Steve Clark
Associate Consultant at SUMS Consulting- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Lucy Evans
I worked with Steve for six months when he took on leadership of the programme I sponsored for a University as a key work-stream to develop our corporate strategy. Steve was excellent at embedding himself with key people at the University, working across a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management. He was adept at championing the programme and bringing people along to deliver to our main objectives, this often meant having difficult conversations and challenging the status quo. He did this with credibility and empathy. The programme was a complex one and Steve effectively managed across multiple work streams, and kept both me and the programme board updated regularly with progress and risks. Where there were issues, Steve sought to address these head on with creative and practical solutions. I will seek to work with Steve again in the future and recommend him highly.
Louise Harvey
I had the pleasure of working closely with Steve at Bucks New University during his role as the Programme Manager for the institution’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve hit the ground running and made a positive impact from his very first week and continued to do so day in, day out for the next 11 months. The low number of cases are testament to his tireless efforts and commitment to leave no stone unturned. Steve is great with people and took the time to build relationships and support colleagues to ensure key goals and deadlines were met. He strikes the perfect balance of being knowledgeable, dynamic, efficient and kind. Plus he maintains a sense of humour, even under the utmost pressure! Steve’s contribution to our communications efforts was significant and I’d say that’s true of every department he worked with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Steve because I know he would assimilate into any organisation and deliver from the outset.
Lucy Evans
I worked with Steve for six months when he took on leadership of the programme I sponsored for a University as a key work-stream to develop our corporate strategy. Steve was excellent at embedding himself with key people at the University, working across a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management. He was adept at championing the programme and bringing people along to deliver to our main objectives, this often meant having difficult conversations and challenging the status quo. He did this with credibility and empathy. The programme was a complex one and Steve effectively managed across multiple work streams, and kept both me and the programme board updated regularly with progress and risks. Where there were issues, Steve sought to address these head on with creative and practical solutions. I will seek to work with Steve again in the future and recommend him highly.
Louise Harvey
I had the pleasure of working closely with Steve at Bucks New University during his role as the Programme Manager for the institution’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve hit the ground running and made a positive impact from his very first week and continued to do so day in, day out for the next 11 months. The low number of cases are testament to his tireless efforts and commitment to leave no stone unturned. Steve is great with people and took the time to build relationships and support colleagues to ensure key goals and deadlines were met. He strikes the perfect balance of being knowledgeable, dynamic, efficient and kind. Plus he maintains a sense of humour, even under the utmost pressure! Steve’s contribution to our communications efforts was significant and I’d say that’s true of every department he worked with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Steve because I know he would assimilate into any organisation and deliver from the outset.
Lucy Evans
I worked with Steve for six months when he took on leadership of the programme I sponsored for a University as a key work-stream to develop our corporate strategy. Steve was excellent at embedding himself with key people at the University, working across a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management. He was adept at championing the programme and bringing people along to deliver to our main objectives, this often meant having difficult conversations and challenging the status quo. He did this with credibility and empathy. The programme was a complex one and Steve effectively managed across multiple work streams, and kept both me and the programme board updated regularly with progress and risks. Where there were issues, Steve sought to address these head on with creative and practical solutions. I will seek to work with Steve again in the future and recommend him highly.
Louise Harvey
I had the pleasure of working closely with Steve at Bucks New University during his role as the Programme Manager for the institution’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve hit the ground running and made a positive impact from his very first week and continued to do so day in, day out for the next 11 months. The low number of cases are testament to his tireless efforts and commitment to leave no stone unturned. Steve is great with people and took the time to build relationships and support colleagues to ensure key goals and deadlines were met. He strikes the perfect balance of being knowledgeable, dynamic, efficient and kind. Plus he maintains a sense of humour, even under the utmost pressure! Steve’s contribution to our communications efforts was significant and I’d say that’s true of every department he worked with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Steve because I know he would assimilate into any organisation and deliver from the outset.
Lucy Evans
I worked with Steve for six months when he took on leadership of the programme I sponsored for a University as a key work-stream to develop our corporate strategy. Steve was excellent at embedding himself with key people at the University, working across a broad range of stakeholders, including senior management. He was adept at championing the programme and bringing people along to deliver to our main objectives, this often meant having difficult conversations and challenging the status quo. He did this with credibility and empathy. The programme was a complex one and Steve effectively managed across multiple work streams, and kept both me and the programme board updated regularly with progress and risks. Where there were issues, Steve sought to address these head on with creative and practical solutions. I will seek to work with Steve again in the future and recommend him highly.
Louise Harvey
I had the pleasure of working closely with Steve at Bucks New University during his role as the Programme Manager for the institution’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve hit the ground running and made a positive impact from his very first week and continued to do so day in, day out for the next 11 months. The low number of cases are testament to his tireless efforts and commitment to leave no stone unturned. Steve is great with people and took the time to build relationships and support colleagues to ensure key goals and deadlines were met. He strikes the perfect balance of being knowledgeable, dynamic, efficient and kind. Plus he maintains a sense of humour, even under the utmost pressure! Steve’s contribution to our communications efforts was significant and I’d say that’s true of every department he worked with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Steve because I know he would assimilate into any organisation and deliver from the outset.
Experience
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SUMS Consulting
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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1 - 100 Employee
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Associate Consultant
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Jul 2020 - Present
Working with a number of UK Universities to improve services to students including design of new target operating models for professional services. Working with a number of UK Universities to improve services to students including design of new target operating models for professional services.
