Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Student Education and Experience

Job description

The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s largest higher education institutions, and we are renowned globally for the quality of our teaching and research. We encourage enquiry, discovery, and achievement by bringing together academic excellence and an inspirational learning environment. Our ambitions are underpinned by an outstanding community of staff and students, a world-class campus and a strong financial position. The University also plays a key role at the heart of one of the UK’s most economically vibrant and compassionate cities, and takes its economic, social, environmental and cultural responsibilities very seriously.

Our University Strategy 2020-2030 ‘Universal Values, Global Change’, sets a blueprint for a values-driven university that harnesses our expertise in research and education to help shape a better future for humanity, working through collaboration to tackle inequalities, achieve societal impact and drive change in genuinely distinctive and transformational ways.

We are now seeking a Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Student Education and Experience) to play a pivotal role in the delivery of a transformative, research-based educational experience for our students. This is a new strategic position with responsibility for leading a portfolio of four new Directorates (Student Success and Educational Engagement; Student Experience and Support; Student Curriculum and Operations; and Digital Education) focussed on student experience and providing a responsive and excellent service to students. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and working in partnership with senior colleagues from across the University, the new Deputy COO will develop and lead a University-wide system of effective academic administration across all educational programmes, fostering a philosophy of cross functional working and teamwork. As a crucial member of the leadership team of the Chief Operating Officers portfolio, you will be absolutely key to helping deliver the University’s strategic ambitions.

The successful candidate will be a highly experienced strategic leader in the area of student and academic services, with a proven track record of translating academic strategy and policy into effective, agile and comprehensive delivery. You will also have a proven ability to lead large high performing teams and manage significant change in complex and wide-ranging services that support both students and academic staff, including the digital transformation and modernisation of processes supporting the student journey. Finally, you will need to be innovative, creative and strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, demonstrating our University Values in all operational activity, strategy and planning.

Our University wants to make a difference to the world, and this boldness and ambition makes it a dynamic place to work, with a genuine desire to innovate at its heart. Our commitment to transformational change across the University, including in digital innovation and learning spaces, will improve the experience of our students and colleagues and make us fit for the future.

For further information, including details of how to apply, please select the 'proceed to apply' button below.

Closing date: Monday 22^nd January 2024 at 5pm