Head of Student Success and Student Experience

Head of Student Success and Student Experience

Position: Head of Student Success and Student Experience (HoSSSE)

Location: ON-SITE, London, UK

Employment Type: Full-Time, Monday to Friday

Who are we?

Elizabeth School of London is a UK HEI dedicated to providing relevant, high-quality university programmes and operates across six cities across the UK located in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, and Northampton.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

The Head of Student Success and Student Experience is responsible for the strategic leadership of a broad range of functions including:

• Student Success Centre (Academic Support; Additional Needs Support, Learning Resource Centre Support)
• Assessment Centre
• Student Wellbeing & Support (Funding, Guidance, Retention, Health and Wellbeing, Student Satisfaction)
• Engagement & Employability (Support, Careers Advice & Partnerships)
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The HoSSSE also has a key role in promoting the continuing development and ambition of our students who come from the widening participation background. They will apply expert knowledge, skills and experience to develop strategy and policy on student retention, success and progression, and educational gain through the application of sector best practice and innovation.

The HoSSSE will instil a passion and enthusiasm for enhancing the student experience, not only in the Team but across the whole organisation. They will also work with internal and external partners to provide vision, leadership and an ethos of innovative practice in how we deliver the best quality of experience for all our students.

Key Responsibilities:

• To lead and develop, facilitate and/or provide executive management and support for improvement and enhancement projects and activities related to student educational experiences, identifying and documenting processes and outcomes that support ESL’s aims and objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership for the enhancement of student recruitment, student outcomes and satisfaction including the streamlining of all related systems and processes.
• Provide strong and collegial leadership of your Team/s, supporting and nurturing them through proactive professional and personal development.
• Contribute to ESL evaluation and enhancement processes by offering foresight and adopting a proactive and team-based approach to continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the ESL’s strategic and operational planning and performance reporting regime, including effective leadership of the HoSSE’s planning and performance.
• Manage financial budgets (where appropriate) and staff plans to deliver value for money and impact.
• Develop and enhance productive relationships with key partners such as employers, local businesses and other community organisations particularly in support of learning pathways and equalities.
• Work with various departments to help promote that students are placed on courses appropriate to their needs, qualifications, aspirations and receive support appropriate to their needs.
• Contribute to the successful execution of the ESL’s EDI strategy.
• Provide strategic support to the student bodies (such as Class Representations, Student Unions) ensuring that they have the necessary resources to deliver their mission/s.
• To monitor and review the performance of ESL in relation to publicly available performance indicators and metrics (including OfS key indicators and league tables), with a view to identifying strengths and weaknesses and implementing changes to enhance performance and improve outcomes.
• To produce project reports and papers, for various committees and working groups, and for wider dissemination; electronically and via presentations in a variety of formats to meet the needs of a range of audiences.
• Travel between ESL sites, monitor achievement rates and take appropriate actions within to ensure consistency in student success and satisfaction rates on the various university programmes.
• Undertake projects and other management duties as directed by the Senior Leadership Team.

Key Contacts/ Relationships:

• External contacts include the local council, local employers, other local education establishments, local community organisations and voluntary sector organisations, awarding and accreditation university partners, HEIs and other quality standard regulators such as the OfS.
• Internal contacts include Provost, Head of Academic Services, Head of Operations, Registrar, Head of Finance and Academic & Professional Service Managers.

Education and Qualifications:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in education, business, or related fields.
• A PhD in relevant fields is desirable as well as a PGCE.
• Proven experience in educational management in similar roles, especially in the WP settings.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to remain calm and composed during emergencies and busy times.
• Familiarity with relevant regulations and compliance standards in the higher education sector.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the campus community.