Director of Online Education and Associate Dean for Taught Students

The University of Exeter is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of top UK research universities, having been ranked 137th in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, and 13th in the UK, in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. We have around 30,000 students from more than 150 countries, and are proud that in the National Student Survey 2022, we were ranked first amongst Russell Group universities for overall student satisfaction.

Exeter is undergoing significant change over the coming years, underpinned and driven by digital transformation. We have already seen how the COVID-19 pandemic has created seismic change across all sectors and we can expect this pace of change to continue. Universities and global education and research will no doubt be at the forefront of this change, but to ensure that we lead from the front and grasp the exciting opportunities on offer now and into the future, we must ensure that we have the insights, leadership and capabilities within our university.

The University of Exeter is committed to delivering world-class education and extending that offering to students studying online is a major commitment in our 2030 Strategy. The University aims to establish a Centre for Online Education and has made significant investment to support its activity. We are seeking a dynamic, experienced leader to establish this Centre and set its strategic direction, and turn our aspirations for online education into reality.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) responsible for Education and Student Experience, you will be responsible for the academic leadership and management of our Online Education portfolio, and the achievement of its ambitious targets. Through this strategic investment, you will lead a portfolio of work that aims to create an online learning experience that complements the excellent education that students can expect at our physical campuses, and create a bespoke student journey and experience that will set the bar for other universities to aspire to. You will lead on the scaling up of fully online degree programmes, and on the development of micro-credentials and short courses for professional and lifelong learners. You will also lead on potential partnership opportunities, including existing relationships, for example with the University of Queensland under the QUEX partnership, and establishing new partnerships with leading universities or online education providers to facilitate our vision.

Strong candidates for this position will have comprehensive experience of developing and delivering online education, substantial leadership experience, a proven track record of innovation and excellence in the space of online delivery, and a passion and commitment for enhancing research-based student education and experience.

How to Apply

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, please contact our search advisor, Alex Albone, at Berwick Partners (an Odgers Berndtson company) via alex.albone@berwickpartners.co.uk. Further information, including a candidate brochure, can be found at www.berwickpartners.co.uk/88295.

Applications should consist of a curriculum vitae detailing relevant qualifications and experience, full employment history and achievements. CVs should be accompanied by a covering letter describing briefly how you feel you meet the criteria outlined in the Job Specification, your achievements, why the appointment is of interest, and what you’d like to achieve in the role.

Initial interviews with Berwick Partner will take place in the week commencing 19th June. Stakeholder meetings with shortlisted candidates will take place online in early July, and final client interviews will be held on Wednesday 26th July in person.

Closing Date: Sunday 11th June 23:59 BST