Appointment of Three Heads of Division: Political and International Studies; Sociological and Cultural Studies; and Urban Studies and Social Policy

University of Glasgow

Apply now

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the University of Glasgow and the School of Social and Political Sciences.

We are very pleased to be appointing to three Heads of Division roles. These new roles are key to the new shape of the School which will be implemented from academic year 24/25. We have created three new Divisions to support and represent the interests of staff and students in our core social science Subject Groups which span the social and political sciences: Political and International Studies; Sociological and Cultural Studies and Urban Studies and Social Policy. As one of the largest Social Science schools in the UK we are home to over 3000 students and over 300 staff. We conduct internationally recognised interdisciplinary social and political sciences, pioneering research, innovation and student education to tackle the key social and political challenges of our time, attracting and supporting talented and diverse staff and students to work together to support an inclusive and collegiate centre of knowledge production. Over 90% of our research submitted to the last REF2021 exercise was assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. We regularly feature in top 10 league table rankings such as the Guardian Best UK Universities 2024 where we ranked 2nd in the UK for International Relations, 5th for Politics and 7th for Sociology.

The new Heads of Division will play a pivotal role in supporting and developing the School’s extensive portfolio of research and teaching, delivering positive impacts on society and politics nationally and internationally. We seek to build on the legacy of Adam Smith and our strong REF2021 and league table positioning to support research that directly addresses key challenges especially around health and wellbeing, sustainability, democracy and public policy, linking with major University and College priority areas such as Glasgow Changing Futures. International partnerships to enable cross-national projects and interventions are an important priority for the School, particularly with lower and middle income countries as we seek to address legacies of colonialism, environmental damage  and inequalities of wealth and opportunity. Continuing our work with key regions including Central and Eastern Europe, we want to play our part in addressing geo-political tensions. This includes attracting a diverse and talented cohort of postgraduate and early career researchers and enabling them to build careers and make a positive contribution to a range of cultures, communities and countries. Heads of Division will play a key role in helping us to develop our research and its impact, facilitating open research with public engagement, building networks and connections across sectors and nations. The School is home to an array of talented and innovative researchers and we want to attract inspiring leaders to help us to recruit, retain and develop excellent researchers who come to work with us because we are known as an internationally-leading centre of excellence in social and political sciences. Our Divisions to host visitors and external partners to cultivate a ‘4th Helix’ ethos and enhance the impact of our work through close working and co-production throughout the research and innovation process.

We have a significant cohort of international students and a good record of widening participation in our programmes. Heads of Division will take the lead in developing our portfolio, attracting a diversity of students and improving how we teach and assess their work to ensure we continue to improve our standing as a leading provider of Higher Education in social and political sciences. Heads of Division will lead innovation in programme design and content and help to increase opportunities for internships, study abroad and placements for all of our students.

Our portfolio of programmes will continue to evolve and develop to address contemporary concerns and attract high-achieving ambitious learners to  study and work with us. There are opportunities to build on the legacy of Adam Smith, the work  of  the John Smith Centre and the Stevenson Trust as we seek to inspire the next generation of learners to engage with questions of politics, citizenship, political economy and political theory as they grapple with contemporary concerns in our unequal world. We prioritise engagement with contemporary research methods and analytics, including quantitative and ‘big’ data, predictive analytics and A.I.. The social and political sciences have a vital role to play in educating students and society large about the ethical and social implications of these new technologies, and to do so we need experienced and visionary leaders to help us to build competency in using the tools and datasets that they involve. At the same time, we will continue to give back to the city region, to educate successful graduates who can contribute to the workforce and work in partnership with key organisations and companies to improve the built environment, society and politics.

Our School has grown in recent years and with this comes the requirement to change our organisation and decision-making. The Heads of Division will take the lead in developing this new, sustainable and robust organisational shape for the School, enabling new ways of working, improving management and governance and ultimately, creating a better working environment for staff and a better learning environment for students.

Professor Anne Kerr
Professor of Science & Technology Studies and Head of School of Social and Political Science

About the University

The University of Glasgow has been changing the world since 1451. We are a world top 100 university and a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.

Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation, including eight Nobel Laureates, two UK Prime Ministers, three First Ministers of Scotland, 10 Fellows of the Royal Society and 11 Fellows of the British Academy. Our past achievements inspire our current world changers.

