Head of Learning Delivery and Experience in Oxford

Oxford Saïd Online is an exciting new venture for Oxford Saïd which will build and deliver online programmes across multiple formats, channels, and markets. Tasked with integrating all digital experiences in one place, Oxford Saïd Online will innovate learning experiences over the coming years to offer a comprehensive knowledge tool for practitioners who want to broaden perspectives and make informed choices.

The Head of Learning Delivery and Experience is a key leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering an outstanding learning experience for Oxford Saïd Online's global community of learners. Working closely with faculty, Head Tutors, Tutors and programme teams, the postholder will ensure the effective delivery of high-quality academic content and live learning experiences that promote engagement, intellectual curiosity and meaningful discussion.

The role will also lead the student success function, overseeing a team of participant-facing professionals and ensuring learners receive personalised, proactive support throughout their learning journey. Using data and insights to inform decision-making, the Head of Learning Delivery and Experience will drive continuous improvement in learner engagement, satisfaction and retention, while fostering an inclusive and vibrant virtual learning community.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Student Success and Academic Success functions, setting clear priorities and objectives that align with Oxford Saïd Online’s strategy and ensuring the teams understand how their work contributes to wider organisational goals.
• Lead, develop and inspire high-performing teams, creating an inclusive and collaborative working environment through effective performance management, coaching, feedback and professional development, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Shape and deliver the student experience and academic success strategy, developing a clear roadmap to enhance learner engagement, retention, satisfaction and academic outcomes across Oxford Saïd Online programmes.
• Use data and insight to drive decision-making, establishing effective measures of participant success, identifying trends and opportunities, and translating insights into targeted interventions and improvements to the learner experience.
• Oversee academic delivery and engagement, including resource and succession planning for Head Tutors, Tutors and faculty; recruitment, contracting, onboarding, training and scheduling of tutors; delivery of live academic sessions; and oversight of assignment marking, quality assurance and appeals processes.
• Lead resource and operational planning across Student Success and Academic Success, ensuring programmes have the appropriate capacity, capabilities and support to meet current and future learner needs and deliver consistently high standards of service.
• Design, enhance and embed effective processes and ways of working, ensuring student support, academic management and success-tracking activities are efficient, scalable, well documented and compliant with relevant University policies, quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Build strong relationships and collaborate across the School, working closely with faculty and key internal and external stakeholders to anticipate emerging needs, respond to developments in online education and educational technology, and identify opportunities to enhance learning delivery and the participant experience.

The postholder will bring substantial leadership experience across student experience, academic management and online education, with a strong track record of improving learner engagement, retention and academic outcomes. They will be confident using data and insight to inform decisions, leading change and developing effective processes in a dynamic environment. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are essential, alongside experience of educational technologies, VLEs and delivering high-quality, participant-focused services. An understanding of emerging trends in education and student support, with the ability to innovate and build effective operational structures, will also be important.

Ideally, the postholder will also have experience of recruitment and succession planning, an understanding of innovative pedagogy and curriculum design, and experience within the higher education sector, preferable in a commercial environment.

As part of a globally focused team, the role may occasionally require travel and flexibility to work across different time zones.

Undertake other duties as appropriate to the grade and as required e.g. by line manager.

Further information is available in the job description.

You must have the Right to Work within the UK as this position may not amount to enough points under the points-based immigration system in the UK.

At Saïd Business School we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Join us to build a brighter, more equitable future, where we celebrate diversity, advance equity and nurture inclusion across everything we do.

We offer very generous benefits, some of which are:

• Generous holiday allowance of 38 days including bank holidays
• Membership of the Oxford staff pension scheme
• Discounted bus travel
• Subsidised onsite catering
• Plus, many other University benefits