Director of People & Culture

The University of Bedfordshire is proud to be an internationally recognised and award-winning institution with a heritage of quality education going back more than 100 years. We believe in nurturing our students to become educated, employable and entrepreneurial global citizens. Our vibrant and cosmopolitan student population is made up of about 15,000 students from around 115 countries. The University appears in the Times Higher Education World Young University rankings as one of the top 300 universities in the world under 50 years old. In our most recent QAA review, we were commended for the high quality and standards of our higher education provision (QAA, 2015).

Our Transforming Bedfordshire Strategy sets a clear and ambitious roadmap for the University’s future, built around a shared vision to be a vibrant, inclusive academic community that champions diversity and the transformative power of education. The strategy prioritises employability, social mobility, and financial resilience, with progress monitored through a set of Super KPIs focused on continuation, student satisfaction, graduate outcomes, the awarding gap, and student recruitment growth. Like many universities, we also face significant challenges, including declining student numbers, financial pressures, and shifts in government policy. As a result, we’ve made strategic decisions, including reviewing our structures, to ensure long-term success and sustainability. However, our people are at the heart of everything we do. The transformative experiences we offer our students are made possible by the talent, dedication, and professionalism of our diverse staff community.

We’re seeking an exceptional Director of People and Culture - someone who will lead with purpose, inspire innovation, and foster a thriving, inclusive workplace culture that aligns with our strategic goals and values.

Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, you will lead the People & Culture department, driving cultural transformation and organisational development. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the University - through its people.

What you’ll bring:

• A strong track record of senior HR leadership and delivering successful cultural change in complex organisations.
• A deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing universities like ours – and how enable the future phases of development of the University.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking approach that champions diversity, development, and continuous improvement.

Experience within higher education is desirable but not essential. More important is a strong track record of delivering people-focused change and demonstrating clear, strategic leadership.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the University’s ongoing development -shaping our culture, supporting our staff, and ultimately enhancing the experience and outcomes of our students.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Jim Andrews, Interim Director of People and Culture via jim.andrews@beds.ac.uk

Final Interviews will be held on Wednesday 2^nd July 2025

For a full job description and person specification please click here

For more information about the role please see the attached candidate information pack when you click here

The post will be based at Luton (with travel to other campuses as required)

The University is committed to equality of opportunity and values the diversity of all its workforce and student population.

At the University of Bedfordshire, inclusivity is a key University value, and we are committed to creating an environment in which we celebrate and value the diversity of our staff and student community and provide fair opportunity and outcomes for all.

We recognise that diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent and benefit from opportunities that the diversity of talent and thought creates.

We, therefore, particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in the University of Bedfordshire’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds disabled people; LGBTQ+ people; and women..

We offer a range of employee benefits including a generous pension and annual leave entitlement, free fitness classes and gym membership, flexible working arrangements, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. For further details, please click here

To Apply

• To apply for the role, please provide a comprehensive CV and a covering letter, detailing your interest in the role and how you meet the required criteria.
• Please provide the names, addresses and contact details of three referees. The referees will not be contacted until the final stages of the process and not without your prior permission.
• Please email your application to P&C@beds.ac.uk quoting reference number BEDS2836 and the job title in the subject.