Rob Wadsworth heads up new role for Facilities Directorate
Rob Wadsworth has been appointed Director of Campus Innovation: Campus Services, Experience & Commercial for the Facilities Directorate (FD).
This is one of three new senior appointments that will help the Facilities Department (FD) to work collaboratively across its portfolio, delivering first-class services to staff, students and visitors and supporting the University’s strategic objectives and world-class aspirations.
He moves on from a role as Interim Commercial Director in the FD, acting as the strategic lead for services including Sport & Physical Activity; Sales, Marketing and Communications, Print & Mail, and Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre.
Rob said: “This is a time of exciting change in the FD. The business plan gives us all a strategic focus and a clear sense of what success looks like, and for me that includes ensuring that our services offer exceptional user experience and value for money and place people at the heart of our delivery.
‘’Perhaps our most exciting new initiative is the establishment of the FD Staff Voice, a group of volunteer employee representatives from across the service who will meet to help shape and contribute to FD wide programmes and initiatives.”
“Working with a fantastic group of colleagues from across all of our services, I am absolutely committed to developing a culture in the FD that cares for, inspires and develops our people. We have already established a cross-service Leadership Forum for the FD, which brings together senior managers from the different functions for the first time.
Rob’s new role includes responsibility for the following:
FD Services
A range of campus services, including Cleaning, Security and FD Helpdesk, will be added to Rob’s portfolio alongside the existing commercial services. This will allow an opportunity to align service provision, enhance the user experience and journey, and deliver value for money across the portfolio of services.
People and Culture
Rob will lead the People and Culture plan, one of the three strategic aims of Our Way Ahead, the FD’s three-year business plan launched in January. The ambition of the plan is to develop and embed a culture that is shaped to support the FD in achieving its plan and responds to the results of the Employee Engagement Survey for the FD.
University Campus Experience
Rob will contribute to University-wide campus experience programmes, services and initiatives. Working with faculties, Professional Services and Leeds University Union, he’ll to develop strategies for the curation of services across the campus that are delivered collaboratively.
Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation and Development,said: “I’m so delighted that we will continue to benefit from Rob’s extensive experience, including managing people through change and driving a strong customer service ethos.
“Rob knows the University well having worked as Head of Sport & Physical Activity before moving to Dubai seven years ago to direct a world-class sports training and competition complex for their royal family.
“He is hugely respected and popular, very solution-focused, and has a sharp commercial eye.”
Rob also holds a consultancy role as a Technical Advisor supporting Team China’s preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is a non-executive director of the Sports Council Trust Board, and Chair of SportLeeds, the city-wide sports partnership.
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