Registrar / Head of Whitaker School of Government and Management - IPA

at  Forvis Mazars

THE ORGANISATION

The mission of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is to advance the understanding, standard and practice of public administration and public policy. The IPA is a recognised college of the National University of Ireland (NUI), awarding NUI degrees, and complies with relevant agreements and national statutes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctoral level qualification in public management, administration or relevant discipline
• Strong knowledge of the activities and processes of public administration and public policy.

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of ten years’ management experience in a Higher Education Institution.
• Proven track record in lecturing/ facilitating at third level.
• Strong research and publication profile and experience in building strong collaborative links with researchers with colleagues in other institutions.
• Proven ability to promote and achieve strategic goals with demonstrated leadership inspiring a vision and leading teams effectively.
• Experience in the design and implementation of quality assurance and enhancement processes.
• Track record in developing programmes of research and attracting research funding.
• Experience in managing complex records systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to provide mentorship and a positive role model for students, researchers and early career academic staff.
• Track record in seeking to advance continuous personal professional development and to advance the reputation of the IPA in the Public Service.

SKILLS

• Exceptional teaching and research skills.
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal, teamworking and staff development skills.
• Adept at building productive and collaborative relationships with colleagues at all levels and demonstrate and encourage excellent partnership working between academic and professional services staff.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including evidence of an ability to represent the IPA at the highest levels with strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders with the ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in organisational settings.
• Proven ability to work with efficiency, agility and flexibility under pressure and to operate with excellence and best practice in all matters.
• Demonstrated resilience and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability be self-disciplined and operates with integrity with a strong commitment to the values of the Public Service.

THE ROLE

The IPA is seeking to appoint a senior leader at professorial level to the role of Registrar and Head of Whitaker School of Government and Management.
As Registrar and Head of School, the person will ensure the academic coherence and quality of programmes, develop and design new programmes, engage with participants and provide academic guidance, as requested and make a strong contribution to the client development activities of the School across the Public Service. Equally, the successful candidate will have a strong track personal record in research and will support the research development of the IPA and seeking of funding support.
Reporting to the Director General, strong collaborative relationships are essential in this role internally with the Executive Leadership Team, faculty, associate faculty and professional staff. The post holder will also be required to develop and maintain strong linkages more broadly across the third level education sector and with key client organisations.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Institute seeks to recruit a suitable person to a professorial role. This is a senior leadership role holding responsibility as Registrar and Head of School. Applicants should be recognised academic leaders with a teaching and research profile in public management or cognate discipline.
The appointee will lead, manage and develop the Whitaker School of Government and Management at the Institute as the Centre of Excellence for accredited education within the Public Service. As Registrar and Head of School, the person will ensure the academic coherence and quality of programmes, develop and design new programmes, engage with participants and provide academic guidance, as requested and make a strong contribution to the client development activities of the School across the Public Service.
Equally, the successful candidate will have a strong track personal record in research and will support the research development of the IPA and seeking of funding support. Reporting to the Director General, strong collaborative relationships are essential in this role internally with the Executive Leadership Team, faculty, associate faculty and professional staff. The post holder will also be required to develop and maintain strong linkages more broadly across the third level education sector and with key client organisations.
The successful appointee will manage and support academic staff in their pedagogic and research activities; contribute to tuition and assessment on programmes; manage the accreditation relationship with the National University of Ireland and other student/employer stakeholder groups; lead and manage the culture and system of quality enhancement/improvement within the School; oversee IPA library services; and lead and manage academic administration and programme delivery, including budgets, teaching schedules, assessment systems, results processing, and student record systems. The appointed candidate will be a member of the IPA’s Executive Leadership Team and will also play an important role in contributing to the Institute’s strategy, budgeting, governance and representation.

REGISTRAR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Update existing programme content and develop new programmes based on client needs and national and international education trends, to position the Whitaker School as a leading provider of education programmes for the Public Service
• Proactively lead the development and ongoing review of the School’s portfolio in terms of programme design and development to address ongoing and emerging needs.
• Manage the academic and administrative relationship with the National University of Ireland, including compliance, programme approval, quality assurance, fees, exam validation and conferring.
• Lead the development, implementation and review of Quality Assurance processes, as per statutory and accreditation requirements, including policies & procedures, student participation and feedback, module reviews, cyclical programme reviews, institutional review, quality improvement plans agreed with the NUI.
• Lead and manage the review and development of teaching, learning and assessment methodologies to ensure effective programme delivery, student engagement and student support.
• Research and write reports and submissions to satisfy IPA Board, Education Committee and NUI accreditation requirements.
• Manage the relationship with key student and employer stakeholder groups in the public service.
• Oversee the work of the IPA Library and work with the IPA Librarian in developing library and information resources.

HEAD OF SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work on strategy formulation and implementation, governance, budgets and quarterly reporting, business plans, risk registers, progress reports and other projects as required by the Director General and the IPA Board
• Lead and manage the faculty in delivering the School’s academic activities including allocation of lecturing, assessment and dissertation supervisory duties to academic staff.
• Lead out as Chair of the Faculty Committee, Examination Boards and a Member of IPA-NUI steering group and of IPA Education Committee.
• Engage actively in research and the seeking of funding support in ensuring the Institute’s role and reputation for thought leadership is maintained and strengthened.
• Manage the research plans and activities of faculty, support and encourage research efforts and assist in guidance and publication.
• Supervise selected dissertations on Masters and Doctoral programmes.
• Develop and deliver the annual business plan for the School in the context of the IPA’s strategic objectives.
• Set and manage annual revenue and budget for the School and contribute to the Institute’s annual budgeting activities.

• Lead and manage the teams dealing with the administration of programmes and courses in accordance with requirements for effective course administration and of NUI accreditation, including the teams responsible for:
  › Recruitment, enrolment and retention of students and processes for access, transfer and progression.
  › Development and maintenance of record systems for accurate and secure student record creation and management.
  › Academic calendar timetabling and scheduling of teaching and assessment on daytime, evening and weekend programmes.
  › Assessment and examination systems and processes to ensure consistency, fairness and academic integrity.
  › Grade processing and production of mark transcripts, validation of results at Examination Boards and management of Conferring ceremonies.
  › Student appeals, complaints and misconduct.

  › Communication with students and stakeholders on programme information.

• Undertake such other reasonable duties as may be assigned by the Director General.