Job Description

Salary: £36,636.00 - £37,694.00 per annum with progression to £46,049.00

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 31 May 2026

The Role

Process Improvement Lead

We have an exciting opportunity within the Transformation team for an experienced Process Improvement Lead, to join us for a 2-year fixed term contract.

As an experienced professional you will drive measurable improvements in operational efficiency, service quality, and user experience across the university by leading strategic process improvement initiatives.

The role will enable academic and professional services teams to deliver better outcomes for students, staff, and stakeholders through sustainable change. Your role will help shape the University’s future.

Success in this role requires strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills. You will have excellent analytical skills with an ability to translate and communicate data into actionable insight, along with demonstrable success in leading business improvement process utilising continuous improvement strategies.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact our Transformation Programme Director, Clair.Elliott@newcastle.ac.uk or Transformation Workstream Lead Laura.Thomson@newcastle.ac.uk

To apply please upload your CV, along with a cover letter, evidencing how your skills and experiences align with the success profile as outlined in the job description.

Purpose of the Role

To drive measurable improvements in operational efficiency, service quality, and user experience across the university by leading strategic process improvement initiatives. The role will enable academic and professional services teams to deliver better outcomes for students, staff, and stakeholders through sustainable change.

Key Outcomes and Accountabilities

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

• Deliver redesigned business processes that reduce waste, duplication, and inefficiencies
• Achieve measurable time and cost savings across targeted university functions

Improved User Experience

• Increase satisfaction scores from students and staff through streamlined and user-centred processes
• Ensure redesigned processes are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with university values

Strategic Alignment

• Ensure all process improvements support the university’s strategic goals, including digital transformation and service excellence
• Collaborate effectively with IT, People Services, Finance, and other departments to embed changes

Benefit Realisation

• Develop clear KPIs to monitor the impact of improvement initiatives
• Provide clear reporting on benefits realised, lessons learned, and areas for further improvement

Success Profile

Essential Experience & Skills

• Demonstrated success in leading business process improvement initiatives in complex environments
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills across academic and administrative boundaries
• Proficiency in process mapping and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma)
• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights

Desirable

• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
• Experience in higher education or research-intensive institutions
• Understanding of student lifecycle processes and academic administration
• Familiarity with digital transformation and higher education governance

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 29314

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