Dr Carol Costello

Carol Costello was appointed as Director of People and Services at the University of Liverpool in November 2019.  Carol’s area of responsibility covers Computing Services, External Relations, Human Resources and Facilities, Residential and Commercial Services. 

Carol started her employment at the University in September 2010 as the Director of HR (HRD) responsible for HR, Payroll, Organisational Development (OD) and Pensions.  Prior to this she was the HRD for Lancashire County Council: managing teams delivering, OD, Learning and Development, Human Resources, Payroll and Health and Safety Services for 45,000 employees, (over half of them in the 645 Lancashire schools) and a number of external partners. Her earlier background was spent leading Corporate and Customer Services at a number of Metropolitan Councils: services such as Finance, Legal and Governance, HR, IT, Revenues and Benefits and Culture and Leisure, Highways and Maintenance. 

Her current focus is on drawing together key services supporting the delivery of the University’s education and research endeavours, enabling and enhancing student, staff and stakeholder experiences and underpinning the business and administrative functions of the institution. Her new role emphasises the alignment of people, IT and property to better support both the delivery of ongoing activity and the enablement of the University’s aims.

In the HE sector Carol works closely with UCEA and UUK’s employer pension forum on strategic matters affecting the workforce and employers.  She is an alternate member on the Joint Negotiation Committee for Pensions. In the wider education sector Carol is a Trustee of a Multi-Academy Trust which has schools across the country.  She takes the non-exec lead for their HR strategy and is a member of the Policy and Resources Committee.  In the Liverpool City Region, Carol has pushed forward important schemes such as the pre-apprenticeship scheme, Give Get Go volunteering programme and Liv to Give staff volunteering framework, enhancing our civic contribution as an employer. 

Carol has just completed her Doctorate (in HE); she is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development; holds an MA from Durham University and diplomas in coaching and mentoring.  She has extensive experience in leading change and performance improvement programmes and is also an experienced alternative/holistic therapist.