Director of Student Success

Newcastle University is seeking an outstanding Director of Student Success to play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitious Education for Life Strategy. This senior leadership position will shape how we support students to succeed from enrolment through to employment and lifelong learning across our global campuses.

Reporting to the Academic Registrar, you will lead the University’s Student Success portfolio, including student life, careers, employability and enterprise, and lifelong learning and skills. Working collaboratively across faculties, professional services, students and external partners, you will drive a coherent, student-centred approach to student experience and global employability.

We are looking for an experienced, strategic and collaborative leader with a strong track record of delivering impactful services in a higher education complex organisation. You will bring the vision, credibility and partnership skills needed to enhance student success and help position Newcastle as a global leader in transformational education. 

Newcastle University offers excellent benefits, including a generous annual leave package with the option to buy more, competitive pension schemes, and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives. At Newcastle University you will join an inclusive, global university community where you can thrive and take the next step in your professional journey.

For a confidential conversation, please contact Lucy Backhurst, Academic Registrar and Director of Student Services at lucy.backhurst@newcastle.ac.uk

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a covering statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification.

The Role 

Newcastle University’s Education for Life Strategy is ambitious and transformational and provides us with a bridge to the future of higher education. Our aim is to be a global, future-facing provider of leading-edge, inclusive and transformational higher education for our students, and our mission is to provide our students with an education for life that engages, challenges and supports them to discover and fulfil their potential.  

As Director of Student Success you will lead the Student Success unit, part of Student Services, and is key to delivering our Education Strategy ambition.  You will also support the University’s Research, Global and Education and Place strategies.

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Student Success; an experienced, innovative and committed leader to work across the University and beyond to enable the delivery of an outstanding student experience from enrolment to employment in all our campus locations.  Reporting directly to the Academic Registrar you will lead services spanning student life, careers, employability and enterprise, and lifelong learning and skills.  

Your role will contribute to the development and delivery of a customer-focused approach to drive effective service delivery (digital and physical) across the institution. You will determine the strategic direction and priorities for student experience and global employability, informed by evidence, student voice, sector insight and national and international best practice. Students will be at the heart of everything you do, and success will depend on an ability to be a visible, collaborative leader who can network with colleagues in faculties, schools and services and students and alumni, to co-ordinate approaches and deliver a customer-focused environment in which our students can thrive.

You will also play a key role in supporting the University’s transformation programme and will deputise for the Academic Registrar and Director of Student Services as required.

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