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Director
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May 2019 - Present
Using my extensive transferable skills and experience from a successful career in Higher Education: - Supporting organisations identify and deliver business change. - Providing consultancy on business process / performance improvement - Developing strategic and tactical solutions to improve the customer / student experience - Programme management and direction - CRM and Software Business Change implementation Certified Lean 6 Sigma Yellow and Green belt Certified Change Management Foundation and Practitioner (APMG / CMI) Show less
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Advance HE
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Education Administration Programs
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Associate
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Jun 2020 - Present
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University of Surrey
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Programme Manager (interim)
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Oct 2021 - Apr 2022
Leading on the Seamless Student Journey programme - improving the end to end student experience and, transforming services to their students Leading on the Seamless Student Journey programme - improving the end to end student experience and, transforming services to their students
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Simplify
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Information Technology & Services
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Change Consultant and Programme Manager
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Jul 2021 - Oct 2021
Working with management and staff to transition to new ways of working post COVID. Coordinating People work pattern changes and facilities and technical requirements. Working with management and staff to transition to new ways of working post COVID. Coordinating People work pattern changes and facilities and technical requirements.
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Whitecap Consulting
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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1 - 100 Employee
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Associate Consultant
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May 2021 - Jul 2021
Working with London South Bank University to develop an integrated student support framework model. Working with London South Bank University to develop an integrated student support framework model.
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Buckinghamshire New University
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Programme Manager
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Jun 2020 - May 2021
Providing senior leadership in coordinating all the planning, COVID-19 contingency response, workstreams and work packages to facilitate the successful return to campus for students and staff from September 2020 on all matters relating to the University’s resumption planning. Providing senior leadership in coordinating all the planning, COVID-19 contingency response, workstreams and work packages to facilitate the successful return to campus for students and staff from September 2020 on all matters relating to the University’s resumption planning.
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Change Consultant and Programme Manager
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Jul 2019 - Dec 2019
Developing contingency / disaster recovery plans and leading an HR transformation programme (policy, processes and technology). Developing contingency / disaster recovery plans and leading an HR transformation programme (policy, processes and technology).
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The Open University
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United Kingdom
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Student Success
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Oct 2016 - Apr 2019
Transformation Director and Senior Accountable Executive on the Open University’s key strategic priority; to deliver improvements in Student on-course retention, year on year progression and qualification completion. Resulting in up to 10% uplift in student results and retention and associated improvements in Student / customer satisfaction.Developed and agreed cross-Faculty student success improvement targets and KPIs and developed mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and reporting to drive action.Identified, designed and drove implementation of a set of step changes across the student journey with a budget of c. £7.5m to deliver tactical and immediate change in front line operations and course design running a portfolio of projects and programmes. This included significant utilisation of features within CRM (Seibel) fro student recruitment and support. Informed / influenced institutional strategy with recommendations to the Executive team.Led a strategic transformation of the future Student Experience, end to end from first point of contact to graduation and Alumni status with a team of 30 (consultants and internally seconded staff) developing the business case for change and blue print for delivery.Identifying and mapping enquirer / student needs (strongly evidence-based) and designing a roadmap for a set of new online and offline services, maximising use of web and other digital technology, Artificial Intelligence and data analytics.Worked closely with internal governance and external bodies to ensure that proposed solutions would fully meet compliance and regulatory criteria.Acted as the institutional champion and focus point for student success, engaging and communicating with key internal and external stakeholders and the student community. Show less
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Director - Business Performance Improvement
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Jan 2012 - Oct 2016
Established and drove the work of the University’s Business Performance Improvement (BPI) team. An in-house consultancy team specialising in Lean / Six Sigma / ‘DMAIC’ methodology to identify and implement process and performance improvements.Delivered an average return of investment of over 4,500% per annum-identified value.Identified and implemented solutions to threats to Student Fee income that secured c. £20m per annum of income that would have been lost.Worked with Executive and Senior Management across the institution to identify opportunities for business change, efficiencies and improved effectiveness and developed a prioritised evidenced-based pipeline.Delivered assurance projects directly for the Vice Chancellor and University Secretary to inform key strategic decisions and direction.Addressed key strategic issues involving multiple units / sites and cross-departmental processes and responded to business-critical situations including: o Budget planning and spendo Financial controls and audito Human Resources processes o Legal services and complianceo Shared service models o Course design and productiono Research Students and grantso Student fees and reconciliation o Marketing services and prospect / applicant conversiono Registration and enrolment o Advice and guidance services for student support / contact centreso Assessment and examinationso Management of Tuition venues and service deliveryProvided support and advice to other institutions setting up their own BPI Teams. Show less
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Head of Business Transformation
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Apr 2010 - Dec 2011
Leading a team within Information Technology to identify and deliver rapid ‘low tech’ and ‘no tech’ solutions to business challenges across the institution - to streamline operational front line and back end processes
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Lead Business Analyst
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Oct 2004 - Apr 2010
Project and Stakeholder management of business partners to achieve coordinated and effective collaborative working and delivery to target.Led development teams in waterfall and agile methodology designing, building and implementing systems and processes to support Marketing, Curriculum and student facing systems (new CRM capabilities, employer portal, student registration etc.)Managed day-to-day operational support for key systems to remedy issues and provide resolution responses to management. Show less
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Senior Business Analyst
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2000 - 2004
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Home Retail Group PLC
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Business Analyst
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1998 - 2000
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John Lewis Partnership
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Business Analyst
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1996 - 1998
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Graduate Management Trainee
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1993 - 1996
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Education
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1990 - 1993
University of Exeter
Bachelor of Arts - BA, History -
Churchers College
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