Company: Victoria College of Arts and Design

Position: Head of Student Experience

Job Location: Onsite, Canary Wharf, London

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Salary Range: £60,000 – £70,000 per annum

Are you a passionate Student Experience Leader ready to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds?

Victoria College of Arts and Design (VCAD) is an independent higher education provider with campuses in London and Manchester. We deliver programmes in partnership with Arts University Plymouth and are proud to serve a community of mature learners, first-generation students, and individuals balancing study with work and family life.

We are at an exciting point in our journey — actively progressing our registration with the Office for Students (OfS) — and we are looking for an exceptional leader to take ownership of our entire student experience function at this pivotal moment.

The Opportunity

As Head of Student Experience, you will lead and shape everything that defines life as a VCAD student — from the moment they enrol to the day they graduate and beyond. You will have strategic oversight of our Student Information Team, Student Engagement Team, Student Services, Health & Wellbeing, Careers & Employability, and Academic Skills functions, reporting directly to the Directors of VCAD.

This is not just a management role. It is a genuine opportunity to build, transform, and champion a student experience that is inclusive, data-driven, and sector-leading.

What You'll Be Doing

Leading the development and delivery of VCAD's institutional Student Experience strategy across all campuses
Playing a central role in our OfS registration journey — with particular focus on student experience and student satisfaction
Driving data-informed approaches to student retention, early intervention, and targeted support for students at risk
Overseeing student wellbeing, mental health, disability support, and safeguarding compliance (Equality Act 2010, GDPR)
Leading a comprehensive employability strategy — building industry partnerships and equipping students with the skills and confidence to thrive in the workforce
Representing the student experience at Board and senior leadership level
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion across every aspect of the student journey

What We're Looking For

We'd love to hear from you if you bring:

Significant senior leadership experience in student services or student experience within UK higher education
Strong working knowledge of the OfS regulatory framework, including B3 student outcomes and Access & Participation obligations
A proven track record of using data and insight to improve student outcomes at institutional level
Excellent people leadership skills — you know how to build, motivate, and develop high-performing teams
A genuine and demonstrable commitment to widening participation and inclusive practice
Experience managing budgets and delivering high-quality services in a resource-conscious environment

Bonus points if you have experience in a small or independent HE provider, familiarity with HESA data returns, or a background supporting students with complex needs.

Benefits

Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
Workplace pension scheme.
Company Sick Policy.
Statutory maternity/paternity pays.
Career development opportunities
Training and self-development opportunities.
Gym membership discounts
Retail discount schemes
Cinema discounts
Grocery discounts
Cycle to work
Investing and savings opportunities
Financial wellbeing – personal debt advise.
Financial wellbeing education
My Mind Pal (mental fitness)

Ready to Apply?

If you are passionate about student success and want to help shape the future of a growing, purpose-driven higher education provider, we would love to hear from you.

Victoria College of Arts and Design is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building an inclusive team and warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Victoria College of Arts and Design

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