CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER APPLICANT PACK
WELCOME We are delighted that you are interested in applying for the position of Chief Operating Officer at Arts University Bournemouth. This Applicant Pack contains key information to assist you with your application. Should you have any questions please contact Kerry Sheehan, Head of Human Resources, on 01202 363133 or ksheehan@aub.ac.uk Details of how to apply and the selection process for this position can be found at the end of the Applicant Pack. We look forward to receiving your application.
ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH We are the leading professional arts university dedicated to turning creativity into careers. Our focus is on art, design, architecture, media and performance higher education. As one of a small number of higher education institutions in the UK devoted solely to the study of creative subjects, the University has been providing specialist education for over a century and enjoys a strong reputation, both nationally and internationally. We are passionate about our specialist subjects and dedicated both to education and the creative industries which we serve. We continue to encourage curiosity, risk-taking and adventure in exploring and pushing subject knowledge and its boundaries. The Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) provides staff and students with a well-resourced environment in which to practice to the highest professional standards. We were awarded Gold status in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework assessment. The University is a compact institution with over 3,000 students based on one ten-acre campus, and places great importance on student involvement and collaboration. Studying at AUB presents many opportunities to engage with the creative industries that characterises the environment of the University. Students and staff work in partnership on an innovative programme of professional practice and research, with different disciplines encouraged to work together. The industry experience, curriculum design and engagement of our academics and industry professionals means our students are well-placed to gain work in the creative industries and as a consequence we rate employability very highly. We are consistently placed amongst the very best in the UK for our graduate achievement. Page 4
ORGANISATION STRUCTURE Clerk to the Board of Governors Board of Governors Secretariat Vice Chancellor MIS Chief Operating Officer Deputy Vice Chancellor Director of Finance University Secretary and Registrar Director of Student Recruitment Dean of Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Dean of Faculty of Media and Performance Dean of Creative Learning and Student Experience Head of Human Resources Animation Finance Procurement Registry Campus Services Timetabling Clerk to the Board Quality and Standards Compliance Governance Marketing International Exchanges/ Mobility Short Courses UCAS Admissions Widening Participation Schools Liaison Architecture, Interiors and Model Making Fine Art and Illustration Graphics and Visual Communication Fashion and Textiles PrepHE VFX Film Dance, Creative Events Mgt, Acting and Creative Writing Make Up and Costume Commercial Photography and Photography DCS Student Services Library MoDiP The Gallery Students Union Key: University Management Team (UMT) Key: Vice Chancellor s Office (VCO) & University Management Team (UMT)
MISSION, VISION & VALUES Our mission is to be the leading professional arts university dedicated to turning creativity into careers. Our vision is to be distinctive for our maker culture and leadership in creative learning. Our values Innovative We want to challenge the status quo. We believe in doing things differently and doing them well. We re always looking for new and better ways of learning, teaching and researching. Collaborative We re a one-campus university dedicated to the arts. We work closely together, across disciplines, exchanging ideas and knowledge. Connected We prepare our students for careers in the creative industries. We ve made strong connections with industry (starting on campus). We re also well connected academically to other universities and stakeholders who think like us. Page 6
THE OPPORTUNITY Role: Chief Operating Officer Salary: Competitive six figure salary Contract: Full-time Permanent Location: Bournemouth The Arts University Bournemouth is a specialist provider of high quality teaching, learning and scholarship in arts, design, architecture, media and performance. It was awarded Gold status in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework assessment and is recognised internationally as a professional arts university. Following a period of growth and development, we now welcome applications for this senior post. Leading a team of experienced Directors, the Chief Operating Officer will oversee and manage ongoing operations and procedures. Reporting to the Vice- Chancellor, and with membership of the senior University Management Team, the postholder will have responsibility for planning a range of University professional services and share in the implementation of the University s strategic plan. The post may attract the title of Pro Vice- Chancellor where qualifications and experience dictate. Joining the senior leadership team of an ambitious and successful University, candidates will have a track record of strategic management and delivery of key service areas which support and enhance creative teaching, learning and scholarship. In addition, candidates will have a high degree of financial management experience, be entrepreneurial in outlook, capable of exploiting the resources of the University to maximum effect and securing overall institutional functionality and sustainable growth. Page 7
