
• To ensure that all policies following their approval are appropriately published on the university's website and intranet.
• To undertake an audit of training and briefing needs to enable compliance by employees and (where relevant) contractors.
• To work with Communications to ensure that all policies are appropriately published and clearly communicated to all staff and students where relevant.
• To ensure the appropriate implementation of polices in other key compliance areas, for example, the university's ethics policy which includes the anti­bribery and modern slavery statements or university's value for money strategy.
• To ensure the university makes relevant statutory returns in a timely manner on the range of specific statutory compliance issues above.
• To provide support and cover to the university's Information Governance function when necessary including dealing with freedom of information requests, data protection breaches and subject access requests. To provide other general policy support to the Director of Planning and Policy Development as when required.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

First degree in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and Skills

Good working knowledge of the legislative, statutory and regulatory frameworks within which the public sector.

Proven ability to work independently, manage time effectively and to prioritise multiple and potentially conflicting workloads.

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, motivate and successfully delivery projects.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with staff at all levels in the university.

Ability to work with tact and diplomacy and maintain high customer standards. Attention to detail.

Ability to work confidentially and professionally with discretion regarding sensitive information and situations.

Ability to work effectively as part of a small team.

Experience

Policy development and implementation within devolved organisations.

Strong research and analytical skills with the ability to synthesise complex information from various sources.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Experience

Proven track record of working in a professional administration role within higher or further education.

Analysis of statistical data.

Detailed understanding of compliance issues in a higher education background.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1 - Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers’ expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards

Behaviour 2 - Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey both straightforward information, and information requiring careful explanation, in a clear and accurate manner 

Behaviour 3 - Liaison and Networking - Experience of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships and leading and developing internal networks to pursue a shared interest

Behaviour 4 - Decision Making - Experience of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others