Chief Operating Officer

Aberystwyth University

Chief Operating Officer

Aberystwyth, Wales

Salary: Competitive

Aberystwyth University was established in 1872, being the first University in Wales. We have a long-standing reputation for delivering academic excellence, an exceptional student experience and world-leading research. Over the past 150 years, we have developed into a strong academic community of over 2,000 staff and 6,500 students from across the globe. We have sterling reputation for teaching excellence. At the heart of our mission is effective and impactful teaching; this is why we are consistently ranked amongst the best universities in the UK for teaching quality and student satisfaction.

As a research-intensive university, we have a long and distinguished record of undertaking cutting edge research across a range of disciplines, working with partners to help address regional, national and global challenges. The work of our academics has been recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of its originality, significance and rigor in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. We are also proud recipients of the of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, which recognised the pioneering parasitology work of scientists at the University’s Department of Life Sciences.

There is nowhere quite like Aberystwyth: no other University offers the unique combination of long academic tradition, outstandingly beautiful location, and a campus that brings together state-of-the-art facilities, an Arts Centre, and provides easy access to one of the six copyright libraries in Britain. Beneath the mountains and beside the sea, Aberystwyth is a centre of national and regional, as well as cultural and commercial, importance.

We are now seeking to appoint an exceptional individual with the drive, enthusiasm and vision to a newly created post of Chief Operating Officer. This is a key role in the University’s senior management team, supporting the Vice-Chancellor in the leadership, management and effective operation of the University. You will make significant contributions to the development and implementation of our strategy, driving the university’s growth, enhancing performance, and ensuring efficient use of resources and quality of service provision. You will lead a diverse portfolio of professional services that includes Estates, Facilities and Residences; Commercial Services; Global Marketing and Student Recruitment; Information Services; Human Resources and Organisational Development; Farms; and The Old College Project.

This is an exciting opportunity for an inspirational senior leader with significant experience of strategic leadership in a large and complex organisation. You will have a track record of delivering major transformational change to drive excellence in service and proven ability to build organisational capacity and capability, deliver performance improvements, and modernise working practices. With successful experience of building and developing large, high performing, multi-disciplinary teams, you will have proven ability to create a culture that delivers excellent outcomes through people. Your outstanding interpersonal skills will enable you to build mutually trusting relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.

For further information on the roles and to apply, please visit our website via the buton below quoting reference 15844.

Closing date: 9am on Thursday, 25th April 2024.