Associate Director of Faculty Operations and Planning(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

The Opportunity

The University of Sussex is appointing three Associate Directors of Faculty Operations and Planning to provide senior professional services leadership within its academic Faculties.

These roles are central to how Faculties operate and evolve. As an Associate Director, you will act as a strategic and operational partner to the Executive Dean, working closely with the Director of Faculty Professional and Technical Services to ensure that professional services are aligned with academic priorities and capable of responding to increasing complexity across education, research, and engagement activities.

Appointments will be made across the following Faculties:

• Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities
• University of Sussex Business School
• Faculty of Social Sciences

What You’ll Be Responsible For

In this senior leadership role, you will:

• Provide strategic oversight of Faculty professional services, ensuring they are effective, responsive, and aligned with academic needs
• Lead Faculty planning processes, including operational planning, resourcing, and service delivery
• Advise Faculty leadership on investment, workforce, and resource allocation decisions
• Manage Faculty budgets and oversee governance, compliance, and risk management arrangements
• Support the delivery of Faculty and University-level strategic objectives
• Contribute to a University-wide network of Associate Directors, sharing best practice and driving consistency across Faculties
• Your work will support strong institutional governance and accountability, in line with expectations set by the Office for Students (OfS)

How You’ll Work

You will be a visible and trusted leader within your Faculty, working in close partnership with academic leaders and professional services colleagues.

You will also:

• Play an active role in cross-University initiatives and change programmes
• Promote collaborative working and continuous service improvement
• Ensure professional services remain resilient, efficient, and student-focused
• Help shape consistent operating models that support Sussex’s long-term ambitions
• Your leadership will reflect best practice in public-sector management and value-for-money principles, consistent with HM Treasury guidance

About You

This role is suited to an experienced senior professional services leader who is comfortable operating at Faculty and University level.

You will bring:

• Proven experience leading complex professional services functions
• Strong strategic thinking and planning capability
• Confidence advising senior academic leaders on operational and resource matters
• Experience managing budgets, governance processes, and organisational risk
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence across diverse stakeholder groups
• Your approach will align with recognised public-sector leadership standards, such as those promoted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

About Our Faculties

The University of Sussex is organised into four academic Faculties, supported by professional services teams that enable excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and civic engagement.

These teams work closely with academic leadership and central professional divisions to deliver effective operations and positive experiences for students and staff.

The Associate Director roles are critical to ensuring Faculty operations are robust, sustainable, and aligned with Sussex’s strategic priorities, supporting responsible stewardship of public resources as expected by the National Audit Office (NAO)

Why Join the University of Sussex?

• A 150-acre campus set within the South Downs National Park
• Excellent transport links, including Falmer train station and on-campus bus routes
• Strong commitment to flexible working and staff wellbeing
• A values-led, research-intensive international university community
• Competitive pension scheme and comprehensive benefits package
• Our commitment to equality and inclusion is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010
   https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance

Visa and Right to Work Information

All work must be undertaken in the UK.

This role may be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, subject to salary and agreed FTE. The assigned SOC code is 2322 – Education Managers, with a going rate of £43,900.

Applicants are encouraged to review official UK Government guidance
 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Further Information & Support

The University of Sussex values diversity and welcomes applications from all eligible internal candidates.