Chief Digital Officer

• Defining and delivering the Group's enterprise-wide digital strategy
• The role reports to the Group CEO and sits on the Executive Board.

About Our Client

The University of East London (UEL) is the UK's most socially inclusive university. It is also the University that has delivered both the fastest improvement in graduate employability - meeting and exceeding a large range of more selective institutions - and the greatest growth in active graduate start-ups. Following three consecutive years in the national top 10, in 2026 the University of East London ranked 1st in England for our graduating students' overall positivity. UEL has a furious careers-1st focus to unlock talent across society and create economic and social value that would not otherwise exist. With over 40,000 students from more than 160 nationalities, UEL has a distinctive mission to advance knowledge and transform lives through careers-first education, innovation, enterprise and civic impact. An institution driven by purpose and ambition, the University is entering the next phase of its development through Forward to 2040, building on the success of Vision 2028. This will see UEL develop from a successful London-based university into an increasingly global, digitally enabled education, careers and innovation platform. Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to providing an exceptional, inclusive and future-focused educational experience that prepares graduates to succeed in an evolving global economy. Digital transformation will be central to this ambition. UEL intends to build on its sector-leading progress to harness data, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and digitally enabled operating models to:

• Transform the student and colleague experience.
• Strengthen education and graduate outcomes.
• Accelerate innovation and enterprise.
• Drive revenue growth and diversification.
• Improve organisational productivity and resilience.
• Create new models of careers-led lifelong learning.

The Chief Digital Officer will lead this transformation.

Role Purpose

The University of East London is redefining the purpose of higher education by preparing graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As London's leading careers-first university, we are committed to ensuring every student develops the skills, confidence and networks needed to succeed in the economy of the future while making a positive contribution to society. We are now at a pivotal moment in our institutional journey. Having established a strong track record of performance under Vision 2028 - sector-leading graduate outcomes, a distinctive careers-first proposition and strong financial resilience - the University is now building the foundations of a significantly more ambitious platform: Forward to 2040. Forward to 2040 sets out UEL's intent to evolve from a single London institution into a global, multi-entity group with turnover exceeding £1 billion. The group will span multiple geographies – including established hubs in India, Egypt and the US – and will be built on a modular, marketplace-based education and innovation careers-1st model in which data is both the connective tissue and a primary commercial asset. This inaugural role will become key in the next transformation of this careers-first, innovation-driven institution that is redefining what a modern university can be. We foster a professional, positive, and inclusive work environment built on shared values of Passion, Inclusion, and Courage. Our ambitions are bold, and we're looking to transform the experience of our students, graduates, employer partners and communities. The Chief Digital Officer is a senior executive role responsible for defining and delivering the Group's enterprise-wide digital strategy. The postholder will lead the University's transition into a digitally enabled, data-driven and globally connected institution, ensuring that technology, data and digital capability are aligned with UEL's academic mission, careers-first strategy and Forward to 2040 ambitions. The Chief Digital Officer will have strategic oversight of the development and commercialisation of the digital product portfolio, user experience, digital platforms, data and analytics, artificial intelligence, enterprise architecture, technology-enabled transformation and cyber resilience. Working across academic schools, professional services, subsidiaries and international partnerships, the postholder will develop a coherent digital ecosystem that enables the Group to operate effectively as a global university group, including driving its revenue growth and diversification to and post £1billion. Situated within a high performance, continual improvement culture, the post-holder is accountable for developing, effectively implementing and performing against a bold commercial digital strategy.

Job Description

Key strategic responsibilities

1. Digital Strategy and Institutional Transformation

• Lead the development and delivery of UEL's digital strategy, aligned to the Forward to 2040 vision and careers-first mission.
• Drive institution-wide digital transformation and embed digital thinking across the University.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear digital initiatives, investments, and measurable outcomes.
• Advise the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Board and Governors on digital opportunities, risks, and performance.
• Anticipate emerging technology and market trends to support future growth and innovation.

