Director of Operations (Education and Student Experience)

About us

UCL is embarking on an exciting new chapter for education and student experience. As our portfolio grows, we are bringing together education strategy, policy and quality with Student & Registry Services and Student Recruitment & Admissions - creating a significant new portfolio spanning the student journey from recruitment and admissions through to education, support and progression.

We are now looking for an exceptional Director of Operations to work alongside the Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience) as a senior professional partner and provide the operational leadership, strategic coordination and business management needed to bring this ambitious portfolio together.

This is a high-profile role with genuine institutional influence. You will provide the Vice-Provost with the insight, grip and coordination needed to navigate a complex portfolio, while working closely with Executive Directors, Pro-Vice-Provosts, academic leaders and professional services colleagues across UCL.

About the role

A role at the heart of change

You will help create a more integrated, coherent and resilient operating model across the expanded portfolio. A key priority will be supporting the integration of Student & Registry Services and Student Recruitment & Admissions, helping to establish one coherent student journey and one planning cycle.

You will:

• Provide senior operational leadership and business management for the Office of the Vice-Provost.
• Plan, track and evaluate delivery of UCL's Education Strategy.
• Own portfolio finance, budgets and management information, ensuring the Vice-Provost has the insight needed to make informed decisions.
• Lead workforce and people planning and coordinate portfolio planning submissions.
• Oversee portfolio risk management and strengthen management and assurance reporting.
• Prepare and brief the Vice-Provost for key institutional committees, including UMC, Education Committee, Financial Performance and Planning Committee and Recruitment and Admissions Committee.
• Act as a senior point of contact across UCL, representing the Vice-Provost and portfolio in university-wide decision-making, committees, boards and initiatives.
• Coordinate business operations across the Office, SRS and SRA, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of best practice.
• Identify opportunities to build a more resilient operating model and make better use of existing capability.
• Lead or coordinate major cross-portfolio projects, transitions and strategic initiatives, including the integration of SRS and SRA.
• Support the Vice-Provost as a senior sponsor and stakeholder for transformation and change programmes, providing an independent view of delivery confidence, benefits and cost.

Importantly, this is not simply a business management role. You will be a trusted senior partner to the Vice-Provost, helping turn strategy into delivery and connecting people, information, governance and priorities across a complex and evolving portfolio.

About you

You will bring substantial senior professional services leadership experience gained within a large and complex organisation, together with a strong track record of business management, governance, financial and workforce planning.

You will have experience of:

• Leading significant budgets and workforce planning at scale.
• Leading change and integration across organisational boundaries and reporting lines.
• Providing high-level operational and business support to a senior leader or executive.
• Navigating governance, planning and business management within a complex organisation.
• Bringing diverse teams together around a coherent operating model and shared priorities.

You will be a confident and credible partner to Executive Directors and senior academic leaders, able to operate with authority while building strong relationships across organisational boundaries.

Excellent communication skills are essential. You will be comfortable distilling complex information, briefing senior audiences and committees, exercising sound judgement and discretion, and influencing people to achieve outcomes.

Experience within higher education would be advantageous, particularly knowledge of the higher education operating and regulatory environment, including the Office for Students' conditions of registration. Experience of student administration, registry, student recruitment or admissions would also be desirable.

What we offer

• 41 days' holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 6 closure days)
• Option to purchase 5 additional days' annual leave
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, and immigration loan
• Relocation support for eligible posts
• On-site nursery and gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
• Staff Support Service (employee assistance programme)
• Discounted medical insurance

Full details: UCL Rewards and Benefits

We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible, and job share basis wherever possible.

This role meets the requirements for a Skilled Worker certificate of sponsorship or Global Talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

For some roles UCL will consider hybrid working. This can be between 20-80% onsite working. Where this happens there is an expectation that individuals can be asked to work onsite as required up to 100% of a week.

UCL Terms and Conditions of Service:

• • Research and Professional Services Staff
  • Academic Staff

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in UCL's workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and - for Grade 9 and 10 roles - women."

Read more: UCL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Applicants should also familiarise themselves with UCL's policies on: Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Personal Relationships Policy