Head of School (GSA, Literature and Languages, Music and Media)

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FASS Faculty Admin
Location:  Guildford
Salary:  Competitive Salary
Post Type:  Full Time
Closing Date:  23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 03 March 2024
Interview Date:  Thursday 14 March 2024
Reference:  007724

The University of Surrey is home to an international community of staff and students coming together to address global challenges and deliver innovation and real-world impact. The Times Higher Education rated Surrey 46th in the world for impact and for the REF 2021 Surrey was placed 33rd for overall research quality. All of this is underpinned by our exceptional teaching which inspires and empowers students for personal and professional success. Inventive and forward thinking, our heritage shows a recurring theme of doing things differently and achieving notable results, such as a number of Queen’s Anniversary Prizes and growth activities through our evolving research institutes in Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability, our 5G/6G communications and industry links through our thriving Research Park. Our interdisciplinary strengths allow the Faculty to constantly explore new opportunities to cross boundaries in Research and Education. Consistent investment has built up an impressive infrastructure that further supports this whilst offering a truly world-class learning environment including our overseas campus in Dalian China, ‘the Surrey International Institute’ which offers dual degree programmes with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics.

As the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences moves to a new structure, with three new, large, interdisciplinary schools, we are recruiting to three new Head of School roles. The position of Head of School (GSA, Literature, Languages, Music and Media) offers a unique opportunity to shape the School’s ways of working, governance structures, and name, to bring together currently separate units and take advantage of the opportunities offered to each discipline by being part of a larger, multi-disciplinary unit, and so further develop the School’s excellence across its education, research, and other activities. This School groups subjects that involve the study or practice of human cultures and arts in an environment that encapsulates what it is to be human, drawing people together through creative art forms and interpreting the human experience to inform new solutions to key societal challenges. The new school supports our capacity to create realistic creative industry working environments, where, for example, creative writers, actors, filmmakers, game designers, and critics work together on real-world outputs. Overall, our school is home to a diverse student population of approximately c1164, including c90 PGR students c285 academic staff (118 FTE) and two cognate research Units of Assessment (UoA). 

About the role

The Head of School drives forward the University strategy and leads the delivery of strategic objectives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial approaches. Reporting to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, the postholder will take strategic leadership of the School, bringing the different disciplinary cultures and identities of its newly combined component parts together in mutually enriching ways. The role holder will also contribute to pan-university activities defined by the broader strategic priorities set by the Executive Board. Whilst the successful candidate will be appointed to a permanent senior academic post, the Head of School role is for a fixed 5-year tenure, with the potential to extend, subject to internal processes. 

About you

To be successful in this role you will draw on an established academic track record of research and leadership relevant to discipline. You are likely to be an inspiring and inclusive research-active leader who can articulate a compelling vision for the new school and inspire confidence and engagement. Key to this is embracing the whole ethos of an interdisciplinary approach across research and teaching to innovate and deliver a contemporary school-wide strategy. We work collaboratively and so key to developing the new school is a high level of proficiency in developing strategic partnerships within the School, wider University and with external stakeholders. If you are a pioneering academic leader, passionate about making a difference to the academic mission of the university and leading your School to the next level, we want to hear from you.    

How to apply

Please attach your CV and a cover letter evidencing your suitability for the role against the essential criteria in the relevant job description and why you are interested in the opportunity.

Please see the candidate pack and job description for more about us and the role. If you have any queries or would like to have an informal conversation with the PVC Executive Dean, please contact [email protected] . Alternatively, please apply via our University of Surrey website. 

What we can offer

The University of Surrey is a prestigious UK University set in a beautiful campus in Guildford, half an hour’s journey from the centre of London. In addition to a generous salary and relocation support where eligible, we offer a vibrant and forward-thinking working environment, childcare assistance, first-class sports and leisure facilities and access to a variety of staff development opportunities to help you fulfil your potential.

The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all. We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community.  

Closing deadline: 3rd March 2024

Interviews: 14th March 2024