Head of School (Economics, Law, Politics and Sociology)

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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:  Wednesday 13 March 2024
Reference:  007624

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, 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 (Economics, Law, Politics and Sociology) 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. Our new school groups together subjects that are concerned with exploring, interrogating, and enriching the changing conditions humans face in the contemporary world. The integration of Economics, Law, Politics and Sociology will support real-world interactions on pressing societal issues where lawyers and law makers, social scientists, political scientists, and economists can work together to collectively drive positive change in society, realising the Faculty’s new mission. Based on current enrolments, this School has a student population of c2290, including 90 PGR students and is home to c158 academic staff (128FTE) with four cognate research Units of Assessment. 

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 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 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: 13th March 2024