Vacancy Type/Job category
Management & Professional
Department
Faculty of Social Sciences
Salary
£54,421 - £63,059 per annum.
Location
University of Warwick, Coventry
Vacancy Overview
Full-time, permanent position.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a high calibre individual to lead the professional support services for a new School in the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS). The new School (name TBC), will include the Department of Education Studies (DES), Department of Applied Linguistics (AL), the Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR), the Centre for Teacher Education (CTE), and the Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL).
The successful candidate will work closely with the Head of School, and Heads of Departments, who provide the academic leadership for the constituent disciplines, supporting them to ensure all aspects of delivery are aligned with the strategic vision.
With exceptional project management skills, you will efficiently manage a complex and high-volume workload, whilst remaining calm and resilient. You will be responsible for the translation of strategy and policy into operational delivery, seeking continuous improvement in the School's delivery, motivating the teams to produce their best service to support FSS staff and students.
You will have significant management experience at an operational level, which is preferably gained within an HE environment. You will have experience of delivering excellent customer service through effective team working and be able to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a matrix organisational context.
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.
For further information or to arrange an informal conversation to discuss the role please contact Jackie Clarke via [email protected].
Interview Date: TBC.
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE
To work with the Head of School (HoS) and the Senior Management Team (SMT) to provide high level professional leadership and management support for the strategic direction and delivery of the School's plans and objectives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy and Planning
1. To work with the Head of School and Senior Management Team undertaking a lead role in the professional management support for the development and delivery of the School's vision and strategic plan across all areas of activity.
2. Act as the intermediary between the School and other departments/the University representing the School at a senior level, both within the University and externally (including partnership with schools and FE colleges).
3. Ensure that the School's communications are effective and aligned with both the School's and the University's strategic objectives.
4. Manage the effective design, delivery and support for the School's governance structures ensuring that they are fully compliant with University regulations.
5. Build effective relationships with the Directors of all central services ensuring that the School's administrative structure and processes are fully aligned with University systems and processes.
6. Provide high level business development support for new School initiatives, including identifying new opportunities, business planning, the preparation of business cases and the provision of high-level professional leadership and management support for the implementation of the new activity.
7. Work with the Head of School to ensure that the development and implementation of the School's strategic objectives is effectively coordinated and supported.
Teaching & Learning
1. Work with Academic Directors of Studies undertaking a lead role in the development and delivery of the School's education strategic plans to include award and non-award bearing provision.
2. Provide oversight and support to the Academic Directors of Studies, Departmental Administrators and Academic Administrators in the School's Teaching Excellence Group (TEG) preparation and submission.
3. Provide oversight and support to the Academic Directors of Studies, Departmental Administrators and Academic Administrators on the delivery of the School's Institutional Teaching and Learning Review (ITLR) action plan. Supporting the Academic Directors of Studies, Departmental Administrators and Academic Administrators on the preparation of documentation for future ITLR or other internal external quality assurance reviews.
4. Act as a key member of the Senior Management Team advising the School on academic standards, quality assurance, curriculum and programme design and regulatory compliance (including the statutory compliance of the national Initial Teacher Training criteria).
5. Act as a source of expertise and School authority on matters relating to teaching quality. Lead on responses to student complaints, appeals and teaching related Freedom of Information requests.
Research
1. Support the Director of Research and Research Administrators in the School's Research Excellence Framework (REF) preparation and submission, including the delivery of the School's Research Excellence Group (REG) Action Plan.
2. Develop and implement a research income pipeline in conjunction with the Head of School, Directors of Research and Impact, and Research Administrators.
Finance
1. To prepare and administer the School's budget and five-year plan, working closely with the University Finance Office, including assisting with the development and implementation of long-term financial strategies to meet School objectives.
2. Ensure the effective management and overview of the School's annual income and expenditure in line with the budget and University financial regulations providing high level reports to the Head of School and Senior Management Team.
HR and Staff Management
1. To lead and manage the professional services team in the School, including on-going review of the effectiveness of the support structures to provide excellent professional support for the strategic aims of the School.
2. Work as a member of the SMT to promote and embed a positive working culture and collegiate environment to enable all staff to reach their full potential and to understand how their work contributes to the School's goals.
3. To monitor, administer and implement HR policies and procedures for the appointment development and support of academic and professional services staff.
Operations
1. To manage ongoing and future requirements regarding facilities, accommodation, and equipment acting as Health and Safety Officer for the School. This will include the provision of guidance to support future developments and needs, undertaking appropriate discussions and negotiations with relevant University service departments and liaison with estates and others on any major works.
2. To ensure that the School complies with data protection, freedom of information, health and safety policies, confidentiality, sustainability, and other legal and ethical responsibilities, ensuring that risk assessments are conducted and that robust procedures are developed, implemented, understood, and adhered to for all School compliance activities.
General
1. The above duties are not exhaustive and may be subject to change. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties within the scope and grading of the post.
Person Specification
The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.
Essential Criteria 1
A good first degree (2.1 or above) or equivalent experience. (a)
Essential Criteria 2
Postgraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification or equivalent experience. (a)
Essential Criteria 3
Significant administrative management experience in a complex, customer-facing environment, preferably in higher education. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 4
Extensive budgetary management experience. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 5
Staff management experience of leading teams with diverse areas of expertise. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 6
Experience of supporting decision making processes. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 7
Experience of leading and managing change. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 8
Experience of working with and supporting a range of senior academic leaders. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 9
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate information into implementable action plans. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 10
Excellent written and oral communication skills. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 11
Highly developed negotiating skills, with proven ability to demonstrate diplomacy in sensitive situations; effective problem-solving and conflict- resolution skills. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 12
Creativity and entrepreneurialism. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 13
Knowledge of, and practical experience in, the use of software applications (email, word processing, spreadsheets, graphics/presentation packages). (a,c)
Further Particulars
The University has approved the reconfiguration of five departments and centres within the Faculty of Social Sciences into a new School, with the aim of increasing collaboration and efficiency, strengthening identity, and benefiting from closer collaboration at the Faculty level. The consultation process has highlighted such benefits as critical mass, resilience, reduction of administrative burdens, and greater capacity for research and teaching opportunities. Please find information on each of the constituent departments and centres via the links below:
Applied Linguistics - University of Warwick.
Education Studies - University of Warwick.
Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR) (warwick.ac.uk).
Centre for Lifelong Learning - University of Warwick.
Centre for Teacher Education (warwick.ac.uk).
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University of Warwick holds an Athena SWAN Silver award; a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. Further information about the work of the University in relation to Athena SWAN can be found at the following link: Athena Swan (warwick.ac.uk)
The University of Warwick is one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University alliance, whose aim is to become by 2025 an open, multicultural, confederated operation of connected campuses.
Right to work in the UK
We wish to advise applicants that this role is not eligible for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa. If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK you will need to check the UK Government website page Apply for a UK visa to see if you are eligible to obtain right to work in the UK through one of the other UK immigration routes before you make your application.
Benefits and Rewards
Please refer to this link for a full list of our employee benefits here at Warwick here.
Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy
As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University's Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.
Closing Date
27 Jun 2027