Chief Digital and Operations Officer

Chief Digital and Operations Officer(CDOO)
University of Bradford
Competitive salary 

Executive Team Design 

This role forms part of the deliberate strengthening of the University’s Executive Team to deliver Strategy 2035, bringing in additional leadership capacity across student success, growth, digital transformation, operational effectiveness and organisational capability.  

The University of Bradford is entering a significant phase of transformation and is seeking a commercially minded, technology-driven Chief Digital and Operations Officer to help redesign how the institution operates, delivers and performs. 

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, the CDOO is a pivotal executive role responsible for leading enterprise-wide digital transformation, operational improvement and service redesign. You will drive Strategic Priority 4: A University that Works Better, modernising systems, simplifying processes and embedding a more agile, data-informed and performance-focused operating model.  

This is a large-scale transformation brief. You will lead the evolution of core platforms, digital infrastructure and data capability, ensuring that technology investment directly supports institutional performance, user experience and long-term sustainability. You will also play a key role in introducing automation, AI and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, insight and service delivery. 

Beyond technology, the role is fundamentally about how the University operates. You will reshape operating models, improve cross-institutional alignment and build the delivery discipline required to turn strategy into measurable outcomes. This includes leading major transformation programmes, strengthening planning and prioritisation, and ensuring that services are designed around user needs.  

As a member of the Executive Team, you will contribute to the leadership of the whole institution, working across academic and professional boundaries to ensure that digital and operational capabilities underpin growth, student success, and organisational performance. 

We welcome candidates from a higher education background and from other complex, customer-focused sectors such as healthcare, financial services, retail, technology or government. You will bring a strong track record of leading digital and operational transformation at scale, with clear evidence of improving performance, efficiency and user experience. You will be comfortable operating in complex, regulated environments and influencing across a broad stakeholder landscape. 

Above all, you will be a delivery-focused leader who combines strategic thinking with execution, able to cut through complexity, build momentum and ensure that transformation results in tangible, sustained improvement. 

This is an opportunity to shape the future operating model of a purpose-driven institution, applying digital, data and innovation to create a more effective, responsive and future-ready university. 

For further information, including how to apply, please visit – https://andersonquigley.com/university-of-bradford-chief-digital-and-operations-officer

Closing date: noon on 14th May 2026  

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds and are fully committed to supporting all our employees so that they feel able to be their whole selves at work. We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic, disabled and LGBTQ+ candidates.