Head of Knowledge and Information Management

Posted by: Office For Students

Employed By: Office For Students

Job Title: Head of Knowledge and Information Management

Salary: £66,556 - £69,737 (plus London allowance of £3,566 where appropriate)

Contract: Full-time

Location: Bristol or London

Application Deadline: 19 June 2025 Noon

Note: we are open to queries regarding secondment for this fixed term position. For more information, please contact: recruitmentteam@officeforstudents.org.uk

We are the independent regulator of higher education in England.
We aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. We also care about supporting and developing our staff, working together to achieve more than each of us can do alone.

We’re proud of our people, our culture and the benefits we offer. At the OfS we want to create a welcoming and engaging working environment which is free from discrimination.

We’re looking for skilled, committed people who care about students and their experience of higher education. Join us and you’ll be part of an energetic, forward-looking organisation with high ambitions and big opportunities for our people.

About the role
The purpose of the role ‘Head of Knowledge and Information Management’ is to lead the knowledge and information management (KIM) team and oversee the OfS’s functions relating to freedom of information, data protection, handling information incidents, and records management. Where candidates are suitably skilled, the role will also include acting as the OfS’s Data Protection Officer.

You’ll lead a team of experts in delivering pragmatic, risk-based advice on compliance with information rights legislation. It’s an exciting time as we’re expanding our team and enhancing our services. We pride ourselves on a collaborative and transparent culture, where dedication to our work is paramount. Through effective leadership and proactive management of the team’s diverse and complex responsibilities, you’ll play a crucial role in ensuring the delivery of a high-quality KIM service to colleagues across the OfS and to the wider public.

About you
We’re looking for an experienced manager who can lead and motivate a busy team of KIM experts. You’ll possess a sound understanding of the information governance frameworks that operate in a regulator or similar public body, demonstrate a broad-based knowledge of relevant KIM issues, and be able to apply that knowledge and experience in the context of the OfS’s work.

The role is well suited to a strong communicator with excellent stakeholder management skills. You’ll bring an innovative and risk-based approach to managing KIM activities, with the ability to manage projects to successful completion while ensuring the team balances a complex workload and competing demands. Partnering with colleagues and an understanding of the strategic context that the OfS is working within is key to success in this role.  
Previous experience in providing expert advice on data protection matters is preferred, but not essential.

Working for us
The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.

We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

Flexibility is important to the OfS, as we recognise that it can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two days in a typical week.

To attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working, for example job share and part time working, apply to this role.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 19 June 2025 at noon