Digital Product Director – UAL Online

The opportunity

Digital and Technology provide a strategic and transformational University-wide approach to designing and delivering services to enable learning and teaching, research, innovation, with a focus on continuously improving the student and staff experiences. 

The purpose of the role is:

• To provide strategic leadership for the UAL Online portfolio within Digital and Technology, aligning work and outputs to the University’s strategy and goals.
• To collaborate closely with the PVC Online and their team, and other relevant UAL teams, to ensure effective delivery against the UAL Online timeline and priorities.
• To provide strategic leadership for the design, delivery and operations of the UAL Online portfolio.
• To develop the collaborative strategic partnerships and governance required to shape and agree service strategies and roadmaps which deliver measurable value for our students, academics and professional staff.
• To develop a high-functioning multi-disciplinary design and delivery framework, including where necessary new teams and ways of working, for the services in the portfolio; supporting the continuous development of services, delivering change and creating opportunities for innovation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Digital and Technology Senior Leadership Team to deliver against the University’s digital priorities and the continuous development of a high-performing Digital and Technology Group, ensuring effective ways of working across all teams to deliver against the strategy and drive change.
• Advise the Chief Digital Officer on the strategic direction of and implications for our relevant systems, digital technologies and staff capabilities against UAL strategic plans.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the teams responsible for the Student Experience portfolio within Digital & Technology - and provide thought leadership to UAL’s Executive Board as required.

About you

Specialist Knowledge/ Qualifications:

• Awareness and understanding of the provision of digital student experience in Creative Arts Higher Education.
• Proven ability to lead teams through change and transformation initiatives.
• Knowledge of effective development delivery practices in digital environments.
• Track record of developing a strong performance and customer service culture within a technical organisation.
• Thorough understanding of the digital market place and trends within it, as well as the ability to build strategic relationships with industry bodies, vendors and analysts to learn and influence.

Relevant experience:

• Experience of managing change effectively.
• Evidence of successful partnership working with a broad range of stakeholders across an institution and with external peers.
• Proven leadership experience and collaborative approach to operate effectively with peers.
• Extensive senior leadership and a proven track record in strategic planning and delivery of digital and technology projects and services.
• Proven experience of managing large budgets and ensuring value for money.
• Experience of networking at a national level.

If you have any queries about this role or need any reasonable adjustments for your application, please contact Zele Akhilele, Resourcing Adviser via email at DigitalandTechnologystaffrecruitment@arts.ac.uk.

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ at least 31 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.
▪ generous defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS/TPS}.
▪ flexible working and family-friendly policies for improved work-life balance.
▪ 2 days of paid volunteering leave for a UK registered charity.
▪ discounts including TOTUM, gyms, nursery and private healthcare insurance.
▪ continuous learning and development opportunities including free UAL Short Courses.
▪ season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, free counselling via EAP and more! 

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. We are a collegiate University spread across London with six Colleges, four Institutes and five Research Centres. UAL also has two subsidiary companies, delivering specialist activities – UAL Short Courses Ltd, and UAL Arts Temps Ltd.

We’re made up of all types of people, coming together in London, the world’s creative capital. We are designers, artists, performers, thinkers, researchers and makers. Our students, staff and graduates form a global network of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. Together, our ideas change the world. Because the world needs creativity.

We are ranked highly across the board. We are ranked first for specialist art and design, second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Rankings (for the fifth year in a row), ranked fifth in sustainability and two of our colleges were rated in the top three fashion schools in the world. 

Our culture

We have become one of the world’s most international Universities, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. And, as a global university, staff and students learn from different cultures and perspectives, which leads to new conversations and innovative work. At our very core, everything we do seeks to challenge the status quo by driving social purpose and standing up for what matters.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds including those who may feel underrepresented in the workforce due to their socioeconomic circumstances such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.) backgrounds. We aim to be a university where everyone can be themselves and are supported to reach their full potential.

With our commitment to inclusion and diversity, we are proud to be a Race Equality Charter (REC) member to help us reduce barriers that negatively impacts B.A.M.E. staff, a Stonewall Diversity Champion to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are valued at work, a Disability Confident Scheme Committed employer and member of the Business Disability Forum which help us to improve the lives of disabled people in the workplace.