Permanent, full time, 37 hours per week (however the hours of work are such as are necessary to carry out the full duties of the post and some flexibility is required).
Competitive salary
About the Post
We are seeking a Chief Operating & Transformation Officer (COTO) who will have responsibility for the strategic direction and leadership of the University of Suffolk’s professional services functions, ensuring a coherent, co-ordinated, and sustainable approach to the delivery of our professional services and enabling strategies. This post will also have a major ‘transformation lens’ over all that we do as a university; seeking and taking opportunities to streamline, digitise and transform to ensure we are as high performing, efficient and focused as possible.
The post-holder, as a senior leader, will be a member of the Executive Team, responsible for the overall leadership and management of the University. Overseeing our Finance and Planning, People and Organisational Development, Estates, Digital and IT Services, Marketing, Communications, and International resource areas.
This post will hold a portfolio of key corporate University projects for which the post-holder will be accountable to the Vice Chancellor and the Board, and it will be vital to be able to engage relevant stakeholders and form forward-thinking plans which will ensure the University of Suffolk has a position of strength in the sector and locally.
About You
You will be agile and adept, able to support and listen as well as enable good, strategic decision making for the longer term. You will be a clear and confident communicator, able to forge and maintain a range of internal and external relationships to maximise outcomes for the University. You will be personally resilient – able to respond professionally to challenges and experienced in leading and supporting complex change programmes. You will be comfortable in navigating a complex and challenging sector and landscape and able to represent the University across a range of activities, meetings, and fora.
About the Team
The Executive / Senior Leadership Team of the university is supportive, friendly, and transformation-focused and your direct reports are experienced leaders in their specialist fields. With a new Vice Chancellor in post since August 2024, you will be joining at a pivotal time for the new era of senior leadership at this thriving institution. The wider university team is one which drives accountability and strives to achieve the best possible experience and outcomes for both our students and staff, and it is essential that you share this aspiration.
We are a values-driven organisation, committed to transformation, empowerment, professionalism, creativity, collaboration, and inclusion. We hold our values and underpinning behaviours close and use these to guide our interactions and approach.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days, plus 8 bank holidays and any university closure days.
- Agile and flexible working, including family friendly policies.
- Competitive pension scheme through USS.
- Staff discounts at a number of local amenities.
- Discounted membership at various Ipswich Fit sites: unlimited access to gyms, swimming lanes, fitness classes and discounted racket sports.
- Fee waiver for staff approved to study a UoS undergraduate or postgraduate course, subject to a set of criteria and conditions.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice.
- Wellbeing programmes.
- Staff recognition annual awards.
Closing Date: Friday 25 October 2024
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Prof Jenny Higham – Vice Chancellor: j.higham@uos.ac.uk
Please apply with your CV, covering letter and state your salary expectations in the application form.
No Agencies please.
Please see the Job Application Guidance to support your application.
We are a values-driven organisation, committed to ensuring we remain a beacon for aspiration and achievement, while providing a great environment to work and study. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.
We believe sustainability is fundamental to our culture and our business as usual working practice, and are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whilst actively addressing resource usage and climate and biodiversity degradation. We are seeking passionate individuals who share this commitment, aligning with our strategic initiatives and procedures to drive positive change and contribute to a more sustainable future.