Senior Transformation Programme Director
Posted 4 days ago by Queen Margaret University
£85,000 Per year
Undetermined
Undetermined
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Summary: The Senior Transformation Programme Director at Queen Margaret University will spearhead a significant institution-wide transformation program over a two-year fixed-term contract. This leadership role involves overseeing the redesign of the university's operating model and enhancing its digital capabilities. The position requires collaboration with senior leaders to implement strategic changes aimed at improving efficiency and financial sustainability. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in managing complex organizational change, particularly within higher education or similar sectors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the delivery of QMU’s transformation and financial recovery programme, translating strategy into a clear implementation roadmap with defined milestones and outcomes
- Establish and lead a Transformation Office/PMO, ensuring strong governance, integrated planning, RAID management and benefits tracking
- Drive operating model redesign, process optimisation and service improvement to reduce complexity and improve efficiency
- Oversee delivery of the University’s digital spine, supporting automation, analytics, improved data quality and better decision-making
- Support organisational change in partnership with senior leaders and HR, helping embed a culture of continuous improvement
- Advise the Senior Leadership Team on programme governance, risks, reporting and delivery priorities
- Explore opportunities to enhance institutional effectiveness through AI, advanced analytics and emerging technologies
Key Skills:
- Experienced transformation leader with a strong track record of delivering complex organisational change
- Experience in leading large-scale transformation programmes, operating model redesign and PMO leadership
- Ability to translate strategy into delivery at pace
- Strong stakeholder management skills and commercial awareness
- Understanding of digital and data-led transformation
- Experience of financial recovery, shared services, enterprise systems or AI-enabled transformation is advantageous
Salary (Rate): £85,000 yearly
City: Edinburgh
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
Senior Transformation Programme Director
Queen Margaret University
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 2 Years
Salary: £85,000
About Queen Margaret University
Queen Margaret University (QMU) is a values-led university focused on education, research and innovation that creates positive social impact. Based on a modern campus near Edinburgh, QMU is known for its inclusive, person-centred approach and strengths across healthcare, social sciences, creative arts, business, enterprise and teaching. QMU is embarking on a significant period of transformation to strengthen financial sustainability, modernise operations and accelerate digital capability across the University.
About the Role
Reporting to the Principal & Vice-Chancellor, the Senior Transformation Programme Director will lead the delivery of a major institution-wide transformation programme over a two-year period. This high-profile leadership role will oversee the redesign of the University’s operating model alongside the development of a more digitally enabled organisation. Working closely with senior leaders across academic and professional services, you will bring structure, pace and delivery focus to a complex portfolio of change.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Lead the delivery of QMU’s transformation and financial recovery programme, translating strategy into a clear implementation roadmap with defined milestones and outcomes
- Establish and lead a Transformation Office/PMO, ensuring strong governance, integrated planning, RAID management and benefits tracking
- Drive operating model redesign, process optimisation and service improvement to reduce complexity and improve efficiency
- Oversee delivery of the University’s digital spine, supporting automation, analytics, improved data quality and better decision-making
- Support organisational change in partnership with senior leaders and HR, helping embed a culture of continuous improvement
- Advise the Senior Leadership Team on programme governance, risks, reporting and delivery priorities
- Explore opportunities to enhance institutional effectiveness through AI, advanced analytics and emerging technologies
About You
You will be an experienced transformation leader with a strong track record of delivering complex organisational change, ideally within Higher Education or similarly complex environments. You should bring experience of leading large-scale transformation programmes, operating model redesign and PMO leadership, alongside the ability to translate strategy into delivery at pace. Strong stakeholder management skills, commercial awareness and an understanding of digital and data-led transformation are essential. Experience of financial recovery, shared services, enterprise systems or AI-enabled transformation would be advantageous.
For more information or to view the full job description, please visit our dedicated microsite: www.aspenpeople.co.uk/qmu
For further information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact Aspen People: Katharine Price on 07899 791 508, Gillian Blackadder on 07475 035 621 or Donogh O’Brien on 07795 812 574. The Aspen Office number is 0141 212 7555.
Recruitment Timeline
Closing Date: Midnight, Monday 8th June 2026
First Stage Interviews (virtual): Friday 19th June 2026
Final Stage Interviews (in person): Monday 29th June 2026