Head of Digital Experience & Product Management

Anglia Ruskin University; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university in Chelmsford is seeking a Head of Digital Experience & Product Management. You will lead a team to enhance digital products, ensuring seamless and engaging experiences for students and staff. The ideal candidate has a strong background in digital product management, excellent stakeholder relationship skills, and a passion for innovation and user-centred design. This role offers a competitive package within an inclusive working environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Occupational pension schemes

Training and development opportunities

Travel to work scheme

Competitive relocation package

Qualifications

• Experience in managing digital platforms and delivering transformational change.
• Strong background in digital product management and user experience.
• Extensive experience in leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and improvement of digital products.
• Oversee a team of product managers and UX professionals.
• Drive digital innovation aligned with strategic priorities.

Skills

Digital product management

User experience

Stakeholder management

CRM systems

Strategic thinking

Education

Higher degree in relevant field

Tools

Enterprise Service Management

Learning Management Systems

Digital platforms

Job description

About ARU

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

About The Role

As Head of Digital Experience & Product Management, you will lead the development and continuous improvement of key digital products across the university, including CRM, Enterprise Service Management, Student Records, Learning Management, and the Digital Experience for students pre- and post-enrolment. You will oversee a team of Product Managers, a UX Lead, and a Designer, ensuring that digital services deliver a seamless and engaging experience for students, staff, and stakeholders.

You will drive digital innovation, ensuring our technology solutions support the university’s strategic priorities. Working closely with IT Services, the Web Team, Marketing, Student Services, and senior stakeholders, you will lead the delivery of product roadmaps, enhancements, and user‑focused improvements. Your leadership will shape the digital experience at ARU, ensuring our systems are accessible, integrated, and aligned with sector‑leading best practices.

We are seeking an experienced digital leader with a strong background in digital product management and user experience. With a higher degree plus demonstrable professional experience for the role, you will have extensive experience in managing digital platforms and leading cross‑functional teams to deliver transformational change. An in‑depth understanding of CRM, student systems, service management, or learning management systems is highly desirable.

With excellent stakeholder management skills, you will be able to build strong relationships across faculties and professional services, ensuring alignment between digital products and university objectives. A strategic thinker, you will be comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple priorities while delivering measurable improvements to digital experiences. A passion for innovation, user‑centred design, and digital transformation will be key to your success in this role.

Informal enquiries can be made to Paul Gallagher, Assistant Director Applications & Digital Development, at [e-mail].

We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short‑listed candidates.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.

Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.

• Job Description (PDF , 865.42kb)
• Candidate Brief (PDF , 2676.91kb)