Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer

Lancaster University; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancaster University seeks a Registrar, Secretary, and Chief Operating Officer to join its Executive Board. This strategic leader will manage services to support academic ambitions and ensure governance compliance. The role requires excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder relationship skills.

Qualifications

• Strategic leader capable of inspiring high-performing teams.
• Excellent judgment and stakeholder relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic plans for the university's future.
• Manage professional services and oversee governance compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Emotional Intelligence

Commercial Acumen

Job description

Lancaster University - Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer (RSCOO)

Lancaster University is a leading global research institution rooted in its local community. It is modern and forward-thinking, consistently ranking among the top UK universities, the top 150 globally, and excelling in various objective measures. Our ambition is to be sustainable, academically excellent, and recognized as one of the world's leading universities.

With a turnover of approximately £400m, 3,350 staff, and over 27,000 students—including around 11,600 studying through international campus partnerships—we excel in research, education, and engagement. Our achievements include a research ranking of 21st in REF 2021, strong KEF performance, a TEF Gold rating, and excellent NSS results. Our collegiate system supports a diverse community, nurturing talent and personal growth, with campuses in Lancaster and worldwide attracting brilliant minds to drive positive change.

We are committed to civic engagement, making a positive impact locally, nationally, and globally. Our contributions include supporting over 8,800 jobs and adding an estimated £2bn to the UK economy through initiatives like the Health Innovation Campus and the Eden Project Morecambe.

About the Role

To build on this foundation, we seek a Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer (RSCOO) to join our Executive Board (UEB). Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, the RSCOO will play a key role in developing and executing strategic plans to ensure the university's sustainable future. They will manage professional services to support our academic ambitions and act as Secretary to the Council, overseeing governance and regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will be a strategic leader capable of inspiring high-performing teams, delivering integrated services, and driving change in a complex environment. They will possess excellent judgment, communication skills, emotional intelligence, commercial acumen, and the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships.

Application Details

For further information and application instructions, please visit our website.

Closing date: Wednesday 28th May at 1pm.

Lancaster University is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of the community.