Job Description
Job Title
Senior Producer (Assessment and Recognition)
Unit/Faculty
Open Media Unit
Grade
8
Sub Unit/Faculty
Responsible to (reporting relationship)
Head of Third Party Online Commissioning
Responsible for (staff/equipment/budget)
Ad hoc contracted and other staff as and when required
Purpose Statement
The post holder will report to the Head of Third Party Online Commissioning and will be part of the Open
Media Unit. The role will incorporate the knowledge and processes around the development of recognition
of non formal learning in the open, in particular on OpenLearn. The role holder will be required to
undertake budget and line management responsibilities.
Main responsibilities
1
2
Overall operational management of Badged Open Courses and assessment on OpenLearn and
OpenLearn Works (both Moodle-based learning platforms), developing the use of recognition in
the open for non formal learners in HE in all its emerging forms.
Responsibility for scheduling, production, approval and publishing of Badged Open Courses by
liaising with LTS, external suppliers, Open Media Fellows, content providers and other Senior
Producers for this purpose. Development of editorial content around key subject areas to inspire
and encourage learners into non formal recognition.
Responsibility for training and awareness both on campus and externally of the need for non formal
recognition, its benefits and uses within an HE context and The OU’s activity in this area.
3
4
Responsibility for developing methods of assessment in the open for OpenLearn and OpenLearn
Works, utilising existing Moodle modules or specifying the development of new ones (in
collaboration with the OMU Senior Producers).
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Consider partnership and strategic activities for the Unit a) by liaising with the Centre for Inclusion
and Curriculum Partnerships (CICP) at The OU for the Aquired Prior Learning Project (APL) and
the contribution of non formal recognition towards credit transfer, b) in the development of digital
badges and certificates for and with partner organisations, and c) with faculties for linking badged
courses with specific employers.
With the Director and the Head of Third Party Online Commissioning a) develop strategies and
pilots for linking non formal recognition to for-fee services (e.g. formal examinations) and b)
develop pilots of curricula of "soft accredited" learning that complement existing formal provision.
With the Head of Third Party Online Commissioning and IET, develop short, medium and long-term
methods of evaluating the impact of non formal recognition on learners and in meeting the KPIs of
the Unit; liaise with the other Senior Producers and Communications staff to promote the Unit's non
formal recognition and assessment activities.
To assist the Head of Third Party Online Commissioning in managing project budgets in line with
University financial rules and procedures. Plus any other activity defined by the Director of OMU
and the Head of Third Party Online Commissioning.
Signatures
Job Holder*
………………………………………………..…..…
Date
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Line Manager
………………………………………………………
Date
………………..…
* Only for instances when a job is being changed in consultation with the existing post holder
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Person Specification
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Criteria
Education,
qualifications and
training
Essential
Desirable
Degree and five years relevant work experience.
Postgraduate qualification or equivalent.
Experience of managing web-based, consumer/learner projects in
an educational setting.
Participation and completion of online
informal learning (e.g. online courses or
MOOCs).
Experience in the use of online assessment tools, including,
computer-based and peer-led methods.
Measured by
A Application
B Test
C Interview
Experience of designing and delivering
evaluation of projects, preferably in HE.
Specialist knowledge and experience of elearning and e-learning developments.
Knowledge, work and
other relevant
experience
Knowledge of non formal recognition for educational purposes (digital
badging or certification for MOOCs).
An understanding of the business of The Open
University and its quality standards.
Experience of editing and publishing learning materials to inspire and
motivate online learners.
Experience of contributing to further
development of a free learning strategy and its
implementation.
Proven ability to coordinate the work of others (multi-disciplinary and
distributed) to develop features and functionality for online systems.
Excellent ICT skills commensurate with the requirements of the post.
A demonstrable interest in elearning, innovative
elearning developments, mobile and digital
learning technologies.
Excellent project management experience working with both internal
staff and external suppliers.
Developing and managing partner/client
relationships in an academic environment.
Excellent written, oral and presentation skills.
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Skills, capabilities
and qualities
The ability to work flexibly and respond to changing priorities.
The ability to work on own initiative, to prioritise and to resolve major
problems which could be costly or result in damage to The University’s
reputation.
A clear appreciation of the significance of free
and open learning for The University and the
wider HE community.
Good budget management skills.
The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
The ability to think analytically and to solve problems within a project
development environment.
Highly effective team working, networking, persuasion and coordination
skills.
Special working
conditions
Additional
requirements
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Organisational Chart
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