University of Oxford
Director of Focus and Service Improvement
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Director of Focus and Service Improvement
Planning and Council Secretariat
Grade 10: £63,606 – £73,709 with a discretionary range to £80,505 per annum
Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
About the Role
The postholder will provide strategic leadership for the University’s service improvement capabilities, ensuring the University has the expertise to understand, redesign, improve and sustain high-quality professional services. And for the next few years the Focus team will be working closely with the University’s Professional Services Programme – an ambitious 3-year programme of work to strengthen how professional services are organised, led and delivered across the University. The postholder will play a critical role in the Programme, providing expertise and leadership to enable the re-shaping of professional services.
The postholder will ensure that Focus remains the professional hub of continuous improvement expertise and support in the University, supporting a culture of continuous improvement across professional services in a way which supports UAS, divisions and departments to improve local services and realise real benefits.
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The postholder will report to the Director of PACS and be a member of the PACS senior leadership team. They will also have a dotted reporting line to the Director of the Professional Services Programme, and be part of the PSP core programme team. They will lead the Focus team plus external consultancy support.
This is a key role in the University's administration and an ideal opportunity to develop a senior-level career in higher education administration at a time of significant externally and internally driven change.
About You
You will be in possession of a degree or equivalent experience, and be able to demonstrate:
- A proven ability to manage and deliver successful projects, programmes and business change in a complex organisation, including the application of service improvement methodology to design and deliver tangible benefits to quality and productivity
- Expertise in service improvement methodologies and practice
- The ability to create order in complex situations, maintain focus on objectives and drive forward progress at pace
- A strong understanding of continuous improvement and Lean principles and operating practices
- Significant leadership, team and line management experience, with demonstrable skill in both motivating and developing people
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven influencing and negotiation skills
- An ability to work collaboratively and with a wide range of stakeholder groups
- An ability to deal effectively with a wide range of complex issues in a challenging and uncertain environment
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This is a permanent role.
Application Process
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Antony Willott, the Director of Planning and Council Secretariat, at antony.willott@admin.ox.ac.uk.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 15 September
You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application.
Interviews will be held during w/c 28 September 2026.
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