Executive Career Opportunity with Lancaster University

Welcome to Lancaster University

Director of Human Resources

Thank you for expressing an interest in joining Lancaster University as Director of Human Resources.  This is an exciting time to be joining the University; we have invested £300milion in our estates and infrastructure over the past 5 years behind our aim to become to become a globally recognised “top 100” University.  Despite the economic downturn we are in a position to invest further.

A key part of achieving this goal is ensuring that every aspect of our organisation is fit for purpose and able to respond to market forces and opportunities. Pivotal to achieving our goals has been the decision to reorganise the University’s central support services into seven divisions.  This role has been established as the divisional strategic lead role for Human Resource and Organisational Development.  The other Divisions are:

• Research & Enterprise
• Finance
• Facilities
• ISS – Information Systems Services
• Marketing & External Linkages
• Student Based Services

Each of the seven divisions provides professional services to our students and/or staff, and builds partnerships with our Faculties:

• Lancaster University Management School
• Faculty of Arts & Social Services
• Faculty of Science & Technology
• School of Health & Medicine

Our aim is to provide streamlined professional services, which are highly valued by the University along with highly effective working partnerships with our key customers -whoever they may be.  If we are to achieve our objective of establishing ourselves in the top 100 Universities globally then every aspect of what we do needs to be judged by the highest standards.  Over the next few years in particular we will have to deal with the impact of the economic downturn while preserving and enhancing our capabilities as a University.

This will be a challenging and highly rewarding career move, where you will be able to exploit your leadership and professional expertise.  You have the immediate opportunity to shape our HR, OD and talent management strategies to truly maximise the organisation’s and ultimately student’s capabilities. 

As an organisation, we are of a size that enables you to see the impact of your leadership; we employ 2300 staff based on a single site making access to some of the most eminent academic staff and to the corporate leadership team (along with the wider workforce) almost immediate.  The campus setting, location and resources provide an enviable base from which to work, along with family friendly and recreational facilities.

I am looking forward to making this appointment, completing my new team and to working with the successful candidate to achieve our goals.  I believe that to be successful in the role, you will need to demonstrate clear strategic leadership and influencing skills alongside practical experience gained in a similar role, or equivalent in a large and complex organisation.  This could be within the private, public service or voluntary sectors.  Specific knowledge of the Higher Education sector is NOT essential.

The accompanying literature provides a greater insight to the University and to find out more, or have an informal conversation on how this role may play a part in your career development please contact Simon Potts at Hays Executive on 01925 654312.