Kaplan – Head of Equality and Quality, London
Read the full job description here. Apply here by 26 February 2021.
Who we are & what we stand for
We design and deliver world-leading professional assessments. In 2018, we were appointed as the independent assessment organisation for the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) which will be introduced in 2021. This will become the sole route to qualifying as a Solicitor of England and Wales.
As an employer, we work hard to make sure this a great place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed, regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or other belief, marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. If you require any adjustments, or additional support within the recruitment process, please contact us directly and we’ll do our best to help.
How you’ll help us succeed
This is a challenging and varied role which offers an exciting opportunity to be part of the team responsible for delivering a major new licensing examination. You’ll play a leading role in ensuring compliance with the Equality Act 2010 including promoting equality of opportunity for members of minority protected groups, in answering more complex candidate correspondence relating to exams, especially results, in overseeing the process for adjudicating on appeals, and in considering complaints.
Responsibilities
Your role will include:
- Further developing relevant policies and procedures for the SQE following relevant good practice guidelines and taking internal, and on occasion external, legal advice as necessary
- Acting as the team expert on equality, quality and appeals
- Acting as the team expert and point of escalation, in liaison with the Kaplan Data Protection Office and Kaplan Counsel, on Subject Access Requests and the General Data Protection Regulations
- Recruiting and ultimately leading the team dealing with complaints, appeals, and equality issues including reasonable adjustments
- Supporting team members in managing more complex cases and, on occasion, dealing with more complex cases personally, in line with relevant policies and procedures
- At busy times such as when results are issued, assisting with the general workload of the team
- Identifying business risks and remediations including taking internal and, on occasion, external legal advice where appropriate
- Taking the lead in developing and ensuring adherence to integrated systems to update registers and provide data for the SRA on complaints, reasonable adjustments, appeals etc
- Writing, collating and reviewing reports (including regular reports on complaints, appeals, customer satisfaction and reasonable adjustments) for the senior management team and regulatory bodies. Reporting to the Assessment Board. Monitoring and supporting the implementation of agreed recommendations.
- Leading on the design, implementation and management of an efficient and effective SQE candidate survey platform.
- In addition, you’ll also carry out other duties, within the broad scope and spirit of your role, as requested by your line manager or senior manager. Our business is continuously evolving, so your job description will evolve too.
What you will bring:
Essential
- Professional qualification as a solicitor of England and Wales
- Senior level experience of equality, quality and appeals in a challenging professional assessment and/or HE environment
- Exceptional communication skills – both written and verbal, including the ability to draft clear, succinct and relevant correspondence and policy documents
- The ability to lead, manage and develop a team
- The ability to understand assessment methodology including its statistical aspects
- The ability to think both originally and analytically
- Strong administrative skills including organisational, time and document management skills and attention to detail
- Strong presentation skills
Desirable
- Experience of equality, quality and appeals in a professional legal assessment environment
- Experience of applying reasonable adjustments in a professional legal assessment environment
- Experience of working in a professional environment with a variety of stakeholders
What you can expect
A competitive salary & clear pay structures, progression paths, and a comprehensive benefits package. You’ll be joining a great place, driven by a shared purpose, where everyone can succeed and build a brighter future together.
Read the full job description here. Apply here by 26 February 2021.