JOB DESCRIPTION Chief Operating Officer The Arts University Bournemouth has created a new post of Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and oversee our ongoing operations and procedures. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor, the postholder will have responsibilities for planning a range of University services and the implementation of the institution s Strategic Plan. The COO is a key member of the University Management Team and will work closely with the Deputy Vice Chancellor. Leading an experienced team of Directors, the postholder will ensure a coherent and efficient group of University professional services to include Finance, Student Recruitment, Registry, Management Information Systems, Estates and Compliance. With experience of contemporary issues in UK higher education, the COO will have a record of entrepreneurial activity, which may be used to exploit the resources of the University to maximum effect. This will include international recruitment, financial management, consultancy and business development, which secures institutional functionality and the sustainable growth of the University. AUB is a leading professional arts university with an international reputation for its distinctive maker culture and leadership in creative teaching, learning and scholarship. It has been awarded Gold status in the recent TEF assessment. The Chief Operating Officer will understand the nature of a specialist arts institution and support its values, distinctive identity and shared sense of purpose. The post may also attract the title of Pro Vice Chancellor where qualifications and experience dictate. As a senior postholder there is the expectation of having an ambassadorial role both in terms of internal leadership and with associated external facing responsibilities. The post holder will have a strong personal commitment to higher education and the values, aims and objectives of the University, and will regulate his/her personal conduct in relation to the governing body and the University in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour in public life, embracing integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership, and maintain confidentiality as appropriate. The postholder will need to demonstrate a clear oversight of AUB priorities, which informs the development of policy and practice within the university, balancing conflicting demands with limited resources. The facilitation and demonstration of excellent leadership and management skills are essential for the leadership and coordination of crossfunctional teams, building relationships to deliver against objectives and deliver high quality services; as well as effective management of time to ensure that all University-critical issues are dealt with promptly. The postholder will need to lead in establishing and maintaining effective lines of communication with UMT to ensure that improvements to relevant services are identified and delivered. Page 8
JOB DESCRIPTION Purpose To lead and oversee a team of experienced Directors to ensure the effective delivery of ongoing professional services operations, services and procedures in support of the University s strategic aims. To work effectively with the Deputy Vice Chancellor to support and enhance the University s creative teaching, learning and scholarship aims and ambitions. To ensure the proper conduct of the COO s areas of responsibility in accordance with the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the University, including staffing and resourcing matters; holding overarching responsibility for the management of all its staff and resources. To be a leading member of the University Management Team. To take a leading role in the development of the University through effective working relationships with other colleagues across the University, including with the Board, UMT, other Faculties, other Deans and Directors. Key deliverables To share corporate responsibility for delivery of the University s overall strategic aims. To hold responsibility for meeting the agreed targets derived from the AUB Strategy Map, and providing plans for their implementation. To design and implement business strategies, plans and procedures. To ensure achievement of key performance indicators and the implementation of the University s strategic plan. To set comprehensive goals for performance and growth from professional service areas within the COO s responsibility To establish policies to support and enhance the culture and vision of the University. To oversee daily operations of the University and the work of the COO s areas. To provide planning advice to the Vice Chancellor and University Management Team based upon sound analysis of data and metrics. To evaluate performance by analysing and interpreting data and metrics. To write and submit reports to the Vice Chancellor as required. To manage relationships with partners and external agencies which support professional service delivery. To ensure the provision of advice and guidance to the COO s managers and staff in relation to all aspects of the service environment and implementation of strategic priorities. To lead and oversee ongoing institutional professional services. Page 10
University Management Team (UMT) Responsibilities The delivery of the AUB strategic map requires exceptional leadership, management, enthusiasm and commitment to achieving excellence. All senior postholders will support and work towards implementing the four key aims of the strategy: To be an inspiring university to our students and stakeholders, To be a creative, current and innovative university, To be a university with high profile and high reputation, To be an integrated university in support of our core business. UMT postholders are expected to work collaboratively in the delivery of these aims. Whilst a job description and post may indicate the main areas of work they are not considered to be isolated from other senior postholders and a requirement of collaborative working to achieve high levels of success is an expectation. Students are at the heart of what we do, regardless of mode of study or type of course and as such senior postholders are expected to work with this in mind in developing strategic responses, likewise with other stakeholders. Student experience runs through all the University s aims, and links the student s journey from prospects through to alumni. A review of current systems and practices to meet future challenges will be expected, as will proactive responses to these external demands. Senior postholders are expected to be team players, experienced, professional, commercial/entrepreneurially minded, action and future orientated to achieve optimum results. Flexibility and opportunity are key attributes during a time of change in the HE sector. Senior postholders will be accountable collectively and individually for the University s agreed KPIs and targets as annualised from the strategy map and will be expected to hold their teams equally accountable for excellent performance, and to mitigate where possible under or poor performance. In this regard, the focus on the three key enablers is paramount in managing teams: Valuing and developing our staff. Financial sustainability. Improving our effectiveness. All senior postholders will be members of the UMT which will in itself become a highly influential team leading the University, and also the sector, in new developments in Higher Education Creative Education so that we become the leaders of the discipline. UMT comprises of: Principal and Vice Chancellor Deputy Vice Chancellor Pro Vice Chancellor / Chief Operating Officer Director of Finance University Secretary and Registrar Dean of Art, Design and Architecture Dean of Creative Learning and Student Experience Dean of Media and Performance Director of Student Recruitment Page 11
