Assistant Director (Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture)

University of Exeter; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working opportunities

Generous annual leave

Competitive pension contributions

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

The University of Exeter invites applications for the role of Assistant Director (Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture). This full-time, permanent post from 1 January 2027 offers a starting salary of £65,827 on Grade H and a hybrid working pattern.

You will provide strategic leadership for equality, diversity and inclusion, colleague wellbeing, and organisational culture, leading cross-institutional change, advising senior leaders and delivering data-led improvements across campuses.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in EDI and wellbeing.
• Ability to translate priorities into practical actions.
• Experience managing teams and cross-institutional change.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of institution-wide wellbeing and inclusion strategies.
• Advise senior leaders on legislation and sector expectations.
• Collaborate across teams, student reps and external partners to drive inclusive culture.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Influencing skills

Data-driven

Job description

About The Role

Assistant Director (Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture)

This full-time post is available from 1 January 2027 on a permanent basis.

The starting salary will be from £65,827 on Grade H, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working - some time on campus and some from home.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

Assistant Director – Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture will provide strategic leadership for the University’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, colleague wellbeing, and organisational culture.

The role will lead the development and delivery of institution-wide strategies, frameworks and initiatives aligned with the University’s People Strategy and Strategy 2030, advising senior leaders on emerging issues and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and sector expectations.

Working collaboratively across academic and professional services teams, student representatives, staff networks and external partners, the post-holder will drive inclusive culture change, oversee wellbeing and engagement programmes, support equality accreditations and data-led improvement, manage relevant teams and resources, and represent the University in sector forums.

About You

The successful candidate will have strong strategic leadership skills and substantial expertise in equality, diversity and inclusion, with a clear understanding of the legislative, regulatory and cultural challenges facing the higher education sector. Additionally, the applicant should strong strong potential for leading activity in the Colleague wellbeing and Culture domains.

The successful candidate will need excellent interpersonal, influencing and collaboration skills, enabling them to work constructively with senior leaders, colleagues, students, unions, staff networks and external partners to achieve shared outcomes. They should be confident using data, evidence and critical analysis to inform decision-making; able to exercise sound judgement, tact and diplomacy in complex or sensitive situations; and capable of leading cross-institutional change outside traditional line management structures.

The person will also need a strong record of delivery, experience of managing teams, commitment to continuous professional development, and the ability to translate EDI, wellbeing and culture priorities into practical actions that improve the staff and student experience.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Interviews are expected to take place on the 20th of October.

Further Information

Please contact Imelda Rogers, Deputy Registrar and Executive Divisional Director HR, Culture and Assurance at [e-mail]

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Why our colleagues love working here

• Flexible working opportunities and leading parental leave initiatives
• Generous annual leave (39-41 days including bank holidays)
• Competitive pension contributions
• A genuine dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of all colleagues – see initiatives here
• Sustainability and the environment being at the heart of what we do