Assessment Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Assessment Officer

Department: Academics

Reports To: Programme Lead

Location: London Academy for Applied Technology, Tower Hill

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: Competitive (TBC)

About LAAT

The London Academy for Applied Technology (LAAT) is a dynamic and rapidly growing higher education institution delivering undergraduate programmes in Business, in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University. LAAT is committed to widening participation and delivering an outstanding student experience underpinned by high-quality teaching and robust governance.

As a provider in the process of registering with the Office for Students (OfS), LAAT operates in accordance with the OfS Regulatory Framework and its Conditions of Registration. All staff are expected to support compliance with applicable OfS conditions, particularly in areas relating to student outcomes, academic quality, and data integrity.

Job Purpose

The Assessment Officer is a managerial role responsible for leading and overseeing all assessment operations at LAAT. The postholder will manage the assessment support team, take strategic ownership of the full assessment lifecycle, and serve as the institutional lead for assessment governance, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.

The Assessment Officer works closely with the academic faculty, Module Leads, and Programme Leads to ensure that assessment practices are consistent, secure, fair, and aligned with institutional, awarding body, and OfS standards. The role also carries responsibility for student-facing assessment services and contributes to student welfare and retention activity.

Requirements Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the assessment support team, providing clear direction, regular supervision, and formal performance reviews
• Take strategic ownership of assessment operations across all programmes and campuses, setting priorities and managing workloads within the team
• Deputise for the Programme Lead as required, representing the assessment function in senior operational and academic meetings
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, professionalism, and compliance within the team

2. Assessment Planning & Coordination

• Oversee the preparation, distribution, and secure storage of all assessment and examination materials
• Own and manage assessment and submission calendars for all programmes, ensuring timely communication of key dates to staff and students
• Collaborate with academic staff to ensure all assessments - including coursework briefs, examination papers, and marking schemes - are submitted, reviewed, and approved on schedule
• OfS: Ensure assessment design and delivery aligns with OfS Condition B1 (Quality of Academic Experience)
• OfS: Lead the monitoring and review of assessment validity and reliability in line with OfS Condition B2

3. Examination Administration

• Oversee all in-person and online examination logistics, ensuring full compliance with regulatory and awarding body requirements
• Manage invigilator recruitment, training, documentation, and on-the-day operational oversight
• Ensure secure handling, tracking, storage, and access to completed exam scripts in accordance with institutional policy
• Quality-assure examination timetables, seating plans, and attendance registers
• OfS: Maintain examination security protocols consistent with OfS Condition B2 (standards integrity)

4. Assessment Record Management

• Ensure accurate and timely recording of marks within the student records system, validating data before student release
• Oversee tracking of late submissions, extensions, and mitigating circumstances, ensuring accurate and prompt processing
• Prepare and present reports on student performance data to support academic quality reviews and board reporting
• OfS: Maintain accurate student assessment records to support OfS data submissions and the Annual Monitoring Return (Condition C)
• OfS: Lead accurate reporting of student continuation, completion, and attainment data under OfS Condition B3

5. Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead institutional compliance with OfS Conditions of Registration as they relate to assessment
• Support internal audits and external reviews by providing documentation, reports, and procedural evidence
• Monitor compliance with academic regulations, assessment policies, and deadlines across all departments
• OfS: Lead preparation of evidence for OfS regulatory engagement including Annual Provider Submissions (APS) and Enhanced Monitoring reviews
• OfS: Oversee monitoring of equality-related assessment data in line with OfS Condition E3 (Access and Participation)
• OfS: Escalate any assessment practices presenting a compliance risk to the Assessment Lead promptly

6. Student-Facing Assessment Services

• Serve as the senior point of contact for students on assessment queries including extensions, mitigating circumstances, deferrals, and appeals
• Ensure student-facing assessment information is accurate, accessible, and clearly communicated in line with OfS Condition C
• Liaise with the Assessment Lead to coordinate review requests, track outcomes, and resolve escalated cases
• Proactively monitor student engagement, escalating concerns in line with safeguarding and retention protocols

7. Student Welfare & Support

• Oversee the team's delivery of frontline welfare support, ensuring students are referred to appropriate internal or external services in a timely manner
• Support efforts to reduce continuation and completion gaps for underrepresented and at-risk student groups
• OfS: Contribute to LAAT's obligations under the Access and Participation Plan (OfS Condition E3) and student outcome metrics (OfS Condition B3)

8. Data, Records & Reporting

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date student records using institutional Student Information Systems
• Produce management-level reports on assessment outcomes, student risk indicators, and operational performance for senior stakeholders
• OfS: Ensure accuracy and integrity of data submitted to HESA and the OfS, including data relevant to TEF and NSS where applicable (Condition C)
• OfS: Ensure data handling and storage practices comply with GDPR and institutional data governance policies

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience in an assessment, academic services, or student support role within higher or further education
• Demonstrated experience managing or leading a team, with strong people management capability
• In-depth knowledge of HE assessment processes, academic regulations, and quality assurance frameworks
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and handle sensitive information appropriately
• Strong IT proficiency including MS Office and student record systems
• A student-first mindset with a calm, solution-focused approach under pressure
• OfS: Sound understanding of the OfS Regulatory Framework and Conditions of Registration

Desirable

• Experience contributing to regulatory evidence-gathering or OfS compliance activity
• Experience supporting academic governance bodies such as Assessment Boards or Academic Quality Committees
• Knowledge of safeguarding, disability support, or mental health services in an educational context
• Experience working with international or underrepresented student groups
• OfS: Experience contributing to Access and Participation Plan implementation or equality reporting