Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced higher education consultant to take ownership of an Office for Students (OfS) registration project from initial review through application, assessment, the final decision and handover.

You will combine senior regulatory expertise with practical delivery: establish what is required, write and coordinate the evidence, resolve gaps and keep the project moving. You should be comfortable working independently with directors, governors, academic colleagues and specialist advisers.

The assignment

• Assess readiness and set the plan. Confirm the registration route, review the provider’s current position and map requirements to evidence. Produce a prioritised action plan, delivery timetable, resource estimate and risk log.
• Build the application. Draft and coordinate submission documents, quality plans, policies and supporting evidence. Maintain a controlled evidence register and resolve gaps, inconsistencies and missing approvals before submission.
• Establish credible governance and quality arrangements. Develop practical academic governance, programme approval, assessment, monitoring and student support processes. Ensure documentation reflects how the provider will operate and meet applicable conditions.
• Coordinate specialist evidence. Work with finance, legal and academic colleagues on business planning, financial sustainability, fair treatment of students, access and participation, fraud prevention and key-person suitability, according to the application requirements.
• Manage submission and assessment. Organise internal sign-off and submission, coordinate OfS correspondence and information requests, and prepare relevant leaders for interviews or assessment activity. Maintain follow-through until the regulator’s decision.
• Complete the handover. Train internal owners, transfer editable documents and the full evidence record, and agree an ongoing compliance calendar, outstanding-action log and responsibilities following the decision.

Essential experience

• Personally led, or held substantial delivery responsibility for, at least one successful OfS provider registration. Applicants must explain their own contribution and the outcome, and provide a reference able to verify it.
• Current knowledge of OfS initial registration conditions, application requirements and the ongoing obligations a provider must be ready to meet.
• Senior experience in UK higher education quality, regulation, registry, governance or consultancy, with evidence of implementing workable systems.
• Strong drafting and analytical skills, including translating regulatory expectations into clear policies, evidence and recommendations.
• A record of completing complex projects, managing dependencies and constructively challenging senior stakeholders when evidence or readiness is insufficient.
• Capacity to work flexibly while remaining available for agreed deadlines, assessment meetings and follow-up requests.

Useful additional experience

Experience with independent training providers entering higher education, new or alternative HE providers, validation partnerships, apprenticeships, HTQs or widening participation. Relevant postgraduate study, professional qualifications or equivalent senior experience are welcome.

Deliverables and working arrangements

• An agreed readiness assessment and costed delivery plan.
• A complete, internally approved application with an indexed evidence set.
• Timely, coordinated responses throughout assessment, with progress and risks reported to the project sponsor.
• A documented handover and clear ownership of ongoing compliance.

Working days, deliverable dates and fees will be agreed at the outset and reviewed at key stages. OfS determines the registration outcome; the provider retains its regulatory accountability.

How to apply

Please submit your CV or consultancy profile, a brief example of a successful OfS registration you helped deliver, your availability and proposed day rate or project fee. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to explain their approach to the first stage of the project.