As a globally connected university, we work in partnership with others across the world to advance global solutions to real world problems. We are proud to be a founding member of the university networks Universitas 21 and The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities.

We are committed to tackling the most pressing global challenges facing humanity and the natural world. We are delivering against the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. We were the first European university to declare it would divest from fossil fuels by 2024 and the firs t in Scotland to declare a climate emergency.

We believe that everyone should have fair access to education. We are proud of our long tradition of helping talented people to fulfil their ambitions, regardless of their background or circumstances. Our University of Sanctuary status recognises the safe and welcoming environment we provide for refugees and asylum seekers.

We are home to The Hunterian, our museum and art gallery, one of the leading university museums in the world. We have the world’s largest permanent display of the work of James McNeill Whistler and the largest single holding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

World-Changers

Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation and our past achievements inspire our current world-changers.

  • 1776 -Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations and lays the foundations of modern economics
  • 1837 -James McCune Smith becomes the first African American to be awarded a medical degree
  • 1848 -Lord Kelvin proposes an absolute scale of temperature, now called the Kelvin Scale
  • 1894 -Marion Gilchrist if the first woman in Scotland to graduate in medicine
  • 1896 -John Macintyre opens the world’s first x-ray department
  • 1913 -Frederick Soddy discovers isotypes
  • 1926 -John Logie Baird invents the television
  • 1958 -Ian Donald shows us the first ultrasound image of a foetus
  • 1967 -Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovers radio pulsars
  • 1974 -Graham Teasdale and Bryan Jennett create the Glasgow Coma Scale
  • 2004 -Edwin Morgan becomes Scotland’s first National Poet
  • 2014 -Nicola Sturgeon becomes the first female First Minister of Scotland
  • 2015 -Sheila Rowan leads the Glasgow team that first detected gravitational waves
  • 2021 -David Macmillan receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

School of Social & Political Sciences

The School is a leading centre of interdisciplinary social science, bringing together research, innovation and student education to tackle the key social and political challenges of our time. We attract and support talented staff and students from across the world and work together and with key external partners to support a diverse, inclusive and collegiate centre of inquiry. Spanning the social science disciplines and working closely with arts, humanities and applied health fields in particular, we have a large portfolio of courses and programmes for everyone interested in the development and impact of economies and societies globally. Our research and teaching endeavours to empower young people and disadvantaged communities and address inequalities to deliver an economy that works for everyone. We promote tolerance and respect for difference in public life as a counter to mistrust and social exclusion and we are actively committed to recognising and responding to our legacies in how we work and study.

The School includes over 300 academic and research staff and a large community of undergraduate and postgraduate students. Our staff profile spans the social sciences, with a strong international profile. Our research and teaching is currently organised in five key subject areas of Economic and Social History, Central and Eastern European Studies, Politics and International Relations, Sociology and Urban Studies which will form part of the new Divisions. We prioritise interdisciplinary and partnership working with key areas of focus including migration, racism, democracy, security, global governance, media, digital society and communication, housing, sustainability and urban analytics, criminology, health and wellbeing. We work with a range of international research partners and H.E. providers and host a diverse portfolio of collaborative Erasmus Mundus programmes. Academic staff engage extensively with public and private sector partners to disseminate our research and exchange knowledge and we are proud of our record of impacting upon public debate, social and economic policy development and practice-based innovations.

The find out more about the reshaping project please click here.

Roles

Head of Political and International Studies Division (AQ2579)

Apply now

School of Social and Political Sciences
Role: Head of Division
Reports to: Head of School of Social and Political Sciences

Context

The School of Social and Political Sciences is implementing a new shape for the School from academic year 2024/25. This involves the creation of 3 new Divisions within the School: Political and International Studies, Sociological and Cultural Studies and Urban Studies and Social Policy.  Each Division will comprise several Subject Groups as set out below:

  • Political and International Studies: Central and Eastern European Studies, Economic and Social History, International Political Economy and Development, International Relations and Politics (staff head count: 120 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)
  • Sociological and Cultural Studies: Criminology, Media and Cultural Studies, Social Anthropology and Migration Studies, Sociology (staff head count 70 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)
  • Urban Studies and Social Policy: Place and Built Environment, Social and Urban Policy, Urban Analytics (staff head count 70 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)

This new shape creates a leadership team of 3 Heads of Division to support the Head of School. Heads of Division will be supported by Divisional leadership teams including Heads of each Subject Group within the Division.

