The Head - Operations & Registrar is the senior officer responsible for the operational running of the Bengaluru Campus and for its academic registry function and serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors/Governors. Reporting to the Provost, the post holder leads the Campus’s professional-services operation - campus and facilities management, information systems, library and front-of-house services - and owns the registry functions that underpin the student lifecycle, examinations and assessment administration, academic governance, and regulatory reporting.
The role ensures that the Campus operates efficiently and safely; that student records and academic administration are maintained to Birkbeck’s home-campus standards and within the University of London federal framework; and that the Campus meets its reporting obligations to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other applicable Indian and/or UK authorities. In the launch phase the role is broad and hands-on: the post holder
establishes the Campus’s operational and registry systems from the ground up, ahead of and through the admission of the first cohort.
This is a foundational appointment and a pivotal one for the success of the Campus.
The position operates under the Birkbeck’s regulatory framework, within India’s UGC and the relevant UK regulatory settings, including the Office for Students Conditions of Registration. It works closely with the Provost, the Head - Academics and the home-campus India Branch Campus coordination team, and with the finance, legal and compliance, marketing, admissions, recruitment and placements functions provided through the partnership arrangements.
Campus operations and facilities
• Campus and facilities management. Lead the day-to-day operation of the Campus and its facilities - space planning, room-utilisation modelling, readiness of timetabled space, maintenance oversight, security, housekeeping and front-of-house services.
• Procurement and contracts. Manage procurement, vendor selection and contract administration for operational services and equipment, within delegated authority and the Campus’s financial controls.
• Health, safety and wellbeing. Establish, implement and maintain the Campus’s health and safety, emergency-management and business-continuity arrangements for staff, students and contractors, and ensure that the required statutory safety certifications and clearances are obtained and kept current, drawing on qualified safety and legal advisers.
• Systems and infrastructure. Oversee the day-to-day operation and support of the student information/management system (SIS/SMS), the learning management system (LMS), library systems and general IT including cybersecurity. Implement and maintain the Campus’s data-handling practices in line with its approved data-protection and data-residency policy.
• Library and learning resources. Ensure the provision and effective operation of the Campus library and learning-resource services.
Registry and academic administration (Registrar functions)
• Student lifecycle administration. Own registration and enrolment, the maintenance of the student record, and the administration of progression, interruption and withdrawal, in line with Birkbeck academic regulations.
• Student mobility. Administer arrangements for student mobility between the Bengaluru Campus and the Birkbeck home campus - including the transfer of registration, the recognition and transfer of credit, and the movement of the associated student records - in line with Birkbeck academic regulations and associated policies.
• Examinations and assessment. Administer examination scheduling, paper-setting logistics and security, the coordination of marking and moderation, the External Examiner interface, Sub-Boards of Examiners (“Exam Boards”) and results processing - aligned to Birkbeck’s assessment regulations.
• Awards, certification and transcripts. Facilitate the issue of awards, certification and transcripts in liaison with the home campus Registry and the University of London.
• Academic-governance casework. Oversight of the administration of Mitigating Circumstances, academic misconduct, and student complaints and appeals, applying Birkbeck policies and procedures.
• Academic Quality. Maintain programme-monitoring data, annual programme reporting, and quality-assurance records in accordance with the Birkbeck Quality Assurance Framework.
• Admission process and entry criteria. Maintain a clear admission process and entry criteria for Indian and international applicants, in consultation with Birkbeck and consistent with the Birkbeck Admissions Policy - including the recognition of Indian school-leaving qualifications (for example CBSE, ICSE and State Boards) and international qualifications.
• Admissions interface. Coordinate the hand-off from offer and admission (provided by the JV Partner Company) to registration and enrolment, ensuring a single, accurate student record.
Governance and Board secretariat
• Board secretariat. Serve as Secretary to the Board of Directors and its committees: convene meetings, prepare agendas and papers, record minutes, maintain the register of decisions, track and follow up on the implementation of the Board’s decisions and report progress to the Board, and support governance compliance.
• Policy register. Maintain the Campus’s policy register and ensure adherence to all Birkbeck policies and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Regulatory and compliance administration
• UGC reporting. Coordinate and compile UGC reporting and returns and maintain the documentation required for UGC and home-campus compliance.
• UK HESA reporting. Coordinate reporting for UK HESA returns with Birkbeck colleagues.
• Immigration administration. Support FRRO registration and immigration administration for international faculty and, where applicable, international students, working with legal counsel.
• Cross-border fund-movement compliance. Support the documentation and reporting for cross-border fund movements in full compliance with FEMA - working with the CFO office.
People, budget and continuous improvement
• Team leadership. Recruit, develop, lead and manage the operations and registry team; build the SOPs and the capability of the function; and inspire and coach staff to be exceptional performers.
• Budget management. Develop and manage the operational budget for the function, working with the Provost and the finance function, and managing staff and operational costs.
• Quality and improvement. Embed quality assurance and continuous improvement across operations and student administration functions.
• Reporting and advice. Provide information, advice and reports to the Provost and the Board on operational, registry, regulatory and student-administration matters.
The responsibilities set out above are indicative and not exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role and its level of responsibility, as they arise and as they fall within the postholder’s areas of function, as the Campus develops.
Academics
Bengaluru
Full-time
Head of Operations & Registrar
careers@bengaluru.bbk.ac.uk
Officer – Academics
Be part of a founding team building something exceptional from the ground up.
Help build a new international university campus from the ground up.
Join Birkbeck, University of London, a globally recognised institution.
Contribute directly to student success and academic excellence.
Develop your career within an ambitious and collaborative environment.
Please ensure you follow the below instuctions when emailing your job application:
If you would like further information about this position before applying, please contact our HR team.
Explore our current vacancies below. Click on a position to view the full job description, responsibilities, requirements and application process.
Birkbeck, University of London is establishing a new campus in Bengaluru, India, and is recruiting Disipline Leaders.
This document sets out the job description, main duties, person specification and terms that align with this role.
Birkbeck, University of London is establishing a new campus in Bengaluru, India, and is recruiting Lecturers.
This document sets out the job description, main duties, person specification and terms that align with the role.
Birkbeck, University of London is establishing a new campus in Bengaluru, India, and is recruiting a librarian.
This document sets out the job description, main duties, person specification and terms that align with this role.
