University College London (UCL) is London’s Global University and has been awarded the University of the Year 2024 by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. A world renowned leading teaching and research university, UCL is regularly ranked amongst the top ten in the world. With an annual turnover of over £1 billion UCL is committed to addressing the big global challenges, requiring us to constantly inspire, innovate, and improve.

Join UCL as it completes its transformation programme and establishes a Strategic Change Office, the evolution of UCL’s Change and Improvement team. The office will be made up of three main functions: a service design team, change management specialists and programme governance. As this newly created office and team become established additional services are brought into scope, the PS Hub will mature as an industry leading Shared Services organisation by continuing to deploy best practices. UCL continues to invest significant funds towards implementing the right technology applications to further improve the operational efficiency of the PS Hub and enhance customer experience. This is a really exciting time to join an institution well – known for our world-class research, teaching and global influence and impact.

We’re deeply committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, proudly participating in initiatives like Athena SWAN and Race Equality.

This exciting leadership role represents an exciting opportunity to establish and lead the Strategic Change office at UCL.

Reporting to the VP, Operations (Chief Operating Officer) this role will oversee and operationalise strategic change initiatives and work closely with the Provost Office/Chief of Staff, VP Strategy, the PS Hub, Directors of Operation and PS Function leads, to ensure that the right initiatives are progressed and delivered via the Change Portfolios. Key to this role is ensuring that the most impactful change is prioritized, successfully delivered, and absorbed, with benefits clearly articulated and fully realized.

The Director of Strategic Change will be a dynamic, transformational leader who will, in consultation with senior leaders from across the University, design and oversee the delivery of key initiatives, and develop and manage the portfolio of strategic change required to underpin the delivery of the Strategic Plan UCL Strategic Plan 2022-2027 and Operational Delivery Vision.

Working closely with both the Professional Services and Academic leadership groups this important senior leader appointment will drive forward capability development in change management, project management and service design.

• Strong background in successfully establishing, developing and managing Strategic Changes Offices on behalf of large complex organisations
• Background in supporting senior leaders to agree the roadmap of strategic change; required to underpin the University Vision and Strategic Plan
• Recognised transformational leader, with experience of delivering high value (£10m + end to end projects and programmes
• Experience of effectively establishing and managing process/s to prioritise strategic change, aligned with the overall strategic planning process
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to confidently engage at Executive level and inspire and guide large teams
• Track record of navigating large, complex, matrix organisations and the ability to bring senior leaders together to solve problems
• Experience of developing talent, creating career pathways and creating an engaging performance-orientated culture
• Established and actively managed a pipeline of strategic initiatives that are not yet resourced
• Work closely with and influence / negotiate with senior stakeholder to resolve issues
• Work with sponsors to secure resources and expertise from the University