Chief Digital and Information Officer

About the role

As the University’s Chief Digital and Information Officer you will lead the transformation of the University’s digital landscape driving business value and technological excellence, delivering our ambitions as a sector-leading AI enabled university. You will bring together a new portfolio of services, establishing the role in the University’s leadership and management structure as an associate member of the Executive Team, with responsibility for a c£40 million budget and 400 staff. Your dynamic leadership will ensure that digital is at the forefront of the University’s education, research and citizen strategies ensuring operational excellence across all the University’s activities. The University continues to invest in its technological infrastructure, and you will be accountable for successfully delivery of a significant investment programme to ensure AI enablement, fit for purpose and future proofed systems, digital first thinking and a strategic cyber risk posture.

The University of Leicester is renowned for its world-changing research and high-quality, inspirational teaching, and proud to have been awarded a Gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), reflecting our outstanding student experience and outcomes. Our commitment to excellence has also been recognised through recent accolades, including being named the Daily Mail University of the Year 2025 and shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year in 2024.

About you

To apply you will have substantial leadership experience of digital services gained in similarly large and complex organisations and with responsibility for developing high performing multi-disciplinary teams of professional staff. Critically, you will have experience as a transformational leader, able to deliver with organisation wide impact, embedding a digital first mindset, whilst balancing both strategic and operational imperatives in the role. You will have outstanding communication and engagement skills, with the ability to be a collegiate influencer at a strategic level. You will be able to combine innovative thinking with on the ground technical requirements, governance, and service efficiency. Higher education experience is not essential, but you will also need to demonstrate awareness of the issues facing the sector and able to demonstrate commitment to the University’s mission, vision and values to ensure an inclusive workplace and student experience.

Additional information

For further information about this exceptional opportunity please visit https://www.dixonwalter.co.uk/opportunities/chief-digital-information-officer/ or contact Alan Walter at Dixon Walter at alan@dixonwalter.co.uk or on 07876 766972

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 23August 2026

Final interviews will take place week commencing 5October 2026

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Vacancy terms

Full time, permanent