PERSON SPECIFICATION Knowledge Awareness of key challenges within the Higher Education sector and as it relates to HE compliance, public sector duty, funding and income generation, the student experience and student recruitment. Awareness and empathy of the core business of AUB, including an awareness of the needs of students ambitions, strategic priorities, the student experience (attraction and retention), sustainability, contributing to institutional strategy, brand and profile, and measuring performance. Understanding of the key deliverables of the job, attraction and retention for an all-through offer, income generation and alternative income streams, the student experience, compliance and committees, responsibilities as part of UMT. Demonstration of specialist knowledge required for the role e.g. finance, strategic MIS, student recruitment, income generation, estates, compliance, international collaboration, marketing. High level knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics to include IT/ Business infrastructure. Skills Strong and effective leadership and management skills building effective teams to deliver University strategic aims and enablers. Excellent interpersonal and influential communication skills, both verbal and written, including public speaking, the preparation of formal correspondence and documents and materials; and ability to gain the confidence of peers. Excellent MS Office skills Word, Excel, Outlook in order to produce sophisticated communications and guidance, presentations, reporting and analysis, University papers, bids, policy and procedures, strategy and plans. Aptitude in decision making and problem solving. Outstanding organisational skills, including efficient and effective record and data management, organisation of University committees and official record, audit and regulatory inspection, academic, curricula provision and subject delivery. Alumni and fundraising capability. Experience Proven experience in managing professional service functions in a higher education environment. Professional expertise in the range of the business functions which fall within the remit of the Chief Operating Officer to include finance, management information systems, student recruitment, estates, compliance, international collaboration and marketing. Demonstrable experience in strategic planning and business development. Experience of managing and leading staff across multiple areas and functions in the HE environment. Evidence of professional practice, and knowledge of career opportunities within the creative industries, academic distinction in an area of expertise that is embraced within the role, clear research and industry profile. Qualifications Post graduate qualification in relevant subject or equivalent qualification e.g. MA. Degree level qualification in relevant subject or equivalent qualification. Page 12
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BENEFITS The key benefits associated with the Chief Operating Officer post are: Salary Competitive six figure salary Pension Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and generous employer contribution. Holiday entitlement 35 days holiday plus bank holidays. Relocation Relocation expenses can be arranged subject to approval by the Vice Chancellor. Additional benefits Research and Continual Professional Development Support Specialist Library Resources Eyecare Scheme Annual Savings Scheme
APPOINTMENT PROCESS AND HOW TO APPLY The Chief Operating Officer will be appointed by a two stage process. The first is the Informal Stage where candidates will be invited to meet key stakeholders for an initial discussion. If successful candidates will be invited to a second stage, which is a formal interview with a Selection Panel chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Stuart Bartholomew. In order to apply, please submit a covering letter setting out how you meet the requirements for the role, giving due regard to the requirements of the person specification, as well as a comprehensive curriculum vitae to Kerry Sheehan, Head of Human Resources, at ksheehan@aub.ac.uk. Please include the names and addresses of three referees and include whether these can be contacted prior to the Selection Panel stage should you be successful in reaching it. The deadline for documents to be submitted is 12 noon on Friday 29th September 2017. The informal stage is planned for week commencing 9th October 2017 and the Selection Panels will take place during week commencing 6th November 2017. Page 16
BOURNEMOUTH With seven miles of stunning beaches, a lively town centre and a thriving arts culture, Bournemouth has everything you need. The bay enjoys its own micro-climate, some of the warmest sea temperatures in the UK and stunning views of the Isle of Wight and the Purbecks. The town centre has a vibrant atmosphere, with plenty of shops and places to eat and socialise. The town also has 2,000 acres of gardens and parks. Bournemouth is the furthest easterly point of the Jurassic Coast, England s first Natural World Heritage site, which spans 95 miles of unspoilt countryside of exceptional natural beauty and historic geology. With the scenic coastline and New Forest National Park right on our doorstep, there is plenty to explore in the surrounding area. Dorset has a rich history, heritage and culture, with historic castles, stately homes and museums. On the AUB campus you ll find lots of great resources and facilities too. We have an unrivalled library that s dedicated to the creative arts and a gallery where we exhibit inspiring works from renowned artists. Page 17
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