Purpose
De Montfort University is a university of quality and distinctiveness, distinguished by our life-changing research, dynamic international partnerships, vibrant links with business and our commitment to excellence in learning, teaching and the student experience.
We offer more than 300 courses at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate, many of which offer professional accreditations, and links to industry or work experience. DMU undergraduate and postgraduate courses receive continual input from leading employers and professional bodies and are underpinned by world-leading research. This ensures they remain relevant and up-to-date and provide students with the skills and experience employers expect from candidates in a competitive job market.
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for driving transformation and operational excellence? Do you thrive in complex environments and have a track record of delivering impactful change? If so, we invite you to apply for the role of Director of Effectiveness and Change at De Montfort University.
Main duties and responsibilities
This pivotal role is part of DMU’s Creating Financial Sustainability (CFS) programme, designed to accelerate organisational effectiveness and embed sustainable change across the university. You will lead a high-performing, interdisciplinary ‘tiger team’ to redesign services, policies, and processes that enhance the effectiveness of professional services and improve outcomes for staff, students, and stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead strategic change programmes aligned with institutional priorities.
- Deliver evidence-based business cases and financial/resource analysis.
- Drive operational efficiency and service redesign across professional services.
- Champion investment opportunities that generate income or measurable efficiencies.
- Build influential relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders.
- Establish governance frameworks to ensure accountability and transparency.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, digital agility, and people-focused outcomes.
Ideal Candidate
You will bring:
- Proven experience leading large-scale, complex change programmes.
- Experience leading professional services at Director level
- Strategic thinking and planning skills aligned to institutional goals.
- Expertise in change management methodologies and tools.
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
- Financial acumen including budget management and ROI analysis.
- A collaborative, compassionate, creative, and community-minded approach aligned with DMU’s values.
The role is on a full-time basis, fixed term for 6 months.
Further information about the role can be found here in the Job Description and Person Specification.