Chief Operating Officer

Build a legacy with the University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier dual sector University serving the Pacific region and only one of three regional universities of its kind in the world. Uniquely governed by its twelve member countries, USP is not only a higher education and research institution, but also a regional integration organisation that provides services within the communally agreed structured regional mechanisms geared towards benefiting the lives of the Pacific people.
The opportunity
USP seeks an outstanding candidate for the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The Chief Operating Officer is a key role in the Vice-Chancellor and President’s Senior Management Team, supporting the Vice-Chancellor in the leadership, management and effective operation of the University. The COO will drive, and make significant contributions to, strategy and decision-making which enhances both academic and business-related performance across the institution. Organisational progress and development is at the heart of the role, ensuring that the University is competitive in terms of resources, efficiency, and quality of service provision. A leader of organisational culture and values, the COO shares responsibility for promoting the University and enhancing its stature and reputation. The COO is primarily responsible for University-wide institutional planning and operations, and direct service delivery of key corporate functions including the Council and Senate secretariat; finance; information technology services; estates and infrastructure; and commercial operations.
Working closely with the Vice-Chancellor and President and the Senior Management Team, the role will be pivotal in ensuring that the strategy and operations of professional services are effectively and efficiently aligned to support academic excellence.
The person we seek
The successful appointee will be a senior leader with strong demonstrated senior leadership experience and skills which must include:

• appropriate qualifications and demonstrated experience of working at a senior leadership and management level of a large and complex organisation;
• strong experience of institutional planning and service delivery at an organisational level;
• a comprehensive understanding of global higher education trends, challenges and opportunities;
• a strong demonstrated track record of successfully leading and managing a diverse set of operational portfolios in support of a large and complex organisation;
• knowledge of Pacific cultures will be an advantage;
• demonstrated experience in leading system-wide transformational projects to deliver competitive advantage.

 
The University will provide a competitive remuneration package to the successful applicant.  The position is available for a term of five years and may be renewed by mutual agreement.
 
To apply, please click on ‘Apply now’ below, using reference USPcoo0422.
For a confidential discussion, please call Andrew Norton of Fisher Leadership (Australia, Asia, Oceania) on +61 3 9016 6000 or Ben Tucker of Minerva Search (Europe, MEA, Americas) on +44 20 3714 0961.