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About the Role

We are seeking a Director of Skills & Work-Based Learning, on a 12-month fixed-term basis to provide institutional leadership at a pivotal moment in the evolution of skills, workforce development and employer-led education. This is a high-profile, strategic leadership role operating at the intersection of skills strategy, sector influence, work-based learning and transformation delivery. The postholder will play a critical role in shaping the University’s long-term positioning within the UK skills landscape, ensuring the organisation is not only responsive to change but influencing its direction.

The Director of Skills & Work-Based Learning will shape the University’s broader strategic positioning in skills, workforce development and employer-led education. They will position the University as a sector leader in workforce development and employer-led education, while leading the implementation and embedding of a new institutional model. The role combines:

• Strategic leadership: defining and driving the University’s approach in a rapidly evolving skills landscape.
• External influence & thought leadership: positioning the OU as a sector leader in work-based learning.
• Transformation leadership: embedding a new operating model.

Working across the University and externally with employers, partners and governments, the Director will ensure the OU is well-positioned to respond to and shape the future skills agenda.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide strategic leadership for skills and work-based learning, drawing on deep sector expertise.
• Contribute thought leadership to shape the OU’s positioning in skills and workforce development.
• Engage and influence senior stakeholders internally and externally to build alignment and momentum.
• Work collaboratively across the University to connect thinking with activity. 
• Lead the implementation of a new delivery approach that balances regulatory requirements with innovation and financial sustainability.
• The role sits within the Business Development Unit (BDU) Senior Leadership Team and operates at institutional and sector level.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Leadership for Skills & Work-Based Learning

• Provide strategic leadership for the University’s approach to skills, apprenticeships and work-based learning.
• Shape and articulate a clear institutional narrative and positioning in relation to workforce development and skills provision.
• Identify future opportunities for growth, innovation and differentiation.

Strategic Portfolio & Business Leadership

• Own and shape the institutional skills and work-based learning portfolio.
• Ensure clarity between strategy, investment decisions and impact.
• Balance innovation, quality and financial sustainability across all provision.
• Contribute to broader institutional strategy and business planning as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Leadership responsibility for teams aligned to work-based learning provision.

External Engagement & Thought Leadership

• Act as a senior external ambassador for the University in skills and work-based learning.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, sector bodies, government and partners.
• Contribute to sector debates, policy discussions and thought leadership in skills and workforce development.
• Identify and influence emerging trends, funding models and policy developments.

Change & Transformation Leadership

• Lead complex, cross-organisational change in a highly matrixed environment.
• Build alignment, momentum and shared ownership across senior stakeholders.
• Address structural, cultural and operational barriers to successful delivery.

Implementation & Embedding of the Work-Based Learning Model

• Lead the implementation of the newly designed Skills and Work-Based Learning model across the University.
• Ensure successful embedding across academic, operational and commercial functions.
• Align Faculties, Academic Services and Professional Services around a coherent delivery model.
• Ensure clarity of roles, accountabilities and interfaces across the end-to-end learner and employer journey.

Governance, Quality & Regulatory Alignment

• Ensure all approaches align with academic governance, regulatory frameworks and quality standards.
• Work with governance bodies to embed effective oversight and decision-making structures.
• Balance innovation with compliance and risk management.

About You

You will be an outstanding senior leader with a strong track record of operating at institutional and sector level, capable of shaping strategy, influencing policy and delivering complex transformation.

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within higher education, skills or work-based learning environments.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeships and work-based learning systems, including policy, funding and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of employer engagement and demand-led provision, with insight into workforce development needs.
• Experience representing organisations externally at senior level.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale transformation or implementing complex operating models.
• Experience of working within complex governance structures and regulated environments.
• Ability to align academic, operational and commercial priorities to deliver sustainable outcomes.

Skills

• Executive-level influencing and stakeholder management.
• Ability to shape strategy while ensuring effective delivery and execution.
• Strong commercial awareness, financial acumen and strategic judgement.
• Strategic thinking with delivery focus.
• Systems leadership across organisational boundaries. 
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and complexity.
• High levels of credibility, gravitas and emotional intelligence. 
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style. 
• Resilient, adaptable and outcomes-focused.
• Strong personal commitment to widening participation and skills development.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately 1-2 times per week, with travel to events and partners 2-3 times per month. 

Next steps in the Recruitment process

It is anticipated interviews will take place 26 June 2026.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit the following as separate documents;

• CV
• Supporting statement, up to 2,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the 'About You' section.

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.