Deputy Head of Campus Experience

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Oaklands for a Deputy Head of Campus Experience to support the strategic leadership and day-to-day operational management of the College’s campus experience, security/customer experience ambassador and campus safety provision, ensuring a safe, secure and welcoming environment for students, staff and visitors.

The postholder will deputise for the Head of Campus Experience and help lead the development and delivery of an integrated, intelligence-led campus experience strategy aligned to safeguarding, Prevent, health & safety and business continuity requirements. This includes responsibility for operational risk management, incident response, service coordination and continuous improvement, ensuring the College meets statutory and regulatory obligations while enhancing the student experience.

Key Responsibilities

* Strategic Leadership

• Support the leadership and management of the daytime, termtime security and customer experience teams, ensuring effective deployment of staff and resources.

• Assist in overseeing security and campus experience operations, including:

- Access control and ID systems

- CCTV and surveillance

- Incident reporting and investigation

• Support the delivery of a professional, visible and student-centred security/customer experience ambassador presence across all sites.

• Undertake a visible meet and greet presence at the start and end of each College day, helping to ensure a welcoming, orderly and safe environment for students, staff and visitors.

* Inclusion, Equality and Student Experience

• Work in partnership with Safeguarding teams to ensure security services:

• Promote student safety and wellbeing through effective operational practice.

• Model and embed a trauma-informed approach in campus operations.

• Contribute to incident management, missing learners and vulnerability response.

• Support the lead for physical safeguarding infrastructure and response that is appropriate and inclusive to meet all student needs.

• Ensure alignment with:

- KCSIE / Prevent Duty

- College safeguarding policies

* Risk, Compliance and Assurance

• Support security and campus experience risk assessments across all campuses, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending mitigation strategies.

• Ensure compliance with:

- Health & Safety legislation

- Security and data protection regulation

- College policies and procedures

• Support the development and maintenance of security policies, protocols and standard operating procedures.

* Incident Management & Emergency Planning

• Act as a deputy lead for major incidents and emergency response, including:

• Critical incident command

• Liaison with emergency services

• Support the development and testing of business continuity and emergency plans

• Support post-incident reviews and continuous improvement activity

• Coordinate weekly reporting that identifies themes and hot spots and supports intervention strategies to evidence impact.

* Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Build strong relationships with:

- Police, local authorities and emergency services

- Internal stakeholders (curriculum, safeguarding, estates)

• Represent the College in local safety partnerships and intelligence networks as required.

* Contracts and Resource Management

• Support budget monitoring, ensuring value for money and service effectiveness.

• Support the oversight of procurement and performance of external security contractors and SLAs as required.

• Contribute to KPIs to monitor service performance and drive improvement.

* Digital Data and AI Enabled Practice

• Support the development of modern, intelligence-led security systems and processes.

• Benchmark against sector best practice and contribute to service innovation.

• Support the introduction of new technologies such as digital reporting and integrated systems.

* Leadership and People Management

• Support the leadership, management and development of the security and campus experience team, ensuring:

- High professional standards and conduct

- Ongoing training and CPD

- Strong performance management culture

- High professional standards and conduct

- Ongoing training and CPD

- Strong performance management culture

• Promote a customer-focused, inclusive and supportive culture

• Support the implementation of a college-wide student behaviour strategy.

Is This You

Essential Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field (e.g. student services, campus operations, security management, public services, facilities or risk management)

• Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD) in campus experience, student services, safety or leadership

• Relevant professional qualification in leadership, student services, safety or operations management, or willingness to work towards one

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to think strategically and translate vision into operational delivery

• Strong analytical skills to assess complex risks and develop proportionate responses

• Ability to align campus experience priorities with organisational goals and student experience outcomes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to communicate effectively with:

- Senior leaders and governors

- Staff and students

- External agencies

• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to challenge constructively

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands

• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure, including when deputising in incident or emergency situations

• High level of attention to detail and commitment to compliance and standards

• Ability to build effective relationships across departments, particularly safeguarding, estates, curriculum and student services

• Experience of working collaboratively with external stakeholders and partner agencies

Experience

• Significant experience in a supervisory or management role relating to campus operations, student services, safety or customer-facing services, ideally in a multi-site or complex organisation

• Proven track record of supporting and coordinating operational services that contribute to a safe, welcoming and inclusive campus environment

• Experience of implementing operational procedures, service improvements and cross-college initiatives

• Demonstrable experience of assessing operational risks, identifying themes and supporting mitigation planning

• Experience managing or coordinating staff teams, contractors or outsourced service provision

• Experience of supporting budget monitoring and resource planning

• Experience of working with external partners such as:

- Police

- Emergency services

- Local authorities

• Experience of supporting responses to critical incidents, complaints or campus operational issues

Knowledge Specific to Role

• Strong understanding of:

- Campus operations and service systems, including security, incident reporting and front-facing student support processes

- Operational risk management principles and service improvement frameworks

• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including:

- Health and Safety legislation

- Data protection and information security principles

• Understanding of emergency planning, crisis management and business continuity

• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and the role campus operations play in protecting vulnerable students

• Awareness of Prevent Duty and associated responsibilities

• Understanding of customer service standards and inclusive practice within public-facing educational environments

Personal Attributes

• Professional, credible and resilient manager with a calm and authoritative presence

• Strong commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion

• Commitment to delivering a safe, welcoming and inclusive campus environment

• High level of integrity, discretion and confidentiality

• Proactive, solution-focused and committed to continuous improvement

• Flexible and responsive, with the ability to operate effectively in dynamic environments

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of the FE sector regulatory landscape, including Ofsted expectations relating to behaviour, safety and safeguarding

• Understanding of estates and facilities management integration

• Knowledge of current and emerging security technologies and digital systems

Why Oaklands?

At Oaklands, you’ll join a forward-thinking college that genuinely invests in its people. We offer:

• Local Government Pension Scheme with excellent employer contributions

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Discount on UNO bus scheme

• Continuous Professional Development (CPD) – including free adult learning courses

• Long Service Awards

• Free onsite gym and discounted wellness treatments

• Cycle to Work Scheme and discounted travel

• Staff development days and annual awards celebrating your success

• Free access to Microsoft Office software for personal use

• Discounted entry to Oaklands events – from our Foodies Festival to Lambing Weekend and Oaklands Zoo

Most importantly, you’ll have the chance to make your mark — driving innovation, building a powerful brand, and creating a first-class student experience that defines the Oaklands journey.

Oaklands is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults.

Click Here to find out more about Oaklands College!