director of collaborative relationships

Location

High Wycombe

Contract Type

Permanent

Salary Range

Spot salary

Hours per week

37

Closing Date

08/12/2025

Ref No

1929

Director of Collaborative Relationships

Full Time (37 hrs per week) – Permanent

Location – High Wycombe

Salary - £

Buckinghamshire New University is an ambitious, modern university that is always open to fresh ideas and thinking. We believe in the transformative power of education, and in doing the right thing by our students, people and local community. That's why our BNU community is a special place to work and study, and where people who want to make a difference can contribute and succeed.

Our University's DRIVE values and are at the heart of all that we do. We are united in being dynamic, responsible, inclusive, visionary and empowering to ensure that we provide the best experience to our learners and offer excellent service to our partners and to each other as colleagues. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission.

We are seeking an experienced academic leader to oversee the University's educational and skills-based partnerships. This pivotal role oversees a diverse portfolio, including apprenticeship employers, academic partners, and local businesses, ensuring collaborations deliver high-quality outcomes and align with our strategic ambitions.

Acting as the institutional lead for relationship management, you will safeguard academic standards, meet operational and commercial expectations, and enable sustainable growth.

Leading three specialist teams—Partner Relationships, Apprenticeship Relationships, and Partner Academic Tutors—you will champion a joined-up approach to engagement, academic support, and service delivery.

With strong academic insight and strategic vision, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to create inclusive, impactful partnerships that strengthen our reputation and community.

What we offer:

• a generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days)

• Hybrid working (dependent on business needs)

• training & development support opportunities

• contributory pension scheme

• discounted gym membership for our on-site gym

• a range of staff discounts with major retailers.

Please click here to see our wide range of benefits available for employees.

Please click here for our behavioural based interview question bank.

Please click here to view our employee handbook.

If you have the qualities and attributes representative of the University's values and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For further information about this role please contact Professor Sarah Williams, Pro Vice-Chancellor External Collaborations, on

All applications are to be made in full and online.

BNU is proud to have a diverse community and a strong track record of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace and aim to continue building an environment where everyone thrives and can be themselves. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in BNU's workforce. These include people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people, particularly in more senior roles.

Please let us know if you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that would enable you to perform to the best of your abilities in your role. Please reach out to Louise Williams on if you have any specific needs or if you would like more information on how we can support you

We ensure that our interview/shortlisting Chairs complete the relevant e-learning and/or inclusive recruitment training.

Closing Date: 8th December 2025

Interview Date: 12th December 2025

Please note that an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required for this position. The successful applicant will be required to give consent to check their criminal record status through the DBS. Information will be kept in strict confidence. Your offer of appointment will be subject to the University being satisfied with the outcome of this check.

If you are successful in securing an interview for the role, you will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

BNU is a Disability Confident employer and as such you will be given the opportunity to declare a disability as part of the application process. The University is also committed to achieving the Race Equality Charter.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Director of Collaborative Relationships

College/Directorate: External Collaborations

Grade: Spot

Location: High Wycombe

Hours: 37

Responsible to: PVC External Collaborations

Responsible for: Senior Manager Partnership Relationships / Senior Academic Partnership Tutors / A Senior Manager Apprenticeships and Skills Relationships / Senior Collaborations Advisor

Job Purpose:

The Director of Collaborative Relationships is a senior leadership role responsible for owning and strategically developing the University's educational and skills-based collaborative relationships. This role provides high-level leadership across a diverse portfolio of partnerships, including apprenticeship employers, academic partners, and local employers, ensuring that relationships are nurtured, sustained, and aligned with the University's strategic ambitions.

With a strong academic background and a deep understanding of both academic quality and professional services, the Director acts as the institutional lead for relationship management, ensuring that collaborative arrangements deliver high-quality educational outcomes, meet commercial and operational expectations, and safeguard the University's reputation. The role is pivotal in enabling sustainable growth through effective engagement, strategic oversight, and contractual adherence.

The Director will lead three specialist teams—Partner Relationships, Apprenticeship Relationships, and Partner Academic Tutors—ensuring a joined-up approach to relationship management, academic support, and service delivery. They will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that collaborative activity is inclusive, responsive, and impactful.

In line with the University's values, the Director will practice and promote an inclusive approach, contributing to the development of a university community where all individuals feel respected, supported, and empowered to be themselves.

