Job Title: Website Service Owner
Contract Type: 24-Month Fixed Term Contract (Compressed hours working arrangements welcomed)
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Reporting To: Director of HESA Statutory Operations
Work Location: Hybrid – blend of working from home and assigned hub office. Hubs are located in London, Bristol, Manchester, and Oxford.
About Jisc
For three decades, Jisc has been at the forefront of digital transformation across UK education and research, enabling how knowledge is created, shared, and applied. Our mission is to protect, promote, and lead digital and data innovation, empowering communities, students, and society to build a brighter future.
With a culture grounded in lifelong learning, we encourage our employees to embrace challenges, refine skills, and pursue meaningful career goals. At Jisc, growth is not just a value but a way of working.
About HESA
HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) operates as a key division within Jisc’s Data Collections & Statistics Directorate. Recognized as the trusted authority on UK higher education data, HESA fulfills an essential national function: collecting, validating, and disseminating high-quality data that underpins decision-making, improves sector performance, and inspires public trust.
As the Designated Data Body (DDB) for the UK, HESA delivers insights critical to public authorities, policymakers, and academic institutions. By collaborating across the UK’s four nations, HESA curates one of the world’s most respected higher education data sources, strengthening transparency and competitiveness within the sector.
The Opportunity: Website Service Owner
We are seeking an experienced Website Service Owner to oversee the end-to-end management of HESA’s public-facing website(s). This pivotal role combines strategic thinking with hands-on leadership to ensure that all websites deliver a world-class, accessible, and user-centric digital experience.
Key Responsibilities:
You will:
- Take strategic ownership of the HESA website(s), defining and delivering its vision, direction, and daily operations.
- Lead website governance, accessibility compliance (WCAG), and manage performance through data analytics, including GA4.
- Champion user experience (UX) excellence, secure designs, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee website migration to Jisc’s Central Web Platform (CWP), fostering a unified digital experience.
- Support the Data Publication Modernisation (DPM) programme, transforming HESA’s data outputs into engaging and user-friendly resources.
Why This Role Matters
As Website Service Owner, you will play a central role in shaping a key national platform that satisfies statutory requirements, supports strategic priorities, and enhances the higher education community’s experience. Your work will help:
- Ensure legal compliance, such as accessibility and data protection.
- Deliver robust, user-friendly, and high-performing digital services.
- Empower internal teams to confidently publish quality, governance-compliant content.
What You’ll Be Doing
1. Service Ownership and Strategy
- Define and implement the website roadmap, aligning it with organizational priorities and user needs.
- Act as the primary point of contact for website-related matters, collaborating across Jisc teams and external partners.
- Embed a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring website risks, performance, and enhancements are well-managed.
2. Governance and Compliance
- Develop content governance frameworks and editorial workflows to uphold high content standards.
- Ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG), GDPR, and other statutory regulations, coordinating audits and delivering relevant training for colleagues.
3. User Experience, Research & Insights
- Drive information architecture and navigation improvements to ensure a user-first, accessible experience.
- Analyze user behavior and website performance metrics, using insights to guide enhancements and demonstrate impact.
4. Project and Migration Management
- Lead the migration of HESA websites to Jisc’s Central Web Platform, ensuring seamless transitions with minimal disruption.
- Manage testing, including accessibility and performance audits, and oversee cutover and release processes.
5. Data Products & Publishing Support
- Support the creation and curation of high-quality content for HESA’s new website shopfront and for open data publications (e.g., charts, dashboards, and statistical tables).
- Coordinate publication workflows, ensuring adherence to pre-release governance and timing requirements.
What We’re Looking For
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven track record of overseeing digital services or managing complex websites end-to-end.
- Strong understanding of modern web platforms, content management systems, SEO, and digital analytics (e.g., GA4).
- Knowledge of accessibility compliance (WCAG), user-centric design, usability principles, and digital governance best practices.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences alike.
- A data-driven mindset that uses metrics and insights to guide improvements and measure outcomes.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Experience in higher education, public sector, or data-driven organizations.
- Familiarity with agile delivery methods and vendor management.
- Background in service management or commercial awareness.
Personal Qualities
- User-focused, driven by evidence and committed to inclusive and ethical design.
- Collaborative team player, skilled at aligning diverse perspectives and facilitating workshops.
- Detail-oriented, proactive, and highly organized, capable of delivering change in complex environments.
Why Join Jisc?
Our Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements that fit your personal commitments.
- Generous 31 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and an option to buy 5 additional days.
- Well-being and lifestyle perks, including a healthcare cash plan and mental health support.
- Access to LinkedIn Learning and personal development resources.
- Financial wellness tools, mortgage advice, preferential loans, and savings plans.
- Supportive family leave policies, including enhanced maternity/paternity and shared parental leave.
- Up to 3 days of volunteer leave to support your community activities.
Diversity & Inclusion at Jisc
At Jisc, we believe diversity makes us stronger. We cultivate an inclusive workplace where every identity — from race, ethnicity, and gender to neurodivergence, age, and veteran status — is valued and empowered. We aim to foster innovation and belonging for all.
If we can support your application process with accommodations, let us know!
Application Process
To apply for this role, click the ‘Apply’ button. We review applications regularly and aim to update you within four weeks. Internal Jisc employees should apply through their Dayforce Employee Profile.
We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply — even if you don’t meet every single requirement but believe the role is perfect for you, we’d love to hear from you!
Sponsorship Information
Jisc holds an active sponsor license for Skilled Worker visas. For those requiring sponsorship, review the Home Office criteria to assess eligibility. Please note that Jisc does not financially reimburse relocation, visa, or related costs.
No agencies, please.