The Head of Division will report to the Head of School and will perform a pivotal and instrumental academic leadership role in the School’s organisational structure, carrying significant accountability for providing a coherent academic vision and direction for the Division and its role in the School. The Division is a key organisational unit of the School, each led by an appointed Head of Division with accountability for the strategic leadership and development of the Subject Groups within the Division. The Head of Division is financially accountable and the recognised budget holder for their respective Division, and a full member of the School Executive. The Head of Division is responsible for determining and successfully delivering the strategic direction of the academic disciplines within the Division remit, aligned with the strategic imperatives of the School; supporting the Division’s research and knowledge transfer learning, teaching & scholarship and internationalisation ambitions; and contributing to the success of the School. This role embodies responsibility for academic staff and students in the Division.

Purpose:

  • Champion the provision of high-quality teaching, research and scholarly activities within the Division ensuring a stimulating, collegial and well-managed environment. The post holder will work in partnership with a Division leadership team.
  • Contribute to the delivery of the School’s strategy including promoting excellence in the Division’s contribution to the University’s Research & Knowledge Exchange, Learning & Teaching and Internationalisation strategies.
  • Be accountable for ensuring the overall delivery of the student experience.
  • Be accountable for the effective governance and leadership of the Division including, adherence to academic, research and relevant policy related principles.
  • Lead, develop and motivate a high performing Division and its staff, engendering a culture of excellence, accountability and transparency, ensuring alignment with the University’s Strategic Plan.
  • Be responsible for the effective and efficient use of allocated resources to maximise the Division’s contribution to the School, College and University strategy.
  • Play a major role in the strategic development of the School.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop and deliver a compelling, cohesive and ambitious vision for the Division aligned to School strategic objectives.
  • Actively influence and contribute to the development and delivery of a compelling and sustainable School strategy.
  • Manage the Division’s academic, physical and financial resources to maximize its contribution to the growth and success of the School.
  • Provide academic leadership and direction to the Division, embracing the range of subject disciplines represented in the Division, by providing a coherent academic vision and direction accordingly.
  • Lead, develop and motivate a high performing Division and its staff, engendering a culture of excellence, accountability and transparency, including responsibility for the career development and performance management of academic staff within the Division.
  • Attract, manage and retain staff to achieve academic excellence, supported by Performance and Development Review processes, and contribute to the successful development of the Division and the School.
  • Work closely with the School Deputy Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange to identify, promote and contribute resources to developing the Division’s research strengths and broader research portfolio. This will include identifying and supporting opportunities for research and programme developments internally, externally and internationally, both within existing funding streams, and where possible, through multi-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Work closely with the School Deputy Head of Learning and Teaching to formulate and implement local aspects of the Learning and Teaching strategy which enhance the quality of the provision, ensuring that students are engaged fully and that the quality assurance of all provision is carried out in line with University policies.
  • Promote engagement of students in critical evaluation of the education provision on an ongoing basis, taking cognisance of the needs of the diverse student body.
  • Ensure academic staff in the Division design, develop and deliver (undergraduate and postgraduate) degree programmes and relevant courses for agreed interdisciplinary degree programmes to the necessary standards.
  • Actively develop and promote the Division’s international academic profile and enhance its international recruitment and partnership development in line with the University’s Internationalisation strategy.
  • Develop Division strategies and associated financial and operational plans in partnership with staff and the Head of School; to allocate Division resources accordingly, with clear objectives, targets and associated measurements.
  • Support cross-Division, School and College developments in research, teaching and internationalisation.
  • Support and promote knowledge transfer between the University and non-academic users of research through appropriate mechanisms.
  • Ensure close links are maintained with the relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies and that the Division meets the required quality, accreditation training and development needs of the professions.
  • Encourage, support and facilitate entrepreneurial activity, identifying and pursuing external funding and income–generating activities for the Division.
  • Ensure that all relevant University policies and procedures are communicated across the Division.
  • Forge and maintain external relations essential to the Division’s business, promoting the University as required to external bodies and organisations and enhancing its reputation, profile and influence in Scottish, UK and international forums.
  • Act as an ambassador for the Division and School, raising its profile externally including internationally and embodying good practice,
  • Deputise, when required, for the Head of School, in connection with School business.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

  • Academic – Level 10 on Research and Teaching track (Professor, including Clinical).
  • PhD or demonstrable evidence of equivalent training and experience.