Main Duties & Responsibilities of the role:

• Provide strategic leadership of collaborative relationships, ensuring that educational and skills-based partnerships are nurtured, aligned with institutional priorities, and deliver long-term value.
• Ensure contractual KPIs are met, working closely with partners to monitor performance, resolve issues, and uphold the University's reputation and standards.
• Design and lead a customer service framework for collaborative relationships, embedding a culture of responsiveness, professionalism, and continuous improvement across all partner-facing teams.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, including Partner Relationships, Apprenticeship Relationships, and Partner Academic Tutors, through effective performance management, development planning, and wellbeing support.
• Identify and mitigate relationship risks, ensuring proactive management of reputational, operational, and strategic risks associated with collaborative activity working closely with the Director of Collaborative Compliance.
• Provide academic insight and leadership, drawing on a strong academic background to ensure that collaborative relationships support high-quality learning, teaching, and student outcomes.
• Champion inclusive practices across all relationship management activity, contributing to a university community where all individuals feel respected, supported, and empowered.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and University policies, including GDPR, UKVI, Equality & Diversity, and Health & Safety, in all aspects of relationship management and have an agile approach to change.
• Maintain operational accountability for budget, health & safety, and risk management within the Directorate, ensuring efficient use of resources and agile responsiveness to change.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure joined-up delivery of collaborative provision, including academic quality, student support, and registry.
• Represent the University externally, acting as a senior point of contact for apprenticeship employers, academic partners, and local employers, and promoting the University's values and strategic aims.
• Undertake other duties as required, contributing flexibly and proactively to the evolving needs of the University and its collaborative portfolio.

PERSON SPECIFICATION – Essential Criteria Only

A = Application T = Test I = Interview

Education, Qualifications & Training

Means of Testing

First degree and post graduate qualification or equivalent

A

Evidence of Professional engagement and CPD

A

Teaching and Learning qualification (PG Cert HE, SFHEA or equivalent)

A

Knowledge & Experience

Delivering an excellent customer experience

A/I

Extensive knowledge of the UK and international Higher Education sector

A/I

Proven ability to implement strategic vision

A/I

Strong track record of effective engagement and influence with a wide range of stakeholders within UK, EU and overseas

A/I

A clear understanding of higher education sector and the role played by academic partnerships to deliver university strategic vision

A/I

Experience of influencing staff at all levels to apply policies and procedures, and to ensure regulatory compliance

A/I

Understanding of UK Higher Education Quality Assurance processes, finance, legal, registry and relevant functions in regard to UK and TNE portfolio delivery

A/I

Experience of complex project management to a successful conclusion

A/I

Skills

Digitally able and proficient in Microsoft tools

A/I

Strong business development and account management skills with experience of delivering targets through external academic partnership building

A/I

High level analytical skills; the ability to collate an eclectic range of data, interpret the evidence base and make management decisions based on that evidence

A/I

Evidence of high-level communication skills (written, presentation and verbal).

A/I

Capacity and willingness to maintain and grow a culture which is innovative and inclusive.

A/I

Highly organized with an ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline intensive environment

A/I

Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to build and lead a high-quality and diverse team, adopting a collaborative style to deliver the university's vision

A/I

Demonstrable success and impact from effectively leading, managing and motivating staff, securing individual and collective engagement and action

A/I

Proven high level ability to be creative, innovative and incisive, ensuring an efficient approach to working practices

A/I

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide range of people

A/I

Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities issues within a diverse and multicultural environment

A/I

Commitment to building and ensuring a good reputation for BNU in all activities related to Academic Collaborations

A/I

A self-starter, who can initiate improvements and continual change and adaption in order to develop and maintain BNU's reputation

A/I

Special Requirements

Willingness to travel in the UK and overseas as required

A/I

Behavioural INDICATORS

The BNU Behaviours Framework (BBF) is a framework for all University staff that sets out the key behaviours that exemplify the DRIVE values and ethos of the University. The nine categories provide a clear steer on behavioural expectations that will help support a step change in the performance and culture of the University. The three key behavioural indicators for this post are as follows:

Delivering excellent service

Providing the best quality service to external and internal customers/students/stakeholders. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up customer service standards.

Working together

Working collaboratively and across boundaries with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.

Achieving results

Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.