Head of Digital Transformation

Regent College London; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Head of Digital Transformation to lead the digital transformation agenda. This role focuses on improving student and staff experiences through effective management of digital platforms, ensuring compliance, and driving strategic change. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and experience in higher education contexts. This position is hybrid, offering flexibility for work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience leading mixed teams across product, delivery, engineering, and data.
• Experience with SIS modernisation and HESA Data Futures returns.
• Relevant professional certifications in service delivery or project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the college digital transformation agenda.
• Own portfolio planning and prioritisation.
• Ensure compliance with sector regulations.

Skills

Leadership of digital transformation

Stakeholder management

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Education

Educated to degree level

Job description

Job title: Head of Digital Transformation School / Function: Technology / Location: Hybrid / Responsible to: Chief Technology Officer / Responsible for: Digital Transformation Team.
Overall purpose: Lead the college digital transformation agenda and deliver measurable improvements to student and staff experience.

Own the roadmap and delivery across student records, teaching and learning platforms, identity and access, integrations, and data. Ensure reliability, security, and compliance for live services. Partner with Registry, Academics, and Operations to deliver outcomes aligned to strategy and budget. The purpose of the role is to lead the organisation‑wide digital transformation at Regent College London. You will set the strategy and direct delivery across core digital platforms, SIS, VLE, CRM, timetabling, identity, integrations, and data. You will work at the intersection of Technology, Registry, Academics, and Operations to ensure systems integrate cleanly and support teaching, student support, and administrative operations. The primary focus is to deliver outcomes for Business as Usual and change.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Progress and deliver the technology strategy and three‑year roadmap with clear KPIs and benefits cases.
• Own portfolio planning, prioritisation, and governance.
• Run a transparent intake and triage process.
• Lead discovery and service design for student and staff journeys.
• Remove waste and handoffs.
• Own core platforms, student records systems, VLE, CRM, identity, timetabling, and data services across their life cycle.
• Chair the Technical Design authority.
• Approve standards for integration, security, data, accessibility, and procurement.
• Build a high‑performing team.
• Set objectives, coach, and develop capability across product, delivery, and CRM engineering.
• Establish reliable release management and change control for live services.
• Ensure compliance with sector regulations.
• Oversee data quality and reporting for obligations such as HESA Data Futures and GDPR.
• Define operating level agreements with Registry, Academics finance and commercial team.
• Clarify ownership across content, delivery, and technology.
• Own vendor management and contracts.
• Negotiate value, service levels, and exit plans.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting and benefits tracking.
• Report progress and risks to the executive.
• Sponsor the data and analytics roadmap.
• Improve self‑service reporting and decision support.
• Drive adoption through training, communications, and targeted change management.
• Lead incident and problem reviews for major issues.
• Ensure prevention actions are completed.
• Champion accessibility and inclusion in all digital services.

Additional duties

• Act as deputy for the CTO when required.
• Work closely with Head of IT operations for joint projects and day‑to‑day escalations.
• Represent the college with vendors and partners.
• Scan sector trends and assess value opportunities for students and staff.
• Contribute to wider operational improvement initiatives.

Person Specification

Essential

• Leadership of digital transformation in education or a complex service environment.
• Delivery of multi‑system change with tracked benefits and outcomes.
• Experience leading mixed teams across product, delivery, engineering, and data.
• Effective stakeholder management with Academics, Registry, Finance and Operations.
• Clear decision making, concise communication, and ownership under pressure.
• People leadership, coaching, and performance management.

Desirable

• Experience with SIS modernisation and HESA Data Futures returns.
• Standing up product management and service design practices.
• Delivery of legacy modernisation and large‑scale integrations.
• Experience delivering analytics and data governance improvements.
• Previous experience in a similar role within a higher education institution.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Proficiency with student information systems in the UK Higher Education sector.
• Comfortable working with technology and coordinating with technical teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Understanding of data management principles and practices.

Desirable

• Experience with SIS modernisation and HESA Data Futures returns.
• Standing up product management and service design practices.
• Delivery of legacy modernisation and large‑scale integrations.
• Experience delivering analytics and data governance improvements.

Education & Professional Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Relevant professional certifications in areas of service delivery, change management, project management.

Compliance Statement

Successful applicants will be required to complete pre‑employment checks, including a criminal records check, two references, ID and Right to Work verification, and education confirmation.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion. Selection for employment is based solely on an individual’s skills, qualifications, and experience relevant to the role.