Skills & experience

  • Successful and sustained leadership that is evidenced internationally.
  • Successful track record of academic leadership and team building.
  • Leadership style that engenders a positive collaborative culture, sustaining high performing and effective teams that engage with colleagues across the University.
  • Significant experience at a senior level in an academic based environment.
  • Well-developed understanding of the priorities, operation and strategy of relevant funding bodies as evidenced by a track record of funded research.
  • Proven experience of managing staff and their performance.
  • History of successful training and development of early career academics, including PhD students.
  • Demonstrable track record in strategic and operational management and planning.
  • Experience of financial planning and resource allocation.
  • Experience of leading and successfully initiating and implementing change.

Personal qualities

  • Ability to identify, create and articulate a coherent academic vision for the Division.
  • Ability to combine and integrate the skills and expertise of highly motivated staff into multi-disciplinary teams, developing and building upon existing collaborations as well as creating/facilitating new opportunities.
  • Ability to engage a range of internal and external stakeholders to collaborate in identifying problems and appropriate solutions, within agreed timetables and budgets.
  • Ability to manage resources to ensure that the Division is self-sustaining from income generated from research funders and other sources including teaching and research student supervision.
  • Ability to motivate academic staff to create, develop and deliver innovative postgraduate taught degree programmes, working closely with Head of School.
  • Experienced in encouraging and supporting entrepreneurial activity.
  • Fellowship of a subject specific society and international visiting appointment at a leading (top 200 global or top 3 in a specific country) international university.
Apply now

Head of Sociological and Cultural Studies Division (AQ2581)

Apply now

School of Social and Political Sciences
Role: Head of Division
Reports to: Head of School of Social and Political Sciences

Context

The School of Social and Political Sciences is implementing a new shape for the School from academic year 2024/25. This involves the creation of 3 new Divisions within the School: Political and International Studies, Sociological and Cultural Studies and Urban Studies and Social Policy.  Each Division will comprise several Subject Groups as set out below:

  • Political and International Studies: Central and Eastern European Studies, Economic and Social History, International Political Economy and Development, International Relations and Politics (staff head count: 120 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)
  • Sociological and Cultural Studies: Criminology, Media and Cultural Studies, Social Anthropology and Migration Studies, Sociology (staff head count 70 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)
  • Urban Studies and Social Policy: Place and Built Environment, Social and Urban Policy, Urban Analytics (staff head count 70 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)

This new shape creates a leadership team of 3 Heads of Division to support the Head of School. Heads of Division will be supported by Divisional leadership teams including Heads of each Subject Group within the Division.

The Head of Division will report to the Head of School and will perform a pivotal and instrumental academic leadership role in the School’s organisational structure, carrying significant accountability for providing a coherent academic vision and direction for the Division and its role in the School. The Division is a key organisational unit of the School, each led by an appointed Head of Division with accountability for the strategic leadership and development of the Subject Groups within the Division. The Head of Division is financially accountable and the recognised budget holder for their respective Division, and a full member of the School Executive. The Head of Division is responsible for determining and successfully delivering the strategic direction of the academic disciplines within the Division remit, aligned with the strategic imperatives of the School; supporting the Division’s research and knowledge transfer learning, teaching & scholarship and internationalisation ambitions; and contributing to the success of the School. This role embodies responsibility for academic staff and students in the Division.

