Assistant Director - Wellbeing & Student Success

The University of Glasgow is seeking an outstanding leader to join Student & Academic Services as Assistant Director - Wellbeing & Student Success.

Reporting to the Director of Student Wellbeing, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the University's Counselling, Wellbeing and Disability Services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-informed support that enhances student success, inclusion, accessibility, retention and wellbeing.

As a senior leader within Student & Academic Services, you will play a key role in shaping strategy and driving continuous improvement across student support services. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, develop innovative approaches to student wellbeing and inclusion, and ensure services remain responsive to the evolving needs of students and the wider higher education sector.

Working collaboratively with senior colleagues across the University and with external partners, you will lead on strategic planning, service development, change management and operational excellence. You will also oversee compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and sector best practice relating to disability, equality, and student support.

We are seeking a highly experienced leader with substantial expertise in mental health, wellbeing, disability, inclusion or student support services. You will have a proven track record of leading complex services, developing and implementing strategy, managing change, and delivering measurable service improvements within a large and complex organisation.

You will possess exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels, build effective partnerships and inspire high-performing teams. Experience of financial management, governance and quality assurance is essential.

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the student experience and help shape the future of wellbeing, inclusion and accessibility at our institution.

Job Purpose

To play a lead role in the successful implementation and delivery of the Student & Academic Services vision, alongside the key strategies that support student success. Annual objectives will fully achieve key University goals and deliver improvements evidenced by internal and external measures. This will extend to making significant contributions to shaping the long-term strategic direction of the University, in partnership with senior academic and professional leaders.

The role reports to the Director of Student Wellbeing and has responsibility to the Executive Director of Student and Academic Services to provide significant leadership to determine and deliver the long-term structure of professional services within S&AS, aligned and contributing to university-level changes as appropriate.

The postholder will have strategic and operational responsibility for the University's Counselling, Wellbeing and Disability Services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-informed services that support student success, inclusion, retention, safety and wellbeing. The post holder will bring significant specialist knowledge and leadership expertise in student mental health, wellbeing, disability inclusion, accessibility, and the wider regulatory and strategic context affecting these areas within higher education.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Working as part of the S&AS Leadership Group, the postholder will make significant contributions to the development and delivery of Directorate priorities and strategies in line with the University's strategic objectives, evidenced by KPI's and targets such as student satisfaction, continuation, student success and return on investment. The role will lead the strategic planning process for Mental Health & Wellbeing and Disability Services and will assume lead responsibility for implementation of significant work streams, partnering on matters across Schools, Colleges and University Services.

2.  Manage and develop the professional, administrative, operational and technical support functions and structures within the areas of responsibility to secure effective delivery of priorities and KPI targets. This includes leadership of multidisciplinary specialist teams delivering mental health, wellbeing, disability and inclusion services. The role will provide significant leadership in resource planning to determine and deliver the long-term structure of professional services within S&AS, aligned to and contributing to University-level changes as appropriate.

3.  Lead horizon scanning for the areas of responsibility and as part of S&AS to future-proof performance sustainability within an increasingly competitive HE environment. This will include monitoring emerging trends, legislation, policy developments and sector expectations relating to student mental health, disability support, accessibility, safeguarding, risk management and student wellbeing. The role will involve regular reporting on potential changes to the operating model and strategic positioning of the areas of responsibility for S&AS Executive consideration.

4.  Lead contributor to the financial planning process for the areas of responsibility and work with the Director of Student Wellbeing to manage and lead financial strategy and operational delivery.

5.  Participate in regular reviews including competitor benchmarking, developing plans to improve performance in key areas of focus, including student experience and student success. This role will also provide leadership to ensure continuous improvement within assigned business areas.

6.  The postholder will work with senior colleagues to develop and manage external partnerships and networks to enhance the University's reputation at local, national and international levels. This will include engagement with relevant professional bodies, NHS partners, third-sector organisations, disability networks and sector agencies involved in advancing student wellbeing and inclusion.

7.  Make a senior contribution to the successful delivery of key change management programmes across the University, driving measurable improvement in key performance areas. This role will also lead assigned change programmes, driving efficiency gains and improving service provision to students.

8.  Ensure effective compliance, as required, with the University's governance framework, sourcing appropriate support from specialist and professional colleagues across the institution. This will include ensuring best practice in relation to all relevant legal, regulatory and sector requirements relating to disability, equality and student support.

9.  Contribute to University-wide process improvement programmes, driving efficiency gains and improving service provision to students and staff, providing SAS leadership aligned with University expectations. The role will be assigned University-wide responsibilities to lead and significantly contribute to improvement programmes.

10.  In partnership with senior colleagues, develop a robust framework to support compliance with relevant accreditation bodies, regulatory requirements and quality assurance processes. This will include external engagement with relevant bodies influencing the future strategy and focus of student wellbeing, mental health and disability provision.

11.  Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as assigned by the Director of Student Wellbeing.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post, having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills through experience in a similar role or a number of different roles.

A2 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Honours Degree, Postgraduate Qualification) or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in a relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a similar management role.

A3 Significant understanding of the challenges affecting student mental health and wellbeing within higher education, and of evidence-informed approaches to prevention, early intervention and support.

A4 Significant knowledge of disability legislation, inclusive practice, reasonable adjustments and the strategic delivery of disability services in a complex organisational environment.

A5 Knowledge of governance and business processes in a large complex organisation.

A6 Broad knowledge of financial management within a budgetary control framework and an understanding of financial planning and business analytics.

Desirable

B1 A relevant professional qualification in mental health, wellbeing, disability, inclusion, student support or a related field.

Skills

Essential

• C1 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, particularly influencing, negotiation and diplomacy.
• C2 Highly effective strategic leadership skills as a business partner.
• C3 Ability to demonstrate resilience and able to maintain momentum in the face of challenges and setbacks.
• C4 Excellent customer service, stakeholder management and business partnering skills.
• C5 Proven ability to develop, deliver and articulate a clear vision and to develop operational plans to support strategic initiatives.
• C6 Excellent ability to empower and motivate others to deliver a high-performance culture in a participative manner.

Experience

E1 Extensive relevant experience in leading service delivery in areas of mental health, wellbeing, disability, inclusion and student support, including service development, strategy, risk management and quality assurance. preferably in a Higher Education setting.

E2 Demonstrable experience of leading multidisciplinary specialist teams with experience of developing strategy and influencing institutional policy and practice to improve inclusion, wellbeing, accessibility and student experience.

E3 Demonstrable and sustained track record of leading successful change projects across a complex organisation, with evidence of transformational impact and business process improvement.

E4 Extensive and recent administrative management or strategic leadership experience in a large complex organisation, working with senior colleagues and stakeholders in the development and implementation of strategic objectives, strategies and major projects.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 9, £59,966 - £67,468 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).  Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit:   https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• 1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
• 2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension , benefits and discount packages.
• 3 A flexible approach to working.
• 4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date:  21st October 2026 at 23:45