Associate Director of Operational Transformation in London

Role Summary

The Associate Director of Operational Transformation will lead a structured programme of continuous improvement across Professional Services. The post will identify inefficiency, redesign processes, strengthen operational controls and management information, support digital transformation and develop responsible approaches to the use of AI. The role will ensure that improvement activity is evidence-based, measurable and aligned with LCCA's strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Operational Transformation Strategy
  • Develop and maintain a Professional Services operational improvement roadmap.
  • Translate institutional priorities into measurable transformation initiatives.
  • Prioritise projects according to student impact, risk, efficiency, regulatory importance and organisational capacity.
• Process Improvement and Redesign
  • Map and review key Professional Services processes.
  • Identify duplication, unnecessary manual activity, bottlenecks and single points of failure.
  • Lead process redesign and implementation of agreed improvements.
  • Establish standard operating approaches where consistency is required.
• Digital Transformation
  • Identify opportunities to improve services through technology, automation and better use of existing systems.
  • Work with system owners and stakeholders to improve adoption, integration and data quality.
  • Support implementation of scalable digital solutions that reduce administrative burden and improve student service.
• Responsible AI Adoption
  • Develop practical frameworks for responsible use of AI within Professional Services, subject to College and wider organisational policy.
  • Identify appropriate use cases where AI can improve efficiency, service quality or decision support.
  • Ensure appropriate consideration of data protection, information security, human oversight, transparency and risk.
• Data, Dashboards and Performance
  • Develop clear performance measures for transformation activity.
  • Work with relevant teams to improve management information and reduce unnecessary reliance on disconnected spreadsheets.
  • Support development of dashboards and reporting that enable evidence-based decisions.
  • Identify data-quality issues and coordinate improvement activity.
• Compliance and Assurance
  • Undertake operational assurance reviews and audits within agreed remit.
  • Identify control weaknesses and recommend corrective actions.
  • Work with relevant Directors and Heads to ensure actions are implemented and evidenced.
  • Escalate significant risks where appropriate.
• Change Management
  • Lead structured implementation of approved operational changes.
  • Develop communications, implementation plans, stakeholder engagement and training requirements.
  • Monitor adoption and benefits realisation after implementation.
  • Build a culture in which continuous improvement is part of normal Professional Services practice.
• Governance and Reporting
  • Prepare transformation reports, risk updates and progress papers for relevant governance forums.
  • Maintain a portfolio of improvement projects, dependencies, milestones and benefits.
  • Provide regular updates to the Deputy Managing Director.
• Leadership and Collaboration
  • Work across Professional Services to build improvement capability.
  • Influence colleagues without relying solely on formal authority.
  • Develop constructive relationships with Registry, Student Services, Quality, Admissions, Careers, Student Success, Finance, IT, Estates and other relevant functions.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential: Confident working with digital systems, data, dashboards and emerging technologies; able to assess practical opportunities and risks associated with AI. Excellent analytical, project management, communication, stakeholder engagement and problem-solving skills. Ability to influence across departments, manage competing priorities and deliver change through others. Excellent communication, problem-solving, planning, prioritisation, data interpretation and stakeholder management.

Desirable: Higher education or comparable education-sector experience; recognised improvement/change/project qualification; experience of implementing automation or AI-enabled services.

What we offer

• Competitive salary and pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement and access to flexible working arrangements.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and career progression pathways.
• Employee wellbeing programmes and access to counselling services.

How to apply - application process

Please submit a CV and a supporting statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria and your approach to student success. Applications should be made via our online careers portal by the closing date. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are committed to ensuring our workforce is reflective of our diverse student population, striving to increase the representation of age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic background of our employees.

We’re also committed to providing adjustments to those who may require support with the recruitment process - please contact the LCCA Talent Acquisition Team at collegedivisionrecruitment@gus.global.

Please note: For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.