UCL is one of the world’s leading universities; globally influential, research-intensive, and committed to making a positive impact on society. We are driven by excellence, innovation, and a shared ambition to create an environment where our staff and students can thrive.
We are seeking an exceptional leader to join UCL as Executive Director of Faculty Operations. This is a pivotal, high-impact role at the heart of our institution, shaping how our faculties operate and ensuring professional services are aligned, efficient, and future-focused.
Working closely with the Vice President Operations and partnering with the Vice Provost (Faculties), you will lead a community of Faculty Directors of Operations, driving operational excellence and delivering services that enable world-class teaching, research, and student experience.
About the role
- Provide strategic leadership across faculty operations, ensuring services are consistent, efficient and user-focused
- Lead and develop Faculty Directors of Operations, fostering a high-performing and collaborative community
- Partner with senior academic and professional services leaders to deliver operational excellence and transformation
- Champion digital enablement, simplification, and continuous improvement across faculties
- Establish and monitor performance frameworks, ensuring accountability and transparency
- Drive a culture of inclusion, collaboration and shared professional identity
- Lead planning, risk management, and business assurance for faculty operations
- Represent the faculty professional services voice in institutional decision-making
About you
You will be a strategic and inclusive leader with a strong track record of delivering in complex organisations. You will bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience in a large, complex and fast-paced environment
- Proven ability to lead transformation, drive performance and deliver results
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at the most senior levels
- Experience of programme and project management
- Exceptional communication, organisational and analytical skills
- The ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and lead through change
- A commitment to inclusion, collaboration and values-led leadership
An understanding of the higher education sector and UCL’s mission would be advantageous.
What we offer
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of faculty operations at one of the world’s top universities. You will play a key role in delivering UCL’s strategic ambitions while working alongside outstanding colleagues in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan and expenses
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
Salary for this role is £125,000 – £155,000 Appointment will depend on experience.
This role meets the requirements for a Skilled Worker certificate of sponsorship or Global Talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa
This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 40% on site.
UCL Terms and Conditions of Service: Research and Professional Services Staff
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent.
We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
- Closing date: 12th April 2026 at 23:59 GMT (applications may close early if volumes are high, so early submission is recommended).
- Interviews scheduled for: 27th May 2026
- Job description and person specification available at the bottom of the advert.
- Queries about the role: contact
- Queries about the process, accessibility, or reasonable adjustments: contact
- Find out about the UCL Ways of Working: www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working.
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