Purpose:

  • Champion the provision of high-quality teaching, research and scholarly activities within the Division ensuring a stimulating, collegial and well-managed environment. The post holder will work in partnership with a Division leadership team.
  • Contribute to the delivery of the School’s strategy including promoting excellence in the Division’s contribution to the University’s Research & Knowledge Exchange, Learning & Teaching and Internationalisation strategies.
  • Be accountable for ensuring the overall delivery of the student experience.
  • Be accountable for the effective governance and leadership of the Division including, adherence to academic, research and relevant policy related principles.
  • Lead, develop and motivate a high performing Division and its staff, engendering a culture of excellence, accountability and transparency, ensuring alignment with the University’s Strategic Plan.
  • Be responsible for the effective and efficient use of allocated resources to maximise the Division’s contribution to the School, College and University strategy.
  • Play a major role in the strategic development of the School.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop and deliver a compelling, cohesive and ambitious vision for the Division aligned to School strategic objectives.
  • Actively influence and contribute to the development and delivery of a compelling and sustainable School strategy.
  • Manage the Division’s academic, physical and financial resources to maximize its contribution to the growth and success of the School.
  • Provide academic leadership and direction to the Division, embracing the range of subject disciplines represented in the Division, by providing a coherent academic vision and direction accordingly.
  • Lead, develop and motivate a high performing Division and its staff, engendering a culture of excellence, accountability and transparency, including responsibility for the career development and performance management of academic staff within the Division.
  • Attract, manage and retain staff to achieve academic excellence, supported by Performance and Development Review processes, and contribute to the successful development of the Division and the School.
  • Work closely with the School Deputy Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange to identify, promote and contribute resources to developing the Division’s research strengths and broader research portfolio. This will include identifying and supporting opportunities for research and programme developments internally, externally and internationally, both within existing funding streams, and where possible, through multi-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Work closely with the School Deputy Head of Learning and Teaching to formulate and implement local aspects of the Learning and Teaching strategy which enhance the quality of the provision, ensuring that students are engaged fully and that the quality assurance of all provision is carried out in line with University policies.
  • Promote engagement of students in critical evaluation of the education provision on an ongoing basis, taking cognisance of the needs of the diverse student body.
  • Ensure academic staff in the Division design, develop and deliver (undergraduate and postgraduate) degree programmes and relevant courses for agreed interdisciplinary degree programmes to the necessary standards.
  • Actively develop and promote the Division’s international academic profile and enhance its international recruitment and partnership development in line with the University’s Internationalisation strategy.
  • Develop Division strategies and associated financial and operational plans in partnership with staff and the Head of School; to allocate Division resources accordingly, with clear objectives, targets and associated measurements.
  • Support cross-Division, School and College developments in research, teaching and internationalisation.
  • Support and promote knowledge transfer between the University and non-academic users of research through appropriate mechanisms.
  • Ensure close links are maintained with the relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies and that the Division meets the required quality, accreditation training and development needs of the professions.
  • Encourage, support and facilitate entrepreneurial activity, identifying and pursuing external funding and income–generating activities for the Division.
  • Ensure that all relevant University policies and procedures are communicated across the Division.
  • Forge and maintain external relations essential to the Division’s business, promoting the University as required to external bodies and organisations and enhancing its reputation, profile and influence in Scottish, UK and international forums.
  • Act as an ambassador for the Division and School, raising its profile externally including internationally and embodying good practice,
  • Deputise, when required, for the Head of School, in connection with School business.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

  • Academic – Level 10 on Research and Teaching track (Professor, including Clinical).
  • PhD or demonstrable evidence of equivalent training and experience.

Skills & experience

  • Successful and sustained leadership that is evidenced internationally.
  • Successful track record of academic leadership and team building.
  • Leadership style that engenders a positive collaborative culture, sustaining high performing and effective teams that engage with colleagues across the University.
  • Significant experience at a senior level in an academic based environment.
  • Well-developed understanding of the priorities, operation and strategy of relevant funding bodies as evidenced by a track record of funded research.
  • Proven experience of managing staff and their performance.
  • History of successful training and development of early career academics, including PhD students.
  • Demonstrable track record in strategic and operational management and planning.
  • Experience of financial planning and resource allocation.
  • Experience of leading and successfully initiating and implementing change.

