Registrar

The Registry sits at the heart of the University, supporting every stage of the student journey from initial enquiry and application through to graduation and award. Working in close partnership with academic and professional service colleagues, Registry teams help to deliver an outstanding student experience through expert leadership of student administration, academic governance, student services, regulatory compliance and student support.

Our teams are committed to service excellence, innovation and continuous improvement, combining professional expertise with research-informed practice to enhance outcomes for students and the wider University community. We foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity, opportunity and success for all.

As Registrar, you will be one of the University's most senior professional leaders, reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Deputy CEO and leading a significant portfolio spanning Registry and Student Services.

You will provide strategic leadership across student and academic administration, student services, academic governance, regulatory compliance and student lifecycle management, ensuring the University delivers an outstanding, inclusive and high-quality experience for students from recruitment and enrolment through to graduation and progression.

As a member of the University's senior leadership community, you will play a key role in shaping institutional strategy and responding to the opportunities and challenges facing higher education. You will lead the development of future-focused services, drive digital transformation and service innovation, champion the use of data and insight to inform decision-making, and ensure the University remains responsive to changing student needs and regulatory requirements.

The role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on student success, wellbeing, inclusion and achievement. You will work closely with academic leaders, professional service directors, students and external stakeholders to deliver services that enable every student to thrive and achieve their full potential.

Upon appointment, this role will require a Fit and Proper Persons check.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Leadership

Provide visionary and strategic leadership for The Registry, ensuring its priorities, services and operations align with the University's strategic objectives and support institutional growth, sustainability, regulatory compliance and student success.

Develop and deliver a long-term Registry strategy that promotes academic excellence, operational effectiveness, innovation, regulatory assurance and outstanding student outcomes.

As a member of the senior leadership team, contribute to the development and delivery of University strategy, policy and organisational priorities, providing expert advice on emerging opportunities, risks and challenges across the higher education sector.

Act as the University's lead adviser on higher education policy, regulation and professional practice, ensuring the institution can anticipate, respond to and influence changes in the external environment.

Lead strategic analysis of sector developments, including regulation, funding, student expectations, demographic change, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, lifelong learning and international education, assessing their impact on the University.

Represent the University within professional networks and sector bodies, enhancing institutional reputation, influencing policy discussions and promoting best practice.

Lead governance, assurance and risk management arrangements across Registry and Student Services, ensuring effective management of institutional and regulatory risk.

Build organisational capability through workforce planning, talent development, succession planning and staff engagement, ensuring resilient and sustainable services.

Lead the management of Registry and Student Services resources, ensuring value for money, operational resilience and contribution to the University's long-term financial sustainability.

Ensure effective partnership working across academic and professional service functions to deliver institutional priorities and strategic objectives.

Student Lifecycle & Registry Operations

Provide strategic oversight of the student lifecycle, ensuring a seamless and student-centred experience from enquiry and admission through to graduation, employment and progression.

Ensure the effective delivery, benchmarking and innovation of core Registry functions, including admissions, enrolment, student records, timetabling, attendance monitoring, assessment administration, awards and graduation.

Provide strategic leadership for academic governance and student administration frameworks that support academic quality, standards, regulatory compliance (inter alia OfS, UKVI, HESA, CMA, EDI, GDPR and Ofsted) and effective decision-making.

Lead the development of a future-focused Registry operating model, driving service transformation through process improvement, digital innovation, automation, artificial intelligence and sector-leading practice.

Sponsor major institutional projects relating to student systems, service enhancement, organisational effectiveness and digital transformation.

Strategic Data, Information & Insight

Ensure the integrity, security and effective management of student records, institutional data assets and statutory returns.

Act as the institutional custodian for student record systems and associated data governance frameworks, ensuring compliance, accountability and effective stewardship of student information.

Promote the strategic use of data, analytics and business intelligence to support and identify opportunities for planning, performance monitoring, risk management and evidence-based decision-making.

Develop an organisational culture that values data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement across the student lifecycle.

Student Experience, Wellbeing and Success

Lead institution-wide initiatives to improve student continuation, completion, attainment, employability, engagement and satisfaction through evidence-informed approaches.

Promote an integrated approach to student wellbeing, safeguarding, disability support, inclusion and student success, fostering a culture of safety, belonging and effective support.

Champion access, participation, equality, diversity, inclusion and social mobility initiatives that enable all students to achieve their potential.

Lead the University's approach to student casework, ensuring concerns, complaints, misconduct, fitness to study and welfare matters are managed fairly, consistently and in accordance with policy and legislation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Qualifications

Educated to postgraduate degree level or equivalent qualification and professional experience.

Evidence of substantial continuing professional development relevant to higher education leadership, academic administration, governance, regulation, student services or organisational leadership.

Leadership and management qualification, or equivalent senior leadership experience.

Essential Experience

Significant senior leadership experience within a complex organisation, with responsibility for strategic planning, organisational performance, service delivery and resource management, including contribution to institutional strategy, policy development and executive-level decision-making.

Substantial experience leading Registry, Academic Services, Student Administration, Student Services or equivalent functions, with responsibility for services across the student lifecycle including student administration, support, success and academic services.

Proven track record of leading organisational transformation, digital innovation, service redesign and major change programmes.

Experience operating within complex governance, regulatory and compliance frameworks and leading responses to regulatory change.

Experience leading and developing large, high-performing teams and organisational capability, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion and continuous improvement.

Experience managing significant budgets, resources and operational risk to ensure sustainable and effective service delivery.

Strong track record of building productive relationships with senior stakeholders, governing bodies, regulators and external partners.

Experience using data, business intelligence and performance metrics to inform strategy, performance and organisational improvement.

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Strong knowledge of the higher education regulatory environment and its impact on institutional strategy, governance and operations.

Detailed understanding of academic governance, student administration, quality assurance and student lifecycle management.

Knowledge of student success, retention, progression, employability and the wider student experience agenda.

Understanding of key regulatory requirements, including OfS, UKVI, HESA, SLC, consumer protection, equality and data protection legislation.

Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and good practice within higher education.

Excellent strategic leadership and planning skills, with the ability to translate institutional priorities into effective delivery.

Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship-management skills, with credibility at executive, governance and operational levels.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide sound strategic advice.

Ability to lead organisational change, innovation and continuous improvement in a complex environment.

Ability to balance strategic leadership with effective operational oversight.

Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, access, participation and student success.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively.

Business Requirements

Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Willingness to provide support at University events e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends).

Ability to attend meetings and represent the University both internally and externally as required.

Commitment to working flexibly to meet the needs of the role.

BENEFITS

Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata).

Local Government Pension Scheme.

Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers.

Discounted onsite gym.

Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance.

Holiday purchase.

Cycle to Work scheme.

A flexible working environment.

A commitment to personal and professional development.