2. Commercial Partnerships and Innovation

• Develop strategic relationships with technology providers, employers, government, and innovation partners.
• Identify and deliver opportunities for joint products, services, research, and education initiatives.
• Support commercial growth through partnerships, investment, and technology-enabled innovation.
• Represent UEL as a leading voice in digital education, AI, and innovation.

3. Digital Products and Service Innovation

• Establish a product-led approach to digital services and platforms.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver user-focused and outcome-driven solutions.
• Embed agile delivery methods and continuous improvement practices.
• Monitor adoption, benefits realisation, and return on investment.

4. Data, Analytics, and Institutional Intelligence

• Position data as a strategic institutional asset.
• Develop integrated data, analytics, and reporting capabilities.
• Strengthen data governance, quality, accessibility, and accountability.
• Enable evidence-based decision-making through real-time insight and analytics.
• Promote data literacy and responsible data use across the University.

5. Global Digital Platform Development

• Lead the development of scalable digital platforms supporting UEL's global ambitions.
• Ensure consistent systems, services and experiences across campuses and partnerships.
• Enable seamless engagement throughout the student, partner, and alumni lifecycle.
• Support the development of new digital business models and revenue opportunities.

6. Digital Student, Learner, and Customer Experience

• Create a personalised, connected, and high-quality digital experience.
• Improve end-to-end journeys across recruitment, admissions, learning, support, and careers.
• Champion user-centred design and service excellence.
• Measure and continuously improve user satisfaction and engagement.

7. Digital Education and Careers Innovation

• Drive innovation in teaching, learning, assessment and curriculum delivery.
• Support flexible, blended and digitally enabled education models.
• Enhance UEL's careers-first approach through technology-enabled platforms and services.
• Develop new digital learning opportunities, professional education, and employer-led programmes.

8. Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

• Lead UEL's strategy for AI and emerging technologies.
• Promote responsible, ethical, and impactful technology adoption.
• Enhance educational outcomes, operational effectiveness, and decision-making through AI.
• Build institutional capability and confidence in emerging technologies.
• Position UEL as a sector leader in inclusive AI innovation.

9. Enterprise Architecture, Systems, and Integration

• Provide strategic leadership for enterprise architecture and technology integration.
• Simplify and modernise the technology landscape.
• Ensure systems are secure, scalable, interoperable and aligned to University priorities.
• Establish effective governance for technology investment and lifecycle management.

10. Cybersecurity, Resilience and Trust

• Provide executive leadership for cybersecurity and digital resilience.
• Ensure robust protection of systems, services, and data.
• Maintain compliance with legal, regulatory and sector requirements.
• Strengthen organisational preparedness for cyber threats and service disruption.
• Provide clear oversight and reporting of digital and cyber risk.

11. Operating Model, Productivity and Service Transformation

• Drive organisational effectiveness through technology-enabled transformation.
• Simplify processes and improve service quality across academic and professional services.
• Increase productivity through automation, digital tools, and improved ways of working.
• Ensure digital investments deliver measurable benefits and long-term sustainability.

12. Leadership, Culture and Capability

• Contribute fully to the collective leadership of UEL as a member of the University Executive Board.
• Lead a high-performing digital, data and technology function.
• Attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Build digital capability and confidence across the University.
• Champion inclusive transformation and values-led leaders.

The Successful Applicant

Essential experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Substantial executive or senior leadership experience in digital transformation, technology, data or digital product leadership.
• A strong record of leading complex, enterprise-wide transformation within a large and multifaceted organisation.
• Experience of developing and delivering digital strategies linked directly to organisational growth and performance.
• Successful leadership of major technology, data, platform or service-transformation programmes.
• Experience of integrating systems, data and digital services across organisational boundaries.
• A strong understanding of artificial intelligence, automation, analytics and emerging technologies.
• Experience of building high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
• Effective oversight of significant budgets, programmes and supplier relationships.
• Experience of developing robust digital, data and cyber governance.
• Evidence of delivering measurable organisational, customer and financial benefits.
• Experience of influencing boards, executive teams and senior stakeholders.
• A strong record of leading organisational and cultural change.
• Experience of working successfully with external technology, commercial or innovation partners.

