Head of Student Support and Wellbeing

Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for student wellbeing, inclusion, and safeguarding? Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Head of Student Support & Wellbeing to lead a group of specialist services that play a vital role in supporting our diverse student community.

In this senior leadership role, you will shape and deliver our strategic approach to mental health, disability, counselling, safeguarding, and inclusion.

As Head of Student Support & Wellbeing, you will have operational responsibility for our multi-team response to student crises, and you will champion a whole university approach to student wellbeing. You will also take a leading role in our University Mental Health Charter application and support the ongoing development of institutional policies.

You will lead teams responsible for mental health, counselling, disability support, safeguarding, and inclusion, and also oversee budgets and financial planning related to wellbeing and disability funding.

To succeed in the role of Head of Student Support & Wellbeing within the Education and Student Experience Directorate, you will have demonstrable experience in a student facing environment, as well as a good understanding of how disabilities or mental health conditions impact students’ experience. You'll have experience of safeguarding, or creating a safe and inclusive environment for students and you'll be confident in challenging policy and finding solutions.

You will operate with compassion and clarity, supporting frontline staff to demonstrate their professional capabilities, and you'll work collaboratively with academic and admin colleagues to support students to thrive.

At Birkbeck, we provide a great team atmosphere, the opportunity for personal and professional development, and the chance to lead a team ready to take on challenges. So, if you are enthusiastic about student wellbeing, inclusion and safeguarding - apply with us today.

Salary and benefits: £64,290 rising to £71,792 per annum. Grade 9 on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated London Weighting Allowance.

Benefits of working at Birkbeck: a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements, generous benefits in the HE sector, and being located in the heart of Bloomsbury, Euston, London.

Contract:
Permanent contract, full-time, (35 hours a week), Monday-Friday 10-6pm with a flexible and hybrid working pattern - three days on site. Please submit a CV and statement for consideration. 

Closing date: 23 February 2026

Interview date: 11 March 2026.

The role requires a DBS check.

Enquiries:
If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Kirsty Palmer, Interim Head of Student Wellbeing Services, k.palmer@bbk.ac.uk.

If you have difficulty using the recruitment portal, please contact jobs@bbk.ac.uk providing your name and the job reference number of the position. While we are happy to respond to all informal enquiries, only formal applications through the online system will be considered.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community and backgrounds to apply. The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding an Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes.

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