University of Warwick
Associate Director (Online Programme Unit Operations) (112001-0826)
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About The Role
Informal Queries
For informal queries about the role, please contact Sam Hardy (Director of Flexible & Online Learning Division) at Samuel.A.Hardy@warwick.ac.uk.
The Associate Director (Online Programme Unit Operations) is a senior leadership role responsible for the commercial and operational delivery of the University's online education portfolio. Leading the Online Programme Unit, the postholder will drive sustainable growth, revenue performance and operational excellence across the full online student lifecycle, from initial lead generation and recruitment through to student success and graduation. Working closely with academic departments, professional services teams and external delivery partners, the role will ensure a seamless, high-quality student experience while delivering against ambitious financial and strategic objectives. The postholder will provide leadership for a growing multidisciplinary team, oversee supplier performance and partnership management, and play a key role in shaping and implementing the University's online education operating model, ensuring it is scalable, financially sustainable, data-informed and aligned with institutional priorities.
About You
You are a commercially minded and operationally focused leader with a proven track record of delivering growth, performance and service excellence within complex organisations. You will bring substantial experience of leading large-scale online, digital or education-related services, with responsibility for strategy implementation, operational delivery, financial performance and organisational change. Comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving environment, you are able to turn strategic ambitions into practical, scalable operating models that deliver measurable outcomes.
You will be an exceptional relationship builder, able to establish credibility and influence with senior academic leaders, professional services colleagues and external partners. With strong commercial awareness and a data-driven approach to decision making, you will have experience managing budgets, driving revenue growth, overseeing supplier performance and delivering against challenging KPIs. You will be passionate about creating outstanding user experiences, leading high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and collaboration. Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to help shape and scale a strategically important area of the University's future education portfolio.
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For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.
About The Department
The Flexible and Online Learning Division is at the forefront of Warwick's ambition to expand access to world-class education through innovative online learning. Within the Division, the newly established Online Programme Unit (OPU) operates as a strategic and operational hub for the University's growing online portfolio, initially focused on postgraduate taught programmes.
As a brand-new unit, the OPU offers a rare opportunity to help shape its direction, culture and ways of working from the outset. The Unit provides strategic leadership and governance for Warwick's online programme portfolio, ensuring that academic quality, market demand, financial sustainability and institutional priorities are aligned. It also coordinates the development, delivery and performance of online programmes, bringing together academic departments, professional services and external partners to create an outstanding student experience.
Working at the centre of a major institutional growth initiative, the OPU collaborates closely with colleagues across Faculties, Central Finance, Education Operations, IDG and other professional services teams. Joining the OPU means becoming part of an ambitious, collaborative and forward-thinking environment that is shaping the future of online education at Warwick and extending the University's global reach and impact.
About The University
We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK.* Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.**
Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/.
*World University Ranking 2026, Complete University Guide 2026
**Research Excellence Framework 2021
How to Apply
Closing Deadline: Sunday 16 August 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)*
To apply, please click APPLY below and submit an application form by the closing deadline.
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You will be asked to include a CV and Cover Letter. These documents should:
- Outline employment and education history (including your most recent employment).
- Demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the Job Description using clear examples.
Please ensure your application clearly evidences the essential criteria, as the hiring panel may not be able to shortlist your application if these are not demonstrated.**
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Start Date: To be confirmed
Applications must be submitted through the warwick-careers.tal.net portal before the closing deadline. We recommend completing your application form in good time, as the advert will automatically close at the deadline.
You are welcome to include any career breaks, such as parental leave, caring responsibilities, or long-term sickness absence. For guidance on how to format a cover letter, see here.
What we Offer
We Provide a Comprehensive Range Of Benefits, Including
- An attractive pension scheme.
- 30 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
- Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
- Onsite childcare facilities.
- Excellent learning and development opportunities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements.
Where possible, we offer hybrid working arrangements that combine office-based and remote working. Opportunities for hybrid working will depend on the requirements of the role, business needs of the department and can be discussed during the recruitment process.
For more information, see here.
We are proud to be a Living Wage employer.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
To find out more about our commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please see: Our Commitments | University of Warwick
Job Description
JD - Associate Director (Online Programme Unit Operations) (112001).pdf – 93KB Opens in a new window
Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
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