Director of Student Life

Glasgow Caledonian – the largest and leading modern university in Scotland – is a vibrant, values-led organisation with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. Through our strong commitment to delivering high quality education and research we are responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.

With a wide range of professionally accredited courses and links with over 300 industry partners, we have the highest proportion of first-degree graduates in highly skilled occupations (83%) compared to other Scottish modern universities, and 91% of our students are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (HESA 2023). We are also Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships where students combine degree study and work.

In 2023 we entered the top 40 universities in the UK in the Guardian University Guide, and were in the top 50 UK universities in the 2024 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time. We perform exceptionally at subject level too. We’re the leading University in the UK in key health areas including Radiography, Physiotherapy and Subjects allied to Medicine, according to the Times and Sunday Times, with Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism ranked second in the UK (first in Scotland). The Guardian also ranked us in the top three in the UK, and first in Scotland, for Social Work, Animation and Game Design, and Nutrition and Food Science.

Our recently appointed Chancellor, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, is one of the UK’s most influential women in Tech and a major advocate of diversifying talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

We are passionate about helping more young people from diverse backgrounds into university. Scottish Funding Council figures highlighted that 22% of our Scottish full-time, first-degree entrants were drawn from the country’s 20% most-disadvantaged backgrounds (SFC 2023).

As the University for the Common Good, equality and diversity are at the heart of everything that we do. Our Equality Outcomes 2021-25 specify our actions to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. They are clearly aligned with our Mission and strategic priorities, as well as our Values, with the overall aim of reducing inequalities and making a positive difference. We take a whole institution approach and are committed to ensuring that equality and diversity are mainstreamed into our core functions.

At heart we are a civic university with a global outlook, dedicated to building productive relationships and driving positive social change for current and future generations.

We are the only Scottish university with EcoCampus Platinum accreditation and were ranked first in Scotland for sustainability in the most recent People and Planet League Table.

The Director of Student Life will play a critical leadership role in the development of already excellent student services, and will be responsible for fostering a vibrant, inclusive and supportive environment for all students. As Director and managing teams of highly qualified professional staff, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a range of strategies, programmes and policies that are designed to enhance student engagement, well-being and personal development. Working closely with academic and other administrative functions you will be expected to place students and the student experience at the forefront of the University’s thinking and your ability to balance both strategic and operational will be crucial to success in this role.

Candidates will be educated to degree level and with a relevant professional qualification. You must have extensive experience of managing equivalent student-facing services in large and complex higher education institutions and have an in-depth appreciation of the challenges faced by students and the needs of a complex range of stakeholders in the academic context. In addition to your technical skills, you will also need to be able to demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills, networking abilities and inspirational leadership qualities.

For further information and details about how to apply, please contact Alan Walter at alan@dixonwalter.co.uk or call 07876 766972. Further information and details about how to apply can be found at www.dixonwalter.co.uk/opportunities/gcu-director-student-life

Applications should be made via email to alan@dixonwalter.co.uk by midnight on Sunday 30^th March 2025 and should consist of:

• A curriculum vitae detailing relevant qualifications and experience, full employment history, and achievements
• A two-page cover letter describing briefly how you feel you meet the criteria outlined in the Job Summary Form, your achievements, why the appointment is of interest, and what you would like to achieve in the role
• Details of three referees and notice period (referees will not be contacted without your permission)
• A completed Personal details form (available from the link above).

Formal interviews will take place on Friday 2^nd May 2025, shortlisted candidates will also be asked to make a presentation to members of the panel prior to the interview.

As the University for the Common Good, we are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as our values in everything that we do.  As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate the GCU Values.

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process that is free from bias so that we can attract and retain a high performing workforce which makes a critical contribution to our success.

The University holds the prestigious Athena SWAN Silver institution award, which recognises our significant record of activity and achievement in promoting gender equality across different disciplines.

As a Disability Confident 'Committed' employer, we are striving to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to disabled people. Although the Disability Confident 'Committed' level does not guarantee an interview for disabled applicants, we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants during the recruitment process.

The University also holds the Carer Positive ‘Engaged’ employer award, which recognises our commitment to supporting staff with caring responsibilities.

Glasgow Caledonian University are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant.

The University offers a range of benefits including opportunities for professional development, family friendly policies, cycle to work scheme and onsite childcare facilities.