Executive Director of Libraries and Digital Services

Nottingham Trent University; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Nottingham Trent University seeks an outstanding, service-focused executive leader to unite library and digital technologies services for students, educators, researchers and colleagues. The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and Registrar and drives an integrated portfolio delivering service-led excellence across physical and digital environments.

The Executive Director will shape strategy, engage diverse stakeholders, and lead major transformation to support education, research and

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in higher education.
• Experience delivering large-scale transformation.
• Ability to engage credibly with students, academic colleagues and professional services.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for integrated library and digital services across the university.
• Lead delivery of education, research services, digital systems and infrastructure.
• Drive strategic plan alignment with the university's mission and strategy.

Skills

Senior leadership

Higher education

Strategic planning

Job description

Executive Director of Libraries and Digital Services

Nottingham Trent University

Competitive Salary

Nottingham Trent University is seeking an outstanding, service-focused strategic leader to unite our library and digital technologies services around a common purpose: giving students, educators, researchers and colleagues the information, systems, resources, spaces and support they need to succeed.

The Executive Director, Libraries and Digital Serviceswill provide executive leadership for a newly integrated portfolio spanning user support, innovation, library operations, academic skills, scholarly communications and open access, digital systems and infrastructure and cyber security. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and Registrar, the Executive Director will unite established professional communities to deliver our new University strategy though a shared set of service-led principles, ensuring that physical and digital environments work coherently to support excellent education, research and professional practice.

The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience in higher education, substantial expertise in at least one of the portfolio's core disciplines and the breadth, curiosity and judgement to lead the whole portfolio. They will have a strong record of leading large, complex and multidisciplinary services, delivering major transformation and investment and creating a culture of service excellence, innovation and high performance. The ability to engage credibly with students, academic colleagues and professional services, use data and insight to improve outcomes and navigate competing institutional priorities will be essential.

NTU offers a powerful platform for this work. With five University of the Year awards, Gold status in the Teaching Excellence Framework and 83% of its research activity judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the University has built a strong reputation for innovation, inspirational teaching, outstanding student support and research that addresses pressing global challenges. The University's new five-year strategy creates the opportunity to establish an integrated service that is central to student success, academic quality, outstanding research and institutional effectiveness. The Executive Director will shape inclusive physical and digital learning environments, resilient and secure digital foundations and forward-looking information and academic services, while ensuring that investment delivers clear and measurable value.

This is an opportunity to join a University with a distinctive culture, strong momentum and a clear sense of purpose. Guided by values that emphasise changing lives, being bold and doing the right thing, NTU is looking for an authentic, visible and empowering leader who can unite specialist teams, create the conditions for collaboration and creativity and translate strategic ambition into an excellent experience for students and colleagues.

The closing date for applications is noon, Monday 21 September 2026

NTU prides itself on being an inclusive employer and encourages applications from candidates who represent the diversity of our local communities and wider society.