Regulating higher education

All full-time roles are 37 hours per week and part-time is pro rata.

0900 to 1700, Monday to Friday.

Many of us work flexibly, recognising different commitments and preferences that may lead to us working outside of core hours.

The OfS supports every employee’s right to make a flexible working request from day one of their employment.

In general, we need our employees to be available during our core working hours to enable effective delivery alongside colleagues.

We love working flexibly because we know that it helps us all to do our best work. We have created a set of principles to shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which teams use to guide how they deliver their business goals.

We have a culture of collaboration. This means working in the office with colleagues on a frequent basis, typically for two days in a week.  

The needs of the business influence the days we spend in the office. Typically, we want to help colleagues interact and collaborate. 

Teams are free to discuss the best arrangements for them and reach a shared agreement.

Yes, there is free parking on site for colleagues.

We do not contribute to the cost of staff travelling to the office. But if you travel to another location for a specific event (for instance, to another office, or to visit a provider) we would reimburse your travel. 

Yes, we have changing rooms and showers available for cyclists as well as safe storage for bikes.

This can vary depending on the team. We will finalise which team you join once we have made appointments and we have established the context of its work. Generally, managers oversee between two and five members of staff.

As well as a comprehensive induction programme with self-guided learning, we also have access to an extensive suite of digital learning and an optional mentoring programme. 

 We have five staff networks: 

• a black, Asian and minority ethnic network 

• a network for carers and parents 

• a disability equality network 

• a LGBT+ network 

• a women’s network. 

We also have an active sports and social society that subsidises events and activities, such as a book club, cake club, badminton and running. 

Staff have the flexibility to move between areas as OfS priorities change. We support all our staff to develop their regulatory expertise so that our individual and corporate capabilities grow. This offers the opportunity for our staff to build and diversify their areas of work and develop broader knowledge, experience and expertise.

The Office for Students (OfS) is an independent public body, and our employees are public servants, not civil servants. If you join us from the Civil Service, your pension will carry with you but other length-of-service benefits, such as maternity, will not. However, previous service will be included in any exit calculation, subject to prevailing Civil Service Compensation Scheme rules.

As a public sector body we are subject to the Cabinet Office public sector pay guidance. In a typical year, your salary would increase in accordance with the annual pay award. In practice you can’t progress faster than this through a pay band.

There is also the option of a non-consolidated performance payment in addition to your base salary. This though is subject to affordability and is not guaranteed each year.