Chief Operating Officer

Part-time (21 hours p/w)

Location: London WC1H (We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 40% of your time per month being office based)

Join the ACU as Chief Operating Officer and put your experience of managing operations, teams and transformational change into building a better world through international collaboration in higher education.

The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the higher education sector. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together around 400 universities in 40 countries. Championing the power of higher education to improve lives, we support our members – and our people – in contributing to sustainable development across the Commonwealth and beyond.

The role

As Chief Operating Officer, you will be instrumental in enabling the Executive Team to drive and deliver the implementation of our ambitious strategic and operational plans.

You will lead and direct the operational management of the ACU, advising the CEO on all strategic and tactical matters, overseeing the People and Culture, Finance, IT and estates functions – and ensuring the effective running and good order of all aspects of the organisation’s activities.

An immediate challenge will be to oversee the review, development and implementation of the new ACU strategy – with work already well underway – before the end of the year.

You will have a key focus on achieving financial sustainability and performance. Another important priority will be to develop and implement an IT strategy that consolidates all internal IT systems and includes up-to-date IT and Compliance policies and procedures.

Among your broader responsibilities, you will be expected to oversee a successful office move from two floors in the building to one (redesigned) floor, with the goal of achieving this smoothly before Christmas.

Who are we looking for?

We need an inspirational and innovative professional who has operated at a senior level within a complex organisation, someone who can help to drive and deliver our vision, mission and strategy, shaping the ACU’s infrastructure and leading the development of financial and operating plans aligned to strategic priorities.

You will need:

• Experience of managing operations and leading, motivating and managing teams, with a clear ability to promote a culture of high performance, continuous improvement and innovation.
• Experience in a higher education institution and, ideally, a not-for-profit or membership organisation.
• Senior level experience of financial and operational planning, reporting and budgeting, as well as project planning and management, with a comprehensive understanding of compliance and risk.
• Proven success in leading transformational change management, implementing process change through people and capacity building, and influencing positive change in complex, fast-paced environments.
• A commitment to the ACU’s mission, ethos and values, with a willingness to embrace and promote our policies and procedures, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policies.
• The ability to travel within the UK and overseas, as the role requires. 

What to expect:

We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance (you can find more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding on our website). We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.

We offer an excellent package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days
• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Significant investment into your personal and professional development
• Regular social activities
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Give as you earn charitable donations scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free travel season ticket loan

How to apply:

For further information on how to apply please click the apply button.

Closing date: 17 September 2024

Interviews will take place on Monday 30 September 2024.

If we receive sufficient applications before the closing date, interviews may take place earlier, so you are encouraged to apply early.

Interviews will take place in person.