Registrar

Derby; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DBS check

Flexible working

42 days annual leave

Job summary

Derby is seeking an experienced Registrar to provide strategic leadership across Registry and Student Services, ensuring an excellent student lifecycle and compliance with professional standards. The role requires influencing executive decisions and driving service transformation in a complex higher education environment.

The post offers a significant remuneration package, hybrid working with on-site duties, and opportunities to contribute to institutional strategy and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation.
• Experience leading Registry, Academic Services, Student Services or equivalent functions.
• Proven track record of organisational transformation and change programmes.
• Experience operating within regulatory frameworks in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of the student lifecycle from enquiry to graduation.
• Lead governance, assurance and risk management across Registry and Student Services.
• Drive digital transformation, process improvement and service innovation.
• Manage resources and ensure value for money and operational resilience.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance

Change management

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Policy understanding

Education

Postgraduate degree or equivalent

Job description

£96,184 to £120,230 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £138,265 per annum)

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground‑breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Registry sits at the heart of the University, supporting every stage of the student journey from initial enquiry and application through to graduation and award. Working in close partnership with academic and professional service colleagues, Registry teams help to deliver an outstanding student experience through expert leadership of student administration, academic governance, student services, regulatory compliance and student support.

Our teams are committed to service excellence, innovation and continuous improvement, combining professional expertise with research‑informed practice to enhance outcomes for students and the wider University community. We foster a collaborative, inclusive and high‑performing culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity, opportunity and success for all.

This is an exciting time to join the University of Derby as we continue to evolve our services, embrace digital innovation and strengthen our student‑centred approach to support success, belonging and achievement across the student lifecycle.

As Registrar, you will be one of the University's most senior professional leaders, reporting to the Deputy Vice‑Chairman & Deputy CEO and leading a significant portfolio spanning Registry and Student Services.

You will provide strategic leadership across student and academic administration, student services, academic governance, regulatory compliance and student lifecycle management, ensuring the University delivers an outstanding, inclusive and high‑quality experience for students from recruitment and enrolment through to graduation and progression.

As a member of the University's senior leadership community, you will play a key role in shaping institutional strategy and responding to the opportunities and challenges facing higher education. You will lead the development of future‑focused services, drive digital transformation and service innovation, champion the use of data and insight to inform decision‑making, and ensure the University remains responsive to changing student needs and regulatory requirements.

The role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on student success, wellbeing, inclusion and achievement. You will work closely with academic leaders, professional service directors, students and external stakeholders to deliver services that enable every student to thrive and achieve their full potential.

Upon appointment, this role will require a Fit and Proper Persons check. For more information, please refer to this guidance .

Please note that this vacancy will consist of a two‑stage interview process. Shortlisted candidates should be available for:

• Stage 1: Tuesday 24 th November
• Stage 2: Thursday 3 rd December and Friday 4 th December

We encourage candidates to reserve both dates, as alternative interview dates will not be available.

You will be an experienced and strategic leader with a successful track record of leading complex services within higher education or a similarly regulated environment. You will bring significant experience of leading large‑scale operations, organisational change and high‑performing teams, alongside the credibility to contribute at executive level and influence institutional decision‑making.

You will possess deep expertise in areas such as student administration, academic services, student support, governance, regulatory compliance and the wider student experience agenda. Equally important will be your ability to see the bigger picture, balancing strategic leadership with operational excellence while driving innovation, transformation and continuous improvement.

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about student success and who shares our commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and opportunity for all. You will be an exceptional relationship builder, capable of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries, inspiring teams, and developing strong partnerships that enhance outcomes for students, colleagues and the wider University community.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious and values‑driven leader to shape the future of Registry and Student Services and play a pivotal role in delivering the University's strategic ambitions.

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership for The Registry, ensuring its priorities, services and operations align with the University's strategic objectives and support institutional growth, sustainability, regulatory compliance and student success.
• Develop and deliver a long‑term Registry strategy that promotes academic excellence, operational effectiveness, innovation, regulatory assurance and outstanding student outcomes.
• As a member of the senior leadership team, contribute to the development and delivery of University strategy, policy and organisational priorities, providing expert advice on emerging opportunities, risks and challenges across the higher education sector.
• Act as the University's lead adviser on higher education policy, regulation and professional practice, ensuring the institution can anticipate, respond to and influence changes in the external environment.
• Lead strategic analysis of sector developments, including regulation, funding, student expectations, demographic change, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, lifelong learning and international education, assessing their impact on the University.
• Represent the University within professional networks and sector bodies, enhancing institutional reputation, influencing policy discussions and promoting best practice.
• Lead governance, assurance and risk management arrangements across Registry and Student Services, ensuring effective management of institutional and regulatory risk.
• Build organisational capability through workforce planning, talent development, succession planning and staff engagement, ensuring resilient and sustainable services.
• Lead the management of Registry and Student Services resources, ensuring value for money, operational resilience and contribution to the University's long‑term financial sustainability.
• Ensure effective partnership working across academic and professional service functions to deliver institutional priorities and strategic objectives.

