Head of Student Support and Wellbeing Services

We are seeking an exceptional leader who performs with integrity, fairness, and sound professional judgement in complex and sensitive environments who will provide leadership across a complex, multidisciplinary portfolio of services that sit at the heart of the University’s commitment to student success, inclusion and wellbeing.

This is a rare opportunity to influence institutional culture, deliver innovative practice and ensure that student wellbeing is at the heart of the University experience.

About the role

As Head of Student Support and Wellbeing Services, you will lead services spanning student mental health, disability and inclusive practice, casework, partnerships and advice. You will set the direction for services that are inclusive, trauma-informed, evidence-based and aligned with best practice and regulatory requirements.

Reporting to the Associate Director (Student Wellbeing and Inclusion), you will act as the University’s senior specialist adviser on student wellbeing and serve as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Students, playing a critical role in meeting Office for Students requirements and safeguarding obligations.

You will work collaboratively with students, academic leaders, professional services colleagues and external partners to create a joined-up, coherent and responsive student support ecosystem.

What you’ll bring

You will be a confident, credible and emotionally intelligent leader with:

• Significant experience of leading specialist, student-facing or comparable services
• Knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and regulatory frameworks within higher education or a related sector
• A proven track record of managing complex services, critical incidents and institutional risk
• Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to influence at senior and board level
• Strong digital and data fluency, with experience of using systems and insight to improve services
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build trusted partnerships internally and externally

Above all, you will share our commitment to placing students at the centre of service design and delivery.

Why join us?

You will join a University that is ambitious about student wellbeing and inclusion, values professional expertise and reflective practice, and is committed to continuous improvement. This role offers genuine scope to innovate, influence strategy and leave a meaningful legacy for students and staff alike.

If you are motivated by purpose, impact and leadership at scale, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please explore the full candidate pack: www.lancaster.ac.uk/jobs/student-support-and-wellbeing-services

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