Director of Faculty Operations, Faculty of Medical Sciences & Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Eng

Newcastle University; Newcastle; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in KwaZulu-Natal is seeking two experienced Directors of Faculty Operations, one for the Medical Sciences and one for Science Agriculture and Engineering. This senior role involves strategic leadership and ensuring high-quality support for education and research initiatives. The ideal candidates will have a background in managing complex operations, promoting an inclusive culture, and driving transformation. Competitive benefits and a generous holiday package are offered.

Benefits

Generous holiday package

Pension schemes

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Experienced senior leader with a strong track record of leading complex operations.
• Delivering large-scale change and working in partnership with academic leaders.
• Strategic insight, financial and organizational acumen.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for professional services ensuring exceptional delivery.
• Lead transformation and continuous improvement, including digital innovation.
• Oversee planning, performance, risk, budgets, and workforce strategy.
• Build strong partnerships across the University and represent Faculty.

Skills

Risk Management

Negotiation

Operational management

Smartsheets

Strategic Planning

Team Management

Budgeting

Leadership Experience

Program Development

Supervising Experience

Financial Planning

Job description

Newcastle University is a great place to work with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date : 25 January 2026

Newcastle University is seeking two outstanding values-driven leaders to take up the role of Director of Faculty Operations (DoFO) one within the Faculty of Medical Sciences and one within the Faculty of Science Agriculture and Engineering.

These are pivotal senior roles providing strategic leadership for Professional Services across two of the Universitys three academic faculties and contributing to the delivery of Newcastle Universitys ambitions under Next Generation Newcastle.

The Role

Reporting directly to the respective Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor with a dotted line to the Registrar you will lead and integrate professional services across the Faculty Office Schools and Institutes ensuring high-quality efficient and student-centred support for education research and external engagement.

As a member of the Faculty Executive Board and the Universitys senior Professional Services leadership community you will play a key role in shaping Faculty and University strategy driving transformation and strengthening alignment between Faculty and University-wide services.

The Faculties

Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) is internationally recognised for excellence in medical research education and clinical partnerships with strong links to the NHS and global activity including the Universitys campus in Malaysia (NUMed).

Faculty of Science Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) is a major centre of research and innovation across engineering computing agriculture and the sciences with strong industry partnerships and a focus on addressing global challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Faculty professional services ensuring exceptional service delivery and alignment with University priorities.
• Lead change transformation and continuous improvement including digital innovation.
• Oversee Faculty planning performance risk budgets and workforce strategy.
• Build strong partnerships across the University and represent the Faculty on University-wide committees and initiatives.
• Promote a positive inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive and perform at their best.

You will be an experienced senior leader with a strong track record of leading complex professional services operations delivering large-scale change and working in partnership with academic leaders. You will bring strategic insight financial and organisational acumen and a collaborative values-led leadership style.

You can find more information about the role including the full job description here

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to indicate their preference for either the Faculty of Medical Sciences or the Faculty of Science Agriculture and Engineering within their covering statement. Your covering statement should be no more than 2 A4 sides outlining your experience and how you meet the essential criteria for this opportunity along with your CV.

For an informal conversation please reach out to Colin Campbell Registrar at

Interviews for the opportunity in our Science Agriculture and Engineering Faculty will be held 12 / 13th February 2026

Interviews for the opportunity in our Faculty of Medical Sciences will be held 12 / 13th March 2026

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a GoldAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

Key Skills

• Risk Management
• Negiotiation
• Operational management
• Smartsheets
• Strategic Planning
• Team Management
• Budgeting
• Leadership Experience
• Program Development
• Supervising Experience
• Financial Planning