Director of Student Services

37 hours per week with some flexibility for evening/weekend work if required

Permanent

About the Role

• Provide strategic direction for a broad range of student facing services, ensuring they align with institutional priorities and future ambitions
• Shape and deliver initiatives that enhance student engagement, retention, achievement and progression
• Oversee key areas including safeguarding, wellbeing, residential provision, accommodation, employability, careers and student enrichment
• Use data, insight and performance measures to inform decision-making and evaluate service effectiveness
• Develop service strategies that respond to sector developments, emerging student needs and regulatory requirements
• Build effective working partnerships across academic and professional service areas to deliver a high quality student experience
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement and operational excellence across Student Services
• Lead significant institutional projects that contribute to student success and organisational performance
• Ensure robust governance, risk management and compliance arrangements are maintained across the service portfolio
• Serve as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead, leading on compliance with statutory and legal duties, reporting to internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Board of Governors, Office for Students, Ofsted) and policy implementation in line with the accountabilities of the role
• Contribute to strategic planning and decision making as a member of Hartpury's Executive Team

About You

• Significant experience in a senior student services, student experience, safeguarding, wellbeing or related leadership role
• A record of delivering successful services within higher education, further education or a similar sector
• Experience of managing diverse professional teams and creating high performing working environments
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities, student wellbeing and relevant regulatory frameworks
• Experience of developing and implementing strategy, managing change and delivering measurable outcomes
• Communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility across a wide range of audiences
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, using evidence and insight to inform decisions and improve performance
• The ability to manage competing priorities, navigate complex situations and exercise sound judgement
• A commitment to equality, diversity and accessibility, ensuring services meet the needs of a broad student population

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.  All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks. 

Click the button below to apply online or telephone (01452) 702135 to request documents by post. 

Click here to view the full Job Description and Person Specification

The closing date for receipt of applications is 30th September 2026

Interviews are due to be held on the 14th October 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. To avoid missing the opportunity to apply, we encourage candidates to submit their applications at their earliest convenience.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK.

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