Interim Director of Digital, Data and AI Strategy

£94,298 to £117,872 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £135,553 per annum).

Hybrid

This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

Digital Solutions & Services are responsible for providing the digital platform to enable the best possible service to staff, students and stakeholders across the University and beyond. We take a collaborative approach to developing strategic goals to provide a diverse range of information technology and business services designed to support learning, teaching and research at the University of Derby.

We ensure that the University's IT capability is fit for purpose, future focused and able to protect, support and enhance the full breadth of services that will be delivered either on campus or digitally online with contributions across the department. We aim to assist students, teaching staff, support departments and collaborative partners to ensure we are making an impact on the University's current and future digital landscape.

The Interim Director of Digital, Data and AI Strategy will lead the development and delivery of the University's digital, data and AI ambitions, enabling transformational change across teaching, learning, student experience and operations. Working at executive level, the role will provide strategic leadership, robust governance and expert advice to ensure digital and AI initiatives deliver measurable value and align with the University's long-term strategy.

Upon appointment, this role will require a Fit and Proper Persons check. For more information, please refer to this guidance.

The anticipated interview date will be Tuesday 12th May

Please note this is a fixed term position for 6 months.

We are looking for a strategically minded digital leader with substantial senior-level experience shaping and delivering digital, data and AI strategies within large, complex organisations. You should bring a strong track record of leading transformational change, building effective partnerships, and evidence of translating vision into clear priorities that improve academic delivery, operational efficiency and staff and student experience.

• Lead the development of a strategy to cover Digital, Data and AI for the University, that is fully aligned to the University's strategic and transformation ambitions, acts as a key enabler to academic delivery, staff and student experience, and University operations.
• Develop a strategy implementation roadmap and investment plan, which blends long term strategic transformation work with targeted tactical changes enabling the delivery of immediate and long-term impact.
• Design a Digital & AI Governance and Measurement Framework to ensure all Digital & AI initiatives are strategically aligned with measured short and long-term impact. Framework to be implemented for AY 2026-27 and beyond.
• Act as strategic advisor to UEB and Leadership colleagues with regards to digital solutions that underpin the University's academic and operational strategies.
• Work alongside existing transformation programmes of activity to input with innovative and creative digital transformation initiatives, particularly aligned to the University's core academic strategies.
• Promote a university-wide culture of continuous innovation with Digital & AI. Support Learning & Development to develop a Digital Skills programme which will enable colleagues develop their skills to safely select, use and propose the right Digital & AI solutions to improve their work experience and efficiency.
• Working in close liaison with the Provost (Learning & Teaching) and Academic Digital Learning Solutions team, support academic colleagues to both deliver a digitally enhanced learning experience on campus and online and to support them with the necessary tools to allow them to develop their students in AI as part of the taught curriculum.
• Oversee and take strategic ownership for the development of innovative ways in which digital technologies can support student learning and broader experience in a student-focused environment.
• Develop and maintain contacts with relevant sector bodies and professional associations, and other HE institutions, to ensure optimal delivery and continual improvement of approach to all elements of strategic planning.
• Lead on the development of strategic relationships, exploring partnership opportunities, with major digital service suppliers e.g. Microsoft.
• Represent the University on relevant external groups and successfully contribute to the broader strategic decision making of the University through activity involvement in relevant groups and committees.
• Proactively contribute to the broader leadership of the University relevant University Committees.

Experience

• A substantial breadth of experience at a leadership level in digital and information strategy development and implementation.
• Substantial experience at a leadership level in:
• Business process improvement initiatives.
• Significant infrastructure development and operation.
• Leading an information services department in a large and complex organisation
• Leading through a period of significant transformation.
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of the operating environment for the University, with a well-defined vision for the University's digital transformation.
• A thorough and demonstrable knowledge and understanding of pedagogical and content development requirements to support innovative teaching and learning delivery.
• Significant and measurable accomplishments in developing innovative service development and customer services initiatives.
• Evidence of a significant and sustained personal track record of success in developing and leading major strategic digital transformation projects. Applicants must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the IT marketplace and the ability to form meaningful partnerships with technology vendors and suppliers.

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Evidence of excellent and effective communication skills appropriate to operating at a strategic level.
• Evidence of the necessary interpersonal skills required to galvanise and lead the staff of the Department along with the skills to cultivate appropriate internal and external networks.
• Proven negotiating and influencing skills, commercial acumen and the ability to represent the University's interests in dealings with technology vendors and suppliers.
• Evidence of the ability to deliver presentations demonstrating passion, enthusiasm and in-depth knowledge of the subject area. Applicants must be able to clearly convey important messages, deliver a vision and fully engage the audience.
• Evidence of being an energetic and dynamic individual with the ability and vision to shape the future direction of the Department.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to provide positive strategic oversight and set and deliver a clear vision for the Department.
• A clear personal enthusiasm and commitment to the University's strategic ambitions and values.
• A detailed understanding of the complex nature of customer demands in an educational setting.
• Significant experience in delivering a complex range of services utilising a range of third-party providers.
• A significant record of success at a senior leadership level of leading key professional services staff and managing financial resources.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Susan Ambler, Chief Financial and Infrastructure Officer via

The University of Derby is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however . click apply for full job details