Director of Student Services & Library
Posted
26th January 2026
Closing Date
22nd February 2026
Salary
£Competitive
Location
Cambridge / Chelmsford
Interviews Scheduled
w/c 30th March TBC
About ARU:
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes, four faculties, academic partners and Writtle College bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are one the largest providers of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the UK, and among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
About the Role:
We are now seeking to appoint a Director of Student and Library Services to play a leading role in the realisation of our collective aims and strategy. This is an exciting time to join ARU and an outstanding opportunity to drive innovation across the institution.
Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) as a member of the University Executive Team (UET), you will provide strategic and operational leadership for Student and Library Services, delivering an outstanding, inclusive student experience that supports academic success and future employability. You will lead the development and delivery of strategies (including Action & Participation Plan), policies and procedures in partnership with students, the Students’ Union, academic staff and professional services. Leading on the development and delivery of innovative cross University strategies and initiatives to transform and enhance student experience, student satisfaction and student success, with a particular focus on continuation, graduate employability, student equity and wellbeing.
We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing Student centric initiatives across comparably large scale, diverse and complex portfolios. You will possess excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills, and will be enthusiastic and passionate about delivering student focused services.
The role offers a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to play a leading role in the future success of the University and its wider impact across the region.
How to apply
Applications should be made via email to simon@dixonwalter.co.uk and will include on separate documents:
- a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the person specification (no more than 2 pages)
- a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- details of three referees and notice period (referees will not be contacted without your permission)
- a completed Personal Details Form (available above)
Closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 22nd February 2026.
Longlist interviews are expected to be held with Dixon Walter via Microsoft Teams in the weeks commencing the w/c 2nd March and early w/c 9th March 2026.
Final interviews are expected to take place in person on w/c 30th March 2026.
In making an application for this role we ask you also to view our Privacy Notice which outlines our compliance to General Data Protection Regulations and the use and storage of your data. Personal Data is held and processed on the lawful basis that such action is in the Legitimate Interest of the company in pursuing the purposes described and has been considered through the use of a Legitimate Interest Assessment utilising the Balance Test to not be outweighed by risks to the rights, freedoms and interests of the Data Subject.
Please note that our client is legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, government restrictions have changed. For further information visit the Home Office website at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk
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