"Director of Student and Library Services"

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:We are now seeking to appoint a Director of Student and Library Services to play a leading role in the realisation of our collective aims and strategy. This is an exciting time to join ARU and an outstanding opportunity to drive innovation across the institution.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) as a member of the University Executive Team (UET), you will provide strategic and operational leadership for Student and Library Services, delivering an outstanding, inclusive student experience that supports academic success and future employability. You will lead the development and delivery of strategies (including Action & Participation Plan), policies and procedures in partnership with students, the Students’ Union, academic staff and professional services. Leading on the development and delivery of innovative cross University strategies and initiatives to transform and enhance student experience, student satisfaction and student success, with a particular focus on continuation, graduate employability, student equity and wellbeing.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing Student centric initiatives across comparably large scale, diverse and complex portfolios. You will possess excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills, and will be enthusiastic and passionate about delivering student focused services. The role offers a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to play a leading role in the future success of the University and its wider impact across the region.

Deadline for applications is Midnight on Sunday, 22nd February 2026.

Longlist interviews with Dixon Walter will likely take place weeks commencing 2nd March and 9th March 2026.

Formal interviews will take place w/c 30th March 2026, dates to be confirmed.

For further information and details on how to apply please visit the vacancy microsite at: https://www.dixonwalter.co.uk/opportunities/aru-directorofssandlib/ and/or contact Simon Critchley or Alan Walter.

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.