Head of Student Success and Outcomes

Strategy Leadership and Delivery

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of an institution-wide student successand outcomes strategy, aligned with institutional priorities and the Access and Participation Plan (APP).
• Establish clear objectives, performance measures and accountability for improving student outcomes and reducing disparities between student groups.
• Oversee a coordinated portfolio of targeted interventions to address attainment gaps and barriers to student success, prioritising activities according to student need and evidence of impact.
• Work with academic and professional services leaders to embed inclusive approaches within teaching, learning, assessment and student support.
• Embed Theory of Change principles in the strategy and intervention design, linking identified student needs, resources, activities and outputs to intended short-, medium- and long-term outcomes, with explicit assumptions and consideration of contextual factors.

Stakeholder Leadership and Student Partnership

• Coordinate delivery across academic teams, student services, admissions and the analytics & insight team, ensure clear ownership and effective implementation.
• Champion student partnership, ensuring students contribute meaningfully to the design, evaluation and improvement of interventions.Advise senior leaders on student success priorities, emerging risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Build effective external partnerships and represent the institution in relevant sector networks, drawing on research and effective practice to inform institutional approaches.

Performance, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Work with the analytics & insights team to identify trends, disparities and risks across the student lifecycle, translating findings into timely action.
• Establish a consistent monitoring and evaluation framework informed by Theory of Change, defining success measures, baseline data, milestones and quantitative and qualitative evidence requirements from the outset.
• Review progress against agreed objectives, holding delivery partners accountable and supporting teams to resolve barriers to implementation.
• Evaluate whether interventions are delivered as intended and achieve expected outcomes, testing underlying assumptions and identifying what works, for whom and under what conditions.
• Use evaluation findings and student feedback to refine Theories of Change, inform resource allocation and determine whether interventions should be adapted, scaled or discontinued.
• Provide senior leadership with clear, actionable reporting on progress, impact, risks and recommended improvements.

Regulatory Alignment and Institutional Reporting

• Lead the coordination of student outcomes improvement activity that supports the institution’s compliance with OfS Condition B3.
• Ensure student success initiatives align with relevant APP commitments and institutional quality and governance processes.
• Oversee the preparation of evidence and reports demonstrating progress, impact and areas requiring further improvement.
• Contribute to annual institutional performance reports and relevant regulatory submissions, working with colleagues responsible for compliance and reporting.

• Maintain clear oversight of risks to student outcomes, escalating concerns and coordinating improvement plans where required.

• Degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Substantial higher education experience, with a track record of leading initiatives that improve student outcomes and reduce disparities.
• Knowledge of OfS Condition B3, Access and Participation Plans and inclusive approaches to student success.
• Experience of designing and evaluating evidence-informed interventions using Theory of
• Change principles.
• Ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and programme management skills, with the ability to secure delivery across teams.
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrable commitment to equity, inclusion and student partnership.

• Relevant postgraduate or professional qualification.
• Experience of APP delivery, regulatory reporting or institutional governance.
• Knowledge of advanced evaluation methods and student analytics.
• Experience of managing staff, budgets or interventions across multiple faculties or campuses.
• Engagement with sector networks or external partnerships focused on student success.

• Health Benefits
• Life Assurance Plans
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Pension, Cars, Cycle to Work)
• Annual Leave & Holiday Benefits (Buy Holiday, Additional Christmas Leave & Carry Over Leave)
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) & 24/7 Access to GPs
• Employee Discounts (Gym, Shopping, Cinema)

• 40 hours per week

Compliance Statement

Successful applicants will be required to complete pre-employment checks, including a criminal records check, two references, ID and Right to Work verification, and education confirmation. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion, selection for employment is based solely on an individual’s skills, qualifications, and experience relevant to the role.