Senior Director for Student Life

About the Opportunity

Position overview: Department Student Life. Location London Campus. Term Full-time; permanent.

Salary: Up to £90,000 per annum.

Benefits

The university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, offers flexible working and parental leave opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme providing free, confidential advice on both home and work concerns, optional private medical insurance, season ticket loans, and participation in the cycle to work scheme.

Additional benefits include 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and winter break holidays, access to personalised CPD plans, eye test reimbursement, cycle scheme vouchers, 24/7 employee assistance/support via the Employee Assistance Programme, and discounts for food & shopping.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Implementation (30%) - Implements the university's strategic vision for Student Life on the London campus, adapts initiatives for local context and UK higher education practices, works closely with Senior Vice Chancellor in Boston, collaborates with global network, represents Student Life in campus committees, and develops local strategic priorities.

Direct Supervision and Departmental Oversight (35%) - Provides direct supervision to the Director of Residence Services and Student Support and the Director of Student Engagement, conducts mentoring, sets performance expectations, oversees budget development, approves departmental goals and major initiatives, ensures compliance with UK statutory and regulatory requirements.

Student Advocacy and Campus Presence (20%) - Maintains a visible presence on campus, advises students and resolves concerns, participates in student facing programmes, enhances engagement for all cohorts, collaborates with students to generate solutions.

Cross Campus Collaboration and Integration (15%) - Partners with London campus colleagues, aligns Student Life initiatives with academic priorities, builds relationships with faculty and staff, connects London students to global resources, represents London student perspective in network wide planning, serves on the on call rotation for critical incidents, and develops emergency protocols.

UK Regulatory and Compliance Responsibilities - Holds senior institutional responsibility for ensuring Student Life operations comply with Office for Students registration conditions, Prevent duty, safeguarding legislation, OfSTED inspection requirements, Clery Act reporting, and Working Time Regulations, providing institutional accountability and oversight.

Qualifications

Person specification criteria include:

• Terminal degree (PhD, EdD, JD) (D)
• Master's Degree (E)
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in designing and delivering programmes and services that support community and student development (E)
• A proven record of success in developing and enhancing a sophisticated portfolio of student life programmes at a college or university (E)
• Experience leading and developing staff (E)
• Experience with UK, American, and/or international higher education contexts (E)
• Knowledge of UK higher education regulatory frameworks, including OfS registration conditions (particularly B3, E6, and Access and Participation obligations), the Prevent duty, safeguarding legislation, and OfSTED as they apply to degree apprenticeship provision (D)
• Familiarity with the Clery Act reporting obligations as they apply to NUL's US regulated status (D)
• Strategic thinking and planning skills; strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, and students at all levels in a complex, diverse, and international environment (E)
• Proficiency in the development and management of budgets, knowledge of housing operations including managed residential provision and private rented sector advisory services, student development theory, collaborative learning, residence hall programming, building learning communities, crisis response, case management, and staff development (E)
• Demonstrated ability to lead organisational growth and foster cross departmental collaboration (E)

EEO Statement

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.