Director of People & Culture

The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s largest higher education institutions, and we are renowned globally for the quality of our teaching and research. We encourage enquiry, discovery, and achievement by bringing together academic excellence and an inspirational learning environment. Our ambitions are underpinned by an outstanding community of staff and students, a world-class campus and a strong financial position. The University also plays a key role at the heart of one of the UK’s most economically vibrant and compassionate cities, and takes its economic, social, environmental, and cultural responsibilities very seriously.

Under the leadership of our Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Simone Buitendijk, we have launched our University Strategy 2020-2030: Universal Values, Global Change. A blueprint for a values-driven university, we will harness our expertise in research and education to help shape a better future for humanity, working through collaboration to tackle inequalities, achieve societal impact and drive change in genuinely distinctive and transformational ways.

To achieve this ambition, we must work in an open, collaborative manner, supporting the generation, translation, and adoption of disruptive solutions to real-world problems. We are now seeking a Director of People and Culture to play a critical role in the delivery and impact of the University’s strategic ambitions. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and as a key member of the University’s senior leadership team, the new Director will provide a clear vision and direction that will promote continuous improvement, innovation and agility in service delivery, and a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. They will play a key role in developing a cultural framework to guide practices and behaviours across our staff community and will ensure that the University’s people strategies support the achievement of the University’s distinctive new vision and align with the University’s values.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrable leadership experience in the effective design and implementation of people and organisational development strategies in a large, matrix or complex organisation. They will be an authentic, strategic, collaborative, and resilient leader, with excellent communication skills and high levels of political and cultural awareness. Adept at working with a diverse range of stakeholders, they will have a proven ability to deliver transformational change at pace, working collaboratively to deliver high quality, responsive and user focussed services in a rapidly changing environment. A genuine commitment to the transformative vision and mission of the University will be essential.

For further information, including details of how to apply, please visit www.odgers.com/87535 

Closing date: Monday 3^rd April at 5pm