Personal qualities

  • Ability to identify, create and articulate a coherent academic vision for the Division.
  • Ability to combine and integrate the skills and expertise of highly motivated staff into multi-disciplinary teams, developing and building upon existing collaborations as well as creating/facilitating new opportunities.
  • Ability to engage a range of internal and external stakeholders to collaborate in identifying problems and appropriate solutions, within agreed timetables and budgets.
  • Ability to manage resources to ensure that the Division is self-sustaining from income generated from research funders and other sources including teaching and research student supervision.
  • Ability to motivate academic staff to create, develop and deliver innovative postgraduate taught degree programmes, working closely with Head of School.
  • Experienced in encouraging and supporting entrepreneurial activity.
  • Fellowship of a subject specific society and international visiting appointment at a leading (top 200 global or top 3 in a specific country) international university.
Apply now

Head of Urban Studies and Social Policy Division (AQ2583)

Apply now

School of Social and Political Sciences
Role: Head of Division
Reports to: Head of School of Social and Political Sciences

Context

The School of Social and Political Sciences is implementing a new shape for the School from academic year 2024/25. This involves the creation of 3 new Divisions within the School: Political and International Studies, Sociological and Cultural Studies and Urban Studies and Social Policy.  Each Division will comprise several Subject Groups as set out below:

  • Political and International Studies: Central and Eastern European Studies, Economic and Social History, International Political Economy and Development, International Relations and Politics (staff head count: 120 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)
  • Sociological and Cultural Studies: Criminology, Media and Cultural Studies, Social Anthropology and Migration Studies, Sociology (staff head count 70 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)
  • Urban Studies and Social Policy: Place and Built Environment, Social and Urban Policy, Urban Analytics (staff head count 70 plus Research-only staff and PGR Tutors)

This new shape creates a leadership team of 3 Heads of Division to support the Head of School. Heads of Division will be supported by Divisional leadership teams including Heads of each Subject Group within the Division.

The Head of Division will report to the Head of School and will perform a pivotal and instrumental academic leadership role in the School’s organisational structure, carrying significant accountability for providing a coherent academic vision and direction for the Division and its role in the School. The Division is a key organisational unit of the School, each led by an appointed Head of Division with accountability for the strategic leadership and development of the Subject Groups within the Division. The Head of Division is financially accountable and the recognised budget holder for their respective Division, and a full member of the School Executive. The Head of Division is responsible for determining and successfully delivering the strategic direction of the academic disciplines within the Division remit, aligned with the strategic imperatives of the School; supporting the Division’s research and knowledge transfer learning, teaching & scholarship and internationalisation ambitions; and contributing to the success of the School. This role embodies responsibility for academic staff and students in the Division.

Purpose:

  • Champion the provision of high-quality teaching, research and scholarly activities within the Division ensuring a stimulating, collegial and well-managed environment. The post holder will work in partnership with a Division leadership team.
  • Contribute to the delivery of the School’s strategy including promoting excellence in the Division’s contribution to the University’s Research & Knowledge Exchange, Learning & Teaching and Internationalisation strategies.
  • Be accountable for ensuring the overall delivery of the student experience.
  • Be accountable for the effective governance and leadership of the Division including, adherence to academic, research and relevant policy related principles.
  • Lead, develop and motivate a high performing Division and its staff, engendering a culture of excellence, accountability and transparency, ensuring alignment with the University’s Strategic Plan.
  • Be responsible for the effective and efficient use of allocated resources to maximise the Division’s contribution to the School, College and University strategy.
  • Play a major role in the strategic development of the School.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop and deliver a compelling, cohesive and ambitious vision for the Division aligned to School strategic objectives.
  • Actively influence and contribute to the development and delivery of a compelling and sustainable School strategy.
  • Manage the Division’s academic, physical and financial resources to maximize its contribution to the growth and success of the School.
  • Provide academic leadership and direction to the Division, embracing the range of subject disciplines represented in the Division, by providing a coherent academic vision and direction accordingly.
  • Lead, develop and motivate a high performing Division and its staff, engendering a culture of excellence, accountability and transparency, including responsibility for the career development and performance management of academic staff within the Division.
  • Attract, manage and retain staff to achieve academic excellence, supported by Performance and Development Review processes, and contribute to the successful development of the Division and the School.
  • Work closely with the School Deputy Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange to identify, promote and contribute resources to developing the Division’s research strengths and broader research portfolio. This will include identifying and supporting opportunities for research and programme developments internally, externally and internationally, both within existing funding streams, and where possible, through multi-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Work closely with the School Deputy Head of Learning and Teaching to formulate and implement local aspects of the Learning and Teaching strategy which enhance the quality of the provision, ensuring that students are engaged fully and that the quality assurance of all provision is carried out in line with University policies.
  • Promote engagement of students in critical evaluation of the education provision on an ongoing basis, taking cognisance of the needs of the diverse student body.
  • Ensure academic staff in the Division design, develop and deliver (undergraduate and postgraduate) degree programmes and relevant courses for agreed interdisciplinary degree programmes to the necessary standards.
  • Actively develop and promote the Division’s international academic profile and enhance its international recruitment and partnership development in line with the University’s Internationalisation strategy.
  • Develop Division strategies and associated financial and operational plans in partnership with staff and the Head of School; to allocate Division resources accordingly, with clear objectives, targets and associated measurements.
  • Support cross-Division, School and College developments in research, teaching and internationalisation.
  • Support and promote knowledge transfer between the University and non-academic users of research through appropriate mechanisms.
  • Ensure close links are maintained with the relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies and that the Division meets the required quality, accreditation training and development needs of the professions.
  • Encourage, support and facilitate entrepreneurial activity, identifying and pursuing external funding and income–generating activities for the Division.
  • Ensure that all relevant University policies and procedures are communicated across the Division.
  • Forge and maintain external relations essential to the Division’s business, promoting the University as required to external bodies and organisations and enhancing its reputation, profile and influence in Scottish, UK and international forums.
  • Act as an ambassador for the Division and School, raising its profile externally including internationally and embodying good practice,
  • Deputise, when required, for the Head of School, in connection with School business.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

