The NCTJ has a dedicated team of staff based in a converted granary in the lovely North Essex village of Newport, near Saffron Walden. We have a friendly working environment with a team-working and goal-orientated culture.
Everyone is very committed to the organisation’s values, achieving high standards and implementing new ways of working. All staff are flexible in their approach and adaptable to change. As a charity, we are cost conscious and efficient. We take great care over recruitment and training as we regard our staff as vital to our success.
The NCTJ is an equal opportunities employer and believes in investing in staff.
We also employ examiners and rely on volunteers who are committed to professional journalism and our charitable activities.
VACANCY: HEAD OF AWARDING
Location: Newport, Saffron Walden, Essex
Salary: c£65,000, depending on experience, plus benefits
Work for one of the most significant and influential journalism-related organisations in the UK, the standard bearer for quality, trusted journalism and diversity.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) exists to help create a better society. We provide a world-class education and training system that develops current and future journalists from all walks of life for the demands of a fast-changing multimedia industry. NCTJ is a trusted brand and its kite-mark for professional journalistic training is highly regarded and universally recognised in the media industry.
The charity is looking to appoint a head of awarding who will be responsible for our awarding organisation business and operations. We are seeking an outstanding manager who shares our commitment to maintaining a progressive, flexible and inclusive framework of journalism qualifications and apprenticeships.
Reporting to the chief executive, this position requires a wide range of skills and experience covering leadership and operational management, compliance and adherence to regulatory and quality standards, effective stakeholder management and communications, team leadership and development, financial and IT management, and innovation and continuous improvement.
As the ‘responsible officer’ you will be the main point of contact for our regulators so the role demands an excellent knowledge and understanding of the awarding sector, the UK’s qualification system, regulatory frameworks and government education policy. Our head of awarding is responsible for the NCTJ’s compliance, quality assurance standards, risk management and awarding processes as well as overseeing our relationship with universities, colleges and independent providers, and other important stakeholders.
Degree level education and/or senior level experience is preferred. Good leadership, collaborative working, communication and interpersonal skills are important for this role. You’ll need to be able to think strategically as well as being adept at dealing with the detail – so strong management, analytical and administration skills are all important. It’s also very important to have a business approach, proficiency in IT and an appreciation of digital developments.
Identifying with our values as a charity, you should have an interest in journalism and appreciate its importance in our democratic society.
We have a dedicated team based in a converted granary in the lovely North Essex village of Newport, near Saffron Walden in Essex, only 30 seconds’ walk from the Newport train station, and just one hour by train to London Liverpool Street and 20 minutes to Cambridge. We offer a competitive salary, company bonus, pension contribution and 25 days’ holiday.
We’re a friendly, professional team and we’re all very passionate about what we do – this comes across in the way we work and our organisational values. We pride ourselves on recruiting high performing people who are flexible in their approach and adaptable to change. This extends to how we see our work-life balance and we support staff who have family responsibilities or might have particular needs. Flexible working arrangements, including part-time working, can be considered for this position but we do want this pivotal role to be office-based.
This senior role is a fantastic opportunity to make a positive contribution to a high performing and successful regulated awarding organisation. If you feel you have the skills, experience and commitment we are looking for, we look forward to hearing from you.
Expressions of interest in the role can be made in confidence to our executive recruitment partner consultant, Paloma Zamora, paloma@peridotpartners.co.uk.
Closing date for applications: 9am Tuesday, 5 March 2024.