United Kingdom

Job Description

Posted Tuesday 22 July 2025 at 00:00 | Expires Sunday 31 August 2025 at 23:59

For 30 years Jisc has pioneered digital solutions for UK education and research, transforming how knowledge is created, shared and used.

We are uniquely positioned to protect, promote and lead the sector in digital and data transformation, making a difference to students, communities and society. Together, we are

working to build a better digital future for education and research.

Raise your potential through our culture of lifelong learning. At Jisc, we're all about growth, so embrace new challenges, sharpen your skills and shape a career that excites you.

Salary: From £85,000 per annum (negotiable based on experience) + comprehensive benefits package

Jisc grade:PRS5 (internal use only)

Hours: 35

Reports into: Chief data officer

Working style: Hybrid - A blend of working from home and your nominated hub office. We have hubs located in London, Bristol, Manchester and Oxford.

The role:

We are seeking an exceptional Programme Director to oversee a multi-year initiative introducing in-year student data submissions across the sector. This pivotal role calls for a dynamic individual to lead and shape the direction of the In-Year Data Programme, ensuring its successful delivery, benefits realisation, and effective stakeholder engagement.

The In-Year Data programme is driving a sector-wide shift to more frequent student data submissions moving from a single annual return to a phased model throughout the year empowering providers, regulators, and funders to make timely, data-informed decisions that enhance planning and reduce uncertainty

This high-profile role leads the transformation of UK higher education data. You’ll navigate a complex network of statutory bodies, providers, and suppliers to deliver faster, more accurate data that meets the sector’s evolving needs.

To succeed in this high-impact role, you’ll bring strategic leadership and sector-wide visibility, driving engagement through expert communication and change management. You’ll guide delivery teams, challenge assumptions, and influence decisions to ensure the programme meets stakeholder needs and delivers meaningful benefits for UK higher education.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide strategic leadership to champion the programme’s vision, align objectives with sector needs, and safeguard progress from disruptive changes.
• Take full ownership of the programme’s delivery from trial to implementation and beyond, ensuring it achieves its intended benefits for all stakeholders.
• Report into governance groups with clarity and transparency, ensuring key decisions, risks, and progress are communicated effectively within established frameworks.
• Lead stakeholder management by driving collaboration across statutory bodies, provider groups, and suppliers, balancing competing priorities, resolving complexities, and building consensus across the sector.
• Provide financial oversight by managing the programme budget, guiding investment decisions with governance boards, and ensuring the programme delivers value for money.

What we are looking for:

• Senior leadership experience as a Programme Director, with a strong track record of delivering large-scale, complex, multi-year transformation programmes across sectors involving major financial investment and coordination with multiple external organisations.
• Demonstrated capability to lead intricate programmes in dynamic, multi-stakeholder settings, balancing competing priorities and demands, ideally within public, education, or data sectors, while consistently exercising director-level judgement, strategic decision-making, and influential leadership.
• Exceptional leadership, strategic influencing, and interpersonal acumen, skilled in building consensus, championing visionary goals, and nurturing high-level stakeholder relationships.
• Proven experience driving complex data and regulatory programmes through blended methodologies, combining agile delivery with robust governance structures to ensure strategic alignment and compliance.
• Visionary and strategic thinker with the ability to shape long-term direction and drive transformative change.
• Holds MSP or equivalent programme/project management qualification or demonstrates comparable experience.

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they think they can’t tick every box, so we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements, but if you feel this role is perfect for you. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!

Specific patterns for working in the office are not mandated, and the frequency of time worked in the office is agreed with your manager. Meeting in person is something we value, so you may need to travel on occasion to any of our hub offices.

Why work for us?

At Jisc, every role is meaningful, and every individual is valued. We foster a culture of continuous learning and personal growth, offering opportunities to develop new skills and make a real impact in education and research. With a strong focus on work-life balance, we embrace flexible working that prioritises outcomes over hours, empowering you to create a rhythm that energises both your professional and personal life.

Jisc’s culture is powered by our four guiding principles: putting customers first, driving innovation, creating impact, and championing inclusive collaboration to deliver sustainable outcomes and shape a better future.

Discover the amazing benefits we provide! Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Flexible work pattern, which can adapt to suit your schedules and personal commitments
• 31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) that includes three closure days over Christmas
• Buy up to an additional 5 days leave during the flexible benefits window
• A range of wellbeing lifestyle benefits including company paid health care cash plan, mental health first aiders and support
• A company culture of continuous learning with access to thousands of LinkedIn Learning courses, and lots of resources and opportunities to support your development
• Allocated allowance of up to £250 to equip your home office
• Financial well-being support including access to preferential loan and savings plans, mortgage advice, will writing tools and support and resources to help you make the most of your money
• A wide range of discounts and cashback from retailers and big-name high-street stores
• Family friendly policies including enhanced parental, maternity and paternity and co-parental leave as well as opportunity for career breaks
• Support your volunteering with up to 3 days volunteer leave

Equity, diversity and inclusion:

Jisc believe our people make all the difference in cultivating an inclusive culture that welcomes ideas, encourages innovation, and values belonging.

We work hard to create an equitable experience for our candidates and workforce which embraces all aspects of their identity including race and ethnicity, religion and belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, trans identities, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, or veteran status.

Application process:

Please let us know how we can best accommodate you throughout the recruitment process. We’re committed to making our process accessible and comfortable for everyone - just tell us what works best for you.

Just so you know, we review CVs as soon as we can and aim to provide an update on your application within 4 weeks of receiving it. However, you may hear from us a lot sooner, so please keep an eye out for our emails or calls!

We’re really looking forward to getting to know the real you. While we encourage the use of AI tools to help you get started on your CV or cover letter, we encourage you to review your application before submitting. Make sure it truly reflects your own voice, experiences, and personality.

If you are currently a Jisc employee, please apply through your Dayforce Employee profile.

We have a thorough background screening process that verifies the details you share with us in your CV and your application. Any inaccurate information supplied during the application stages can lead to a job offer being withdrawn.

Sponsorship:

Jisc has an active sponsor licence to recruit on a Skilled worker visa basis. Candidates wishing to apply who require sponsorship should determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevantHome Office criteria. Jisc does not offer any financial re-imbursement towards the applicant costs, such as re-location, skilled worker visa and dependant costs or the immigration health charge.