Desirable experience

• Experience within higher education, education technology, professional services or another complex knowledge-based organisation.
• Experience of digital transformation across international or multi-entity operations.
• Knowledge of digital education, lifelong learning and the changing skills market.
• Experience of developing digital platforms or ecosystems serving multiple customer groups.
• Experience of commercialising digital products, services or intellectual property.
• Knowledge of higher education regulation, data and technology environments.
• Experience of supporting mergers, partnerships, shared services or operating-model transformation.
• A strong external profile in digital transformation, artificial intelligence or innovation.

Knowledge

• Enterprise digital strategy.
• Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
• Data architecture, analytics and governance.
• Enterprise architecture and systems integration.
• Digital product and service design.
• Agile delivery and portfolio management.
• User-centred design and customer experience.
• Cybersecurity, privacy and operational resilience.
• Technology investment and benefits realisation.
• Organisational design and change management.
• Digital commercial models and partnerships.
• The future of education, skills and work.

Skills and capabilities

• Combine strategic vision with disciplined delivery.
• Translate complex technology issues into clear institutional choices.
• Build confidence and alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Lead through influence as well as formal authority.
• Make evidence-based decisions in complex and uncertain environments.
• Balance innovation, pace, risk and institutional readiness.
• Prioritise investment against strategic outcomes.
• Communicate with authority to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Establish clear accountability for delivery and benefits.
• Challenge established thinking constructively.
• Build effective partnerships across academic and professional boundaries.
• Operate with credibility at Board and executive level.

Leadership attributes

• Strategic and future-focused
• Able to anticipate change and translate emerging possibilities into clear institutional advantage.
• Student- and user-centred
• Committed to designing services around the needs, experiences and ambitions of learners and colleagues.
• Commercially and financially astute
• Able to ensure that digital investment creates measurable value, growth and sustainability.
• Innovative but disciplined
• Ambitious in the use of emerging technologies while maintaining strong governance, ethics and control.
• Collaborative and influential
• Able to unite academic, professional, technical and commercial communities behind a shared direction.
• Inclusive and values-led
• Committed to ensuring that digital transformation improves opportunity and does not deepen exclusion.
• Delivery-oriented
• Personally accountable for turning strategy into measurable outcomes.
• Resilient and adaptable
• Able to lead effectively through complexity, challenge and sustained organisational change.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent senior professional experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in digital, technology, data, leadership or organisational transformation.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Relevant professional accreditation or fellowship.
• Recognised expertise in digital transformation, information technology, data, artificial intelligence or organisational change.

What's on Offer

Remuneration Package

• Circa £180,000 base salary
• Performance - related bonus
• Contribute 4% and receive a generous 16% employer pension contribution
• Comprehensive benefits package

Performance measures

• Delivery of the Forward to 2040 digital strategy.
• Delivery of agreed financial and non-financial benefits.
• Successful delivery of major transformation programmes.
• Growth in digital partnerships and externally generated income.
• Measurable improvements in student recruitment, retention, success and graduate outcomes.
• Improved student and colleague digital experience.
• Delivery of the University's global digital platform.
• Improved institutional data quality, accessibility and analytical maturity.
• Improved organisational productivity and process efficiency.
• Effective control of digital, information and cyber risks.
• Platform availability, resilience and service performance.
• Strong engagement and confidence among students, colleagues and governors.

Additional requirements

• Undertake travel between UEL locations and international operations as required.
• Be based in the London Docklands location.
• Represent the University at national and international events.
• Work flexibly to meet the demands of a senior executive role.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity and professional conduct.
• Comply with all University policies, regulatory responsibilities and governance requirements.
• Undertake other responsibilities appropriate to the seniority and strategic importance of the position.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of East London is one of the most diverse universities in the UK and is committed to advancing equity, inclusion and social mobility. The Chief Digital Officer will ensure that accessibility and inclusion are embedded throughout UEL's digital strategy, products, services and decision-making. The postholder will actively seek to reduce digital exclusion and ensure that technological change creates opportunity for all students and colleagues.

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