Student Lifecycle & Registry Operations

• Provide strategic oversight of the student lifecycle, ensuring a seamless and student‑centred experience from enquiry and admission through to graduation, employment and progression.
• Ensure the effective delivery, benchmarking and innovation of core Registry functions, including admissions, enrolment, student records, timetabling, attendance monitoring, assessment administration, awards and graduation.
• Provide strategic leadership for academic governance and student administration frameworks that support academic quality, standards, regulatory compliance (inter alia OfS, UKVI, HESA, CMA, EDI, GDPR and Ofsted) and effective decision‑making.
• Lead the development of a future‑focused Registry operating model, driving service transformation through process improvement, digital innovation, automation, artificial intelligence and sector‑leading practice.
• Sponsor major institutional projects relating to student systems, service enhancement, organisational effectiveness and digital transformation.

Strategic Data, Information & Insight

• Ensure the integrity, security and effective management of student records, institutional data assets and statutory returns.
• Act as the institutional custodian for student record systems and associated data governance frameworks, ensuring compliance, accountability and effective stewardship of student information.
• Promote the strategic use of data, analytics and business intelligence to support and identify opportunities for planning, performance monitoring, risk management and evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Develop an organisational culture that values data‑informed decision‑making and continuous improvement across the student lifecycle.

Student Experience, Wellbeing and Success

• Lead institution‑wide initiatives to improve student continuation, completion, attainment, employability, engagement and satisfaction through evidence‑informed approaches.
• Promote an integrated approach to student wellbeing, safeguarding, disability support, inclusion and student success, fostering a culture of safety, belonging and effective support.
• Champion access, participation, equality, diversity, inclusion and social mobility initiatives that enable all students to achieve their potential.
• Lead the University's approach to student casework, ensuring concerns, complaints, misconduct, fitness to study and welfare matters are managed fairly, consistently and in accordance with policy and legislation.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full list of Principal Accountabilities.

• Educated to postgraduate degree level or equivalent qualification and professional experience
• Evidence of substantial continuing professional development relevant to higher education leadership, academic administration, governance, regulation, student services or organisational leadership
• Leadership and management qualification, or equivalent senior leadership experience

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex organisation, with responsibility for strategic planning, organisational performance, service delivery and resource management, including contribution to institutional strategy, policy development and executive‑level decision‑making
• Substantial experience leading Registry, Academic Services, Student Administration, Student Services or equivalent functions, with responsibility for services across the student lifecycle including student administration, support, success and academic services
• Proven track record of leading organisational transformation, digital innovation, service redesign and major change programmes
• Experience operating within complex governance, regulatory and compliance frameworks and leading responses to regulatory change
• Experience leading and developing large, high‑performing teams and organisational capability, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion and continuous improvement
• Experience managing significant budgets, resources and operational risk to ensure sustainable and effective service delivery
• Strong track record of building productive relationships with senior stakeholders, governing bodies, regulators and external partners
• Experience using data, business intelligence and performance metrics to inform strategy, performance and organisational improvement

Skills, knowledge & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of the higher education regulatory environment and its impact on institutional strategy, governance and operations
• Detailed understanding of academic governance, student administration, quality assurance and student lifecycle management
• Knowledge of student success, retention, progression, employability and the wider student experience agenda
• Understanding of key regulatory requirements, including OfS, UKVI, HESA, SLC, consumer protection, equality and data protection legislation
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and good practice within higher education
• Excellent strategic leadership and planning skills, with the ability to translate institutional priorities into effective delivery
• Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship‑management skills, with credibility at executive, governance and operational levels
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide sound strategic advice
• Ability to lead organisational change, innovation and continuous improvement in a complex environment
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with effective operational oversight
• Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, access, participation and student success
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively

Business requirements

• Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Willingness to provide support at University events e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends)
• Ability to attend meetings and represent the University both internally and externally as required
• Commitment to working flexibly to meet the needs of the role
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Access to employer‑funded Private Health Insurance
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Nadine Broadhurst, HR Business Partner via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail] .

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI ; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).

If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

Your job is on the Immigration Salary List

You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job

You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.