Applying for Director of Careers and Employability
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Job
Director of Careers and Employability
Vacancy ID
12601
College/Exec Group
Education and Students
Location
Hybrid – UAL High Holborn/Home
Salary
Circa £80,000 per annum
Contract
Permanent
Hours
37
Apply by
6 August 2026, 11:55 pm
Please read through our FAQs before applying
Further actions
The opportunity
As the Director of Careers and Employability you will provide strategic leadership for the University's careers, employability and enterprise agenda, shaping institutional policy, performance and reputation in relation to graduate outcomes and student success. You will initially lead on the establishment of a University-wide Careers and Employability Service as part of a Service Development Programme, and will provide strategic oversight of Arts Temps, ensuring that both support the University's long-term ambitions and commitment to preparing graduates for successful and sustainable careers.
You will define and deliver a university-wide employability strategy, driving organisational change to embed employability, enterprise and skills development throughout the student lifecycle. Working in partnership with academic and professional services leaders, you will influence curriculum development, strengthen industry engagement and ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to thrive in a changing world of work.
Building strong relationships across the University and with external stakeholders will be central to success in the role. You will represent the University nationally and internationally, developing partnerships with employers, sector bodies and policymakers that enhance student opportunities and strengthen the University's reputation for innovation and impact.
About the Department
Careers and Employability plays a central role in supporting students and graduates to develop the skills, experiences and industry connections needed to succeed across the creative and cultural sectors. Working collaboratively across the University, the service supports the integration of employability within the curriculum, delivers innovative careers education and guidance, develops employer partnerships and leads institutional initiatives that enhance graduate outcomes and student success.
The Department also oversees the University's Creative Skills Framework and Arts Temps, creating opportunities for students and graduates to gain valuable professional experience while supporting the University's wider strategic ambitions.
Your profile
You will be an accomplished and influential leader with significant experience of leading careers, employability, enterprise or student success services within a complex higher or further education environment. You will have a track record of delivering strategic change, improving organisational performance and leading high-performing teams.
You will bring a strong understanding of employability, skills development and graduate outcomes, together with deep knowledge of the creative and cultural industries and the opportunities and challenges facing future talent pipelines. You will be experienced in working across organisational boundaries, building effective partnerships with academic leaders, employers and external stakeholders to deliver shared objectives.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience of managing significant budgets, resources and, ideally, commercial or income-generating activity. You will be highly credible in senior environments, able to communicate with influence, interpret complex data and provide confident strategic advice to executive leaders and governing bodies.
Most importantly, you will be passionate about student success and committed to creating an inclusive environment where all students can develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to achieve their ambitions.
We are UAL
University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.
As a University, we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.
We are a global University, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. We aim to be a university where people can be themselves and feel supported to reach their full potential. That’s why we are proud to hold a Bronze Award from the Race Equality Charter (REC), are members of the Business Disability Forum and Employers for Carers, and maintain our status as a Disability Confident Scheme and Living Wage employer.
Application process
We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Thus, you will need to create an account and submit an application through our job board. As part of this, you will need to provide a supporting statement/answer some competency questions to demonstrate your suitability. Our recruitment process involves: Application, Shortlisting, Interview and Assessment, Offer, Onboarding.
We understand the benefits of using AI in work. But, if you are thinking of using it to submit an application, we ask you to think about what value it adds. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.
If we receive a high volume of applications, the closing day date might close early. We aim to communicate any changes to the closing date with at least 24 hours’ notice. If you have any general questions or have accessibility needs, please refer to our Contact us page.
Candidates are advised to submit applications early.
