Job description

About us  

The Continuous Improvement service manages the improvement methodologies across King’s, manages critical improvement or design projects, builds capability across the organisation and assures the quality of any improvements being implemented. 

The role sits in the Transformation team within the well-regarded Strategy, Planning & Analytics Directorate (SPA). We support the senior leadership with effective strategy execution, driving sustainable improvements to our core business, and addressing major risks and issues. The team has delivered some of the most progressive programmes of work in the sector on education and research transformation and new ways of working.   

Our remit includes delivering a portfolio of change and implementation projects; defining methodologies and standards for project and programme management, change management and process improvement; and building organisational capacity. We also play a role in overseeing the institution’s project and programme portfolio.  

We're a big-hearted energetic team, striving to deliver meaningful change in the university. Universities are exciting places where magic happens and lives are changed. We are passionate about making a difference.   

The successful candidate will join a supportive and forward-thinking team. You’ll be given lots of autonomy over your time, ownership of work and trust in your capability but with plenty of help where needed. Other benefits of working here include:   

•       Hybrid working model - in SPA you can choose how much time you want to spend on campus (currently a minimum of 5 days a month)    

•       27 days holidays plus 3 additional days at Christmas    

•       Laptop and if needed home office equipment  

•       Access to learning and development tools such as LinkedIn Learning and the entire library catalogue including magazine, journal and newspaper subscriptions     

In addition to the Associate Director, Continuous Improvement. We’re also recruiting for an   Operating Model Design Programme Manager and   Associate Director, Transformation Programmes 

About the role

The Associate Director, Continuous Improvement role sits within the University’s Transformation team, reporting to the Director of Transformation within the Strategy, Planning & Analytics Directorate (SPA).  

The post holder will lead the Continuous Improvement service to drive lasting benefits for our staff and students. They will be the focal point for providing advise on suitable approaches and manage a team of Continuous Improvement Managers.  

To increase a culture of Continuous Improvement, the post holder will be responsible for ensuring capability is built across King’s. This may include the defining & delivery of appropriate training and engagement approaches; building a network of improvement champions and ensuring a suite of appropriate toolkits are available for all colleagues.  

Drawing on various improvement and design methodologies, the postholder will work flexibly to ensure the delivery of improvement and design work, which may also involve directly delivering key improvement programmes.   

Being an expert in Continuous Improvement, the postholder will provide appropriate advice and guidance to a broad range from leadership, teams or individuals. 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

This is a full-time post.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the service to embed a culture of Continuous Improvement, managing a small specialist team of continuous improvement managers
• Manage the prioritisation and resourcing of improvement or design projects, ensuring the work of the team is contributing to King’s strategic aims
• Deliver complex, institute-wide improvement or design programmes using specialist & technical knowledge within appropriate methodologies
• Provide expert advice and guidance, ensuring you are applying a whole system view of transformation to create connections, opportunities, and innovative solutions across the organisation
• Devise and deliver on appropriate strategies to build cross organisational capability in improvement & design methodologies including the delivery of Lean Six Sigma training programmes, designing bespoke training and the management of a suite of online materials
• Lead a core network of champions across the institute, ensuring they’ve the support, common understanding and ability to drive continuous improvement
• Ensure the quality of any improvements that have been delivered locally have adequate controls in place, benefits or improvements have been realised and exploring whether improvements have been maximised
• Engage with Faculty and Functional leadership to provide advice, guidance, and identifying areas for support in enabling continuous improvement
• Work closely with the broader Transformation team and in particular the service leads for Change Management & Programme Management to drive the transformation services across King’s
• Support other Strategy, Planning and Analytics priorities and responsibilities as required; act as a champion for the function and its work and contribute to its development
• Act as the organisational expert and lead for Continuous Improvement methodologies, thought leadership and design.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Demonstrated experience in leading complex cross-functional improvement programmes

2.       Detailed understanding and capabilities in process understanding, process mapping and process analysis

3.       Significant experience in building capability in improvement methodologies across multi-channels and multi-purpose requirements

4.       Experience in managing an improvement service including direct people management and matrix management

5.       Understanding on the methodology and application of change management and programme/ project management practices

6.       Strong analysis skills, including data manipulation and statistical analysis from complex data sources to be able to provide actionable insight to inform decisions and plans

7.       Understanding of whole system change and operating model design and development

8.     Experience of service design and development

9.       Adept at engaging with sponsors and stakeholders, including with senior colleagues and externals, adapting message, style and manner as needed

10.   Extensive experience in coaching and mentoring of individuals including development of individuals

11.   A recognised qualification in Lean Six Sigma to Black Belt level or similar

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience within the Higher Education sector or adjacent/similar sector and understanding of the strategic context we operate in

2.        A recognised qualification in Change Management e.g. PROSCI or similar

Further information

Interviews will take place w/c 6th June