Chief Student Experience Officer

Buckinghamshire New University

Hours per week: 37

The Future of Student Experience Starts Here

At BNU, we don’t do “ordinary.” We don’t do “business as usual.”

We’re here to change lives – not just award degrees – and we want you to help us rewrite what a truly exceptional student experience looks like.

We are seeking a game-changing leader to take our student experience to the next level – to create a seamless, inclusive, and extraordinary journey for every student, from their very first enquiry to long after they graduate.

This is not a traditional university role. This is about reimagining the student journey with the same creativity and responsiveness that world-class customer service organisations are known for – combining innovation, empathy, and operational excellence to make BNU a place where every student from every community and every personal journey feels supported, valued, and inspired.

If you have the courage to challenge the status quo and the passion to lead meaningful transformation, this is your moment.

The Mission

As our first Chief Student Experience Officer, you will be the senior champion of the student journey – the driving force behind a truly joined-up, responsive, and equitable experience.

You will:

• Deliver a ‘one-stop shop’ experience, connecting every part of the student lifecycle – from admissions and welcome week to wellbeing, careers, and alumni engagement
• Build powerful partnerships with employers and alumni, opening up pathways to graduate success and lifelong opportunities
• Listen first – using the student voice to shape services and decisions across the University
• Lead a values-driven team that places inclusion, wellbeing, and equity at its core
• Oversee student conduct, safeguarding, and risk management with integrity and care
• Collaborate with academic leaders to align student support with academic excellence and external accreditation standards
• Drive transformational change that improves satisfaction, employability, wellbeing, and graduate outcomes
• Take charge of budgets, resources, and staff across a diverse and dynamic portfolio

What Success Looks Like

Your impact will be felt through:

• Higher student satisfaction scores
• Improved employability and graduate outcomes
• Reduced awarding gaps and greater equity across our student population
• A tangible boost in student wellbeing and belonging
• Fewer complaints and faster resolution of student issues

About You

This is a role for a visionary, bold leader – someone ready to think differently and build services that truly make a difference.

You will bring:

• A proven track record of transforming customer or student experience in complex, people-focused organisation
• Significant senior leadership experience, ideally in Higher Education or an adjacent sector, with expertise in at least one key touchpoint of the student journey
• A passion for innovation and technology, including the intelligent use of AI to improve services
• Deep and authentic commitment to equity, intersectional inclusion, wellbeing, and employability
• The ability to listen, empathise, and inspire, turning bold visions into real-world change
• Above all, you will see the student journey as a whole – and have the drive and creativity to make it seamless, supportive, and exceptional

Why BNU?

At BNU, we do things differently. We are forward-thinking and fearless, unafraid to challenge norms and explore new ideas.

As part of our Senior Leadership Team, you will:

• Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, shaping strategy at the very highest level
• Lead a portfolio where your work has immediate, visible impact on thousands of students
• Help build a university culture that is inclusive, dynamic, and truly student-first
• Play a central role in delivering our mission to transform lives through education

This is your opportunity to take everything you know about service excellence, leadership, and innovation, and apply it to something profoundly meaningful.

Chief Student Experience Officer

At BNU our students are at the heart of everything we do. You will be the senior champion of the student journey — from the moment a student applies to join us until long after they graduate.

Success measures:

Student Satisfaction

Reduction in volume of student complaints and issues

Improved employability

Improved graduate outcomes

Reduction in awarding gaps

Improved student wellbeing

You will

• Deliver a ‘one stop shop’ student experience from start to finish — admissions, welcome week, student life, wellbeing, career preparation, and alumni
• Build strong partnerships with employers and alumni to connect students with career pathways and lifelong opportunities
• Listen to students first and ensure their perspectives help shape their BNU journey
• Lead a team that delivers an inclusive and equitable student experience
• Oversee student conduct, safeguarding, and risk management
• Collaborate with academic leadership to align student support with academic excellence and accreditation requirements
• Lead meaningful change to enhance student satisfaction and employability outcomes
• Manage budgets, resources, and staff across the Student Team

About You

• Student first leader with a proven track record of transforming the student/customer experience
• Significant senior leadership in higher education with expert experience in at least one of the student journey touchpoints
• Passionate about a seamless student experience, using AI and focusing on equity, inclusion, wellbeing, and employability – you’ll deliver a responsive and excellent service
• You will challenge, innovate, empathise, and have the ability to turn visions into real-world impact

Join Us – and Shape the Future

If you’re ready to lead bold change and create a student experience that rivals the very best in the world, we want to hear from you.

For an in-depth confidential conversation, please contact our executive search partner, Owen Francis at Alumni Global, via owen.francis@alumniglobal.com

For further information please click the above “Apply” button.