Director of Academic Operations

Corehr; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Liverpool is seeking a Director of Academic Operations to lead teams delivering student records administration, exams and timetabling, student conduct, complaints, and UKVI compliance. The role sits within the SEE Directorate and requires strategic leadership across education policy and administration.

You will drive initiatives to improve the student experience, embed inclusive, digitally enabled practices, and work with senior leaders including the COO and Pro-Vice-Chancellors to

Qualifications

• Substantial leadership experience in academic administration / operations.
• Experience leading change (strategic, cultural, digital).
• Ability to navigate complexity, balance priorities and risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams delivering academic operations and administrative support (student records, exams, timetabling, student conduct, complaints and casework).
• Ensure UKVI compliance and broader compliance across provision.

Skills

Leadership

Academic administration

Strategic planning

Change management

Stakeholder management

Job description

Working at the University of Liverpool allows you to be a part of our future. And we're working towards achieving something special as we move towards our 150th anniversary.

Our ambition to be a Top 100 university can only be realised through the talents, expertise and endeavours of our people. Placing our values at its heart, our vision is to foster an inspirational, welcoming and inclusive culture in which every colleague is valued, respected, and able to thrive and reach their full potential.

As the Director of Academic Operations, you will be responsible for leading teams focused on academic operations and administrative support delivering student records administration, exams and assessments, timetabling, student conduct, complaints and other casework and compliance, and UKVI compliance.

The Director will be a senior leader within the Student Experience and Enhancement (SEE) Directorate and will lead initiatives that inform education organisation and administration policy and strategy, enhance the student learning experience, improve academic outcomes and embed inclusive, digitally enabled practices across our provision. Operating with significant autonomy and strategic visibility, you will work closely with senior leaders including the Chief Operating Officer, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Education, and you will also play a key role in major institutional committees and act as deputy for the Director of SEE when required.

To apply you must have substantial leadership experience in academic administration / operations in at least three of the team areas identified above, and have experience of leading change (strategic, cultural, digital) with an ability to navigate through complexity, manage challenge, balance priorities and risk, and ultimately find solutions.

If this sounds like the role for you then we would love to hear from you.

The first-stage interview process will take place on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and the final interviews will take place on Tuesday 27 October 2026.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.