Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 12 months from start date
Welsh Language: Not Applicable
Change your career, change lives
The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part‑time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).
About the Role
We are seeking a Director of Skills & Work‑Based Learning, on a 12‑month fixed‑term basis to provide institutional leadership at a pivotal moment in the evolution of skills, workforce development and employer‑led education. This is a high‑profile, strategic leadership role operating at the intersection of skills strategy, sector influence, work‑based learning and transformation delivery. The postholder will play a critical role in shaping the University’s long‑term positioning within the UK skills landscape, ensuring the organisation is not only responsive to change but influencing its direction.
The Director of Skills & Work‑Based Learning will shape the University’s broader strategic positioning in skills, workforce development and employer‑led education. They will position the University as a sector leader in workforce development and employer‑led education, while leading the implementation and embedding of a new institutional model.
Key Responsibilities
Institutional Leadership for Skills & Work‑Based Learning
- Provide strategic leadership for the University’s approach to skills, apprenticeships and work‑based learning.
- Shape and articulate a clear institutional narrative and positioning in relation to workforce development and skills provision.
- Identify future opportunities for growth, innovation and differentiation.
- Own and shape the institutional skills and work‑based learning portfolio.
- Ensure clarity between strategy, investment decisions and impact.
- Balance innovation, quality and financial sustainability across all provision.
- Contribute to broader institutional strategy and business planning as a member of the senior leadership team.
- Leadership responsibility for teams aligned to work‑based learning provision.
External Engagement & Thought Leadership
- Act as a senior external ambassador for the University in skills and work‑based learning.
- Build and maintain relationships with employers, sector bodies, government and partners.
- Contribute to sector debates, policy discussions and thought leadership in skills and workforce development.
- Identify and influence emerging trends, funding models and policy developments.
- Lead complex, cross‑organisational change in a highly matrixed environment.
- Build alignment, momentum and shared ownership across senior stakeholders.
- Address structural, cultural and operational barriers to successful delivery.
Implementation & Embedding of the Work‑Based Learning Model
- Lead the implementation of the newly designed Skills and Work‑Based Learning model across the University.
- Ensure successful embedding across academic, operational and commercial functions.
- Align Faculties, Academic Services and Professional Services around a coherent delivery model.
- Ensure clarity of roles, accountabilities and interfaces across the end‑to‑end learner and employer journey.
Governance, Quality & Regulatory Alignment
- Ensure all approaches align with academic governance, regulatory frameworks and quality standards.
- Work with governance bodies to embed effective oversight and decision‑making structures.
- Balance innovation with compliance and risk management.
About You
You will be an outstanding senior leader with a strong track record of operating at institutional and sector level, capable of shaping strategy, influencing policy and delivering complex transformation.
Knowledge and Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within higher education, skills or work‑based learning environments.
- Strong understanding of apprenticeships and work‑based learning systems, including policy, funding and regulatory frameworks.
- Experience of employer engagement and demand‑led provision, with insight into workforce development needs.
- Experience representing organisations externally at senior level.
- Proven track record of leading large‑scale transformation or implementing complex operating models.
- Experience of working within complex governance structures and regulated environments.
- Ability to align academic, operational and commercial priorities to deliver sustainable outcomes.
Skills
- Executive‑level influencing and stakeholder management.
- Ability to shape strategy while ensuring effective delivery and execution.
- Strong commercial awareness, financial acumen and strategic judgement.
- Strategic thinking with delivery focus.
- Systems leadership across organisational boundaries.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and complexity.
- High levels of credibility, gravitas and emotional intelligence.
- Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
- Resilient, adaptable and outcomes‑focused.
- Strong personal commitment to widening participation and skills development.
What’s in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page.
Work location
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately 1‑2 times per week, with travel to events and partners 2‑3 times per month.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…