Role description
The responsibilities as chair are set out in the
Framework Document between the Department for Education and the Office for Students (OfS). The chair is responsible for leading the Board in the delivery of its responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Support and challenge the Chief Executive providing scrutiny on the effectiveness and performance of the OfS, monitoring progress against its objectives; formulating and ensuring successful delivery of the OfS strategy, promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources and ensuring it is discharging its statutory duties in line with government priorities in a way which minimises regulatory burden wherever possible.
2. Implementation of the core recommendations of the independent review of the Office for Students
“Fit for the Future: Higher Education Regulation towards 2035”, working closely with the sector to build effective relationships with partners in the provider, research and business community, to engage with them, share data, work together on areas of common interest and promote understanding of the OfS’ role and its activities. Representing the views of the board to stakeholders and the general public.
3. Delivering high standards of regularity and propriety supporting ministers on the appointment of board members, ensuring that the board is working effectively and board membership reflects the diversity of the student population it serves.
4. Work with ministers, the permanent secretary of the Department for Education (as principle accounting officer) and senior government officials in leading the board of the OfS in the delivery of its statutory duties and responsibilities, ensuring that the board, in reaching decisions, has regard to guidance from the Secretary of State.
Organisation description
The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. Its primary aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. It regulates in the interests of students and prospective students from all backgrounds, whether they are:
• undergraduates, postgraduates or studying other levels of higher education
• UK-based or international
• studying full-time or part-time
• based on campus, learning at a distance or in work-based settings or anything in between.
Created by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA), which sets out its powers and duties, the OfS regulates through a voluntary register of higher education providers. Over 420 providers are registered with the regulator, and they teach or supervise over 2.5 million students.
Through its regulatory framework the OfS promotes high quality education to ensure that all students, regardless of background, achieve high quality outcomes that will meet the skills needs of the economy.
On the census date of 31 March 2024, the OfS employed 461 full-time equivalent staff. The regulator is funded primarily through registration fees paid by the higher education sector. Fees for academic year 2024-2025 will total around £30 million. The OfS also distributes around £1.6 billion of government funding annually. This supports teaching and students in higher education, including for expensive to deliver subjects, students at risk of discontinuing their studies and funding to world-leading specialist providers.
As an independent public body, the OfS reports to Parliament through the Department for Education.
Further information about the OfS can be found on its website
here and details of the current board
here.
Board composition
Details of the current board can be found here.
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website
Essential criteria
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:
1. Demonstrable strategic leadership experience at board level, including of driving organisational change and setting high standards for delivery of strategic objectives.
2. Evidenced ability to guide effective decision making at a senior level, particularly in relation to the management of finance and risk.
3. Outstanding ability to influence and build effective relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders and experience of effective engagement with ministers and senior civil servants.
4. A commitment to the principles of public life and to the principle of removing barriers to opportunity in higher education.
Desirable criteria
1. Deep knowledge and experience of regulatory principles and practice, including how to drive improvement through regulatory levers and effecting cultural change.
2. Experience, understanding and analysis of the challenges facing the higher education sector.