Transformation Project Consultant

£69,947 to £87,434 per annum pro rata (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £100,549 per annum pro rata).

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 are undertaking a significant programme of academic transformation in response to national policy reform, regulatory change, labour‑market challenge and evolving learner expectations. Central to this work is the staged implementation of Block Delivery, underpinned by research‑led and industry‑integrated curricula, alongside the development of innovative, civic‑facing models that enhance graduate outcomes, workforce wellbeing and community impact. This role provides senior academic project leadership to support the rollout of Block Delivery at Level 7 and the preparation for future implementation at undergraduate level, ensuring consistency, academic rigour and effective governance during a period of major curricula change. The postholder will bring academic credibility and validation expertise to programme teams, supporting delivery at pace while safeguarding standards, reputation and regulatory compliance.

In parallel, the role provides strategic academic leadership to the development of the Work Health Hub and Health Bus Derbyshire strategies and activity, positioning these initiatives within a coherent Human Sustainability agenda that connects workplace wellbeing, civic engagement, applied education and research.

This is a 12‑month fixed‑term contract, 22.5 hours per week.

We are seeking an accomplished and strategic academic leader with significant experience of senior leadership within higher education and a strong track record of delivering academic excellence. You will bring extensive expertise in postgraduate curriculum design, validation, quality assurance and enhancement, alongside a deep understanding of academic governance and the regulatory landscape.

With a relevant doctoral qualification (or equivalent professional experience at a senior leadership level), you will have successfully led complex institutional initiatives, chaired academic governance and validation activities, and influenced change across academic and professional service teams.

An exceptional communicator and relationship builder, you will possess the credibility to engage and influence senior academic stakeholders, professional bodies and regulatory partners. You will combine sound judgement, strong analytical skills and a collaborative leadership style to manage complex challenges, identify and mitigate risk, and deliver strategic outcomes at pace while maintaining academic integrity and coherence.

• Provide academic leadership for the rollout of Block Delivery at Level 7 and beyond, in line with Academic Board decisions and institutional priorities.
• Provide academic consistency and assurance through leadership critical to programme viability, improved recruitment, regulatory compliance and readiness for future funding models, including the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
• Socialisation of the Block Delivery project with Programme Leaders, ensuring shared understanding of the pedagogic rationale, evidence base, expectations and risks specifically associated with postgraduate provision.
• Operationalising programme development, including clarifying what is meant by industry integration within curricula design, supporting Programme Teams to embed agreed design principles, sharing and promoting examples of best practice.
• Working with the Centre for Quality Assurance (CQA) to streamline and manage the volume and timing of development, modification and approval activity and enable risk‑based, light‑touch and fast‑track approval routes where appropriate, while maintaining academic standards.
• Supporting the management of deadlines through CPPG, APAG and related processes, including paperwork submission and validation readiness.
• Chairing validation and approval events, ensuring consistent, proportionate and constructive academic scrutiny, clear articulation of recommendations and conditions and timely sign‑off and closure of actions.
• Evaluation of lessons learned from the rollout at Level 7 to inform refinement of the model and support subsequent rollout to undergraduate programmes.
• Attendance at relevant governance committees and production of clear, evidence‑based reports to inform institutional decision‑making.
• Ensure Level 7 provision reflects the University’s ambition for research‑led, industry‑integrated curricula and improved graduate outcomes.
• Support Programme Teams to embed agreed Industry Integration Baselines, including industry days, co‑delivered teaching, assessed live briefs and structured networking activity.
• Promote a consistent understanding of industry integration and how it is assured through programme design and validation.
• Support alignment with Develop@Derby skills mapping and Personal Development & Growth activity.
• Contributing academic leadership to emerging peer‑review and enhancement processes for industry‑integrated provision.
• Support alignment of the Work Health Hub and Health Bus with the University’s academic themes, applied research strengths and executive education offer.
• Support the development of income‑generating opportunities and institutional profile raising.
• Support the Health Bus as a platform for interprofessional student learning and placement activity, applied research, evaluation and REF impact, civic engagement and regional partnerships.
• Support alignment between the Health Bus, the Work Health Hub and longer‑term ambitions for a Centre for Human Sustainability, mapping how existing researchers and research activity could align.
• Relevant Doctoral Qualification (or equivalent qualifications) or comparable knowledge gained through professional experience commensurate with a senior leadership role.

Experience

• Significant experience of senior academic leadership within higher education.
• Substantial experience of curriculum design, validation and academic quality assurance, particularly for complex or large‑scale provision.
• Proven experience of chairing academic panels, validation events or governance forums.
• Experience of leading or contributing to strategically important institutional projects.
• Experience of working effectively across academic and professional services through influence.
• Experience of operating within complex policy, regulatory and governance environments.

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Advanced understanding of postgraduate curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment and student engagement.
• Strong knowledge of academic governance, quality assurance and enhancement processes including with professional, statutory & regulatory bodies.
• Ability to translate high level policy and Academic Board intent into effective academic practice.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with credibility among senior academic stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and evaluative skills, including the ability to identify risk and exercise sound judgement aligned to risk appetite in ambiguous contexts.
• Ability to lead complex work at pace while maintaining academic standards and coherence.

Business requirements

• Willingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends).
• 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 Professor Neil Fowler, Provost - Learning and Teaching via N.Fowler@derby.ac.uk.

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).

If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less than the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

• Your job is on the Immigration Salary List.
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training.
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job.
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title ‘Mx’. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

We are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.