Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead student support and wellbeing services, ensuring a positive experience for all students.
- Company: Join Kingston University, a vibrant community focused on inclusion and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 35 days annual leave, discounts, and access to thousands of courses.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on student lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in student support and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 77011 - 77011 £ per year.
This is a full-time position, covering shared parental leave for a period of 12 months. Applicants must be available to start work before August 2026. The starting salary is competitive from £77,011 per annum. The closing date for application is Thursday 30 April 2026 (midnight). Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 12 May 2026.
The Role
As part of the University’s Senior Leadership Group (SLG), you will provide leadership and strategic focus for student support, wellbeing and inclusion services within the Directorate for Students, across the University and externally. You will contribute to the strategic and operational delivery of the University’s long-term vision for student support through a centralised service model, ensuring services are aligned with the Town House Strategy, and incorporate our core institutional values of ambitious, enterprising, inclusive and innovative. You will lead the delivery of specialist ‘second line’ student life, health and wellbeing services to meet identified student needs throughout the student lifecycle. This includes responsibility for disability and mental health support, counselling and wellbeing, sports and active lifestyles, accommodation, financial support, money advice and student inclusion.
You will provide expert advice and guidance on developments in legislation and regulations that impact student life, health and wellbeing services and ensure our provision adapts to these, with a focus on continuous improvement. As an institutional safeguarding lead, you will ensure the development and implementation of the University’s safeguarding policy and procedure and be a point of escalation for student safeguarding and wellbeing concerns.
The Person
The successful candidate will have experience of providing student support services in a university setting, assessing and managing risk, and dealing with a range of scenarios, including audits, safeguarding concerns and crisis situations. Significant leadership and management experience is essential, along with the ability to hold yourself and others accountable. You can anticipate and balance the needs of multiple stakeholders and interpret complex information quickly to solve problems and make reasoned and timely decisions. You will create a positive working environment, with a strong focus on managing, developing and motivating staff and embedding a high-performance culture. You will be a strong communicator with strategic vision and a solution-focused approach, who is able to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to ensure operational and strategic objectives are met to a high standard.
Directorate
The Students Directorate delivers a seamless, high-quality experience for all current and future students to ensure they are “sought after” through supporting their participation, attainment, and success. This in turn creates a culture of high performance that is inclusive, innovative, ambitious and enterprising. Student Services provides the University’s first- and second-line services for students incorporating Course Support and Administration, the Information Centre, Library and Learning Services, Student Engagement and Student Life, Health and Wellbeing. Services are designed to be accessible and inclusive of all students, to ensure they are supported and enabled to fully engage with and succeed in their studies.
Why Join Us
- 35 days annual leave
- Employee Assistance Programme helps with any work-related problems having a wider impact on your life and gives you access to the savings centre
- Discounts on Perks a Work
- Course fee waiver scheme and discounted courses across the University
- Learn new skills with priority access to thousands of courses via LinkedIn Learning
- Season ticket loans up to £10,000 to help you spread the cost of commuting and get the best value for money
We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.
Kingston University values:
- Inclusive: to value the diversity of students and staff, treating them respectfully.
- Innovative: to apply new methods or ideas to facilitate progress.
- Ambitious: to pursue excellence for oneself, the university and our communities.
- Enterprising: to recognise and act on opportunities.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart. Every one of our staff and students’ identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences makes us who we are - so harness and embrace yours by applying today. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required, this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme.
Associate Director of Student Life, Health & Wellbeing in Kingston upon Thames employer: KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Contact Detail:
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director of Student Life, Health & Wellbeing in Kingston upon Thames
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at the university through LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info on the role and help you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the university's values and recent initiatives. We want to see how your experience aligns with their mission, so think of examples that showcase your leadership and strategic vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially around student support and wellbeing. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to build confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows we’re genuinely interested in the role and appreciate the opportunity to interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director of Student Life, Health & Wellbeing in Kingston upon Thames
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in student support services. We want to see how your skills align with our values of being ambitious, inclusive, and innovative.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As an Associate Director, you'll need to demonstrate significant leadership experience. Share examples of how you've managed teams and created a positive working environment in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point while showcasing your strategic vision.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures we receive all your details correctly and helps us process your application smoothly.
How to prepare for a job interview at KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of student support services, especially in areas like mental health and wellbeing. Brush up on current legislation and best practices in safeguarding, as these will likely come up during your interview.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that showcase your leadership experience. Think about times when you’ve successfully managed a team or led a project, particularly in a university setting. Highlight how you motivated others and created a positive working environment.
✨Understand the University’s Values
Familiarise yourself with the University’s core values: ambitious, enterprising, inclusive, and innovative. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with these and how you can contribute to fostering a culture that embodies them.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the institution. Consider asking about the future direction of student wellbeing services or how the University measures success in this area.