  • Academic – Level 10 on Research and Teaching track (Professor, including Clinical).
  • PhD or demonstrable evidence of equivalent training and experience.

Skills & experience

  • Successful and sustained leadership that is evidenced internationally.
  • Successful track record of academic leadership and team building.
  • Leadership style that engenders a positive collaborative culture, sustaining high performing and effective teams that engage with colleagues across the University.
  • Significant experience at a senior level in an academic based environment.
  • Well-developed understanding of the priorities, operation and strategy of relevant funding bodies as evidenced by a track record of funded research.
  • Proven experience of managing staff and their performance.
  • History of successful training and development of early career academics, including PhD students.
  • Demonstrable track record in strategic and operational management and planning.
  • Experience of financial planning and resource allocation.
  • Experience of leading and successfully initiating and implementing change.

Personal qualities

  • Ability to identify, create and articulate a coherent academic vision for the Division.
  • Ability to combine and integrate the skills and expertise of highly motivated staff into multi-disciplinary teams, developing and building upon existing collaborations as well as creating/facilitating new opportunities.
  • Ability to engage a range of internal and external stakeholders to collaborate in identifying problems and appropriate solutions, within agreed timetables and budgets.
  • Ability to manage resources to ensure that the Division is self-sustaining from income generated from research funders and other sources including teaching and research student supervision.
  • Ability to motivate academic staff to create, develop and deliver innovative postgraduate taught degree programmes, working closely with Head of School.
  • Experienced in encouraging and supporting entrepreneurial activity.
  • Fellowship of a subject specific society and international visiting appointment at a leading (top 200 global or top 3 in a specific country) international university.
Apply now

Terms of appointment

  • Detail on professorial zones and grade 10 salary boundaries can be found here.
  • This is a full-time post with 0.4-0.6fte dedicated to the leadership role (depending on size of division and other commitments, with an additional allocation of up to 0.35fte for research) and will be for a term of 4 years, with possible extension for a further 2 years.
  • The post-holder will have the opportunity to appoint a 0.4 fte G6 research assistant to support their research activity during their period of office.
  • Following the completion of a 4 year plus term, a 1 year sabbatical period will be offered and the post-holder will remain as a Professor in the Division.
  • Training and career-development will be provided throughout the term of office including mentoring and shadowing of Head of School to support the post-holder to progress to a more senior leadership position.

How to apply & contact

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Glasgow University. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 29 April 2024.

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter outlining your motivation and details of how you meet the qualification, skills and experience criteria of the person specification.
  • Please include details of two referees in your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

Should you wish to discuss the roles in strict confidence, please contact Imogen Wilde on +44(0) 7864 652 633, imogen.wilde@andersonquigley.com or Ed Pritchard on +44 (0)7980 817 927, ed.pritchard@andersonquigley.com.

Final Panel Interviews – Thursday 6th and Friday 7th June 2024

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