Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering

Vacancy terms: Full-time, four year term as Head of College

Salary details: Competitive with a £30,000 additional responsibility allowance for tenure as Head of College

Hours per week: 37.5

About the role

The University of Leicester is renowned for its world-changing research and high-quality, inspirational teaching, and proud to have been awarded a Gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), reflecting our outstanding student experience and outcomes. Our commitment to excellence has also been recognised through recent accolades, including being named the Daily Mail University of the Year 2025 and shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year in 2024.

We are seeking an exceptional candidate for the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering. The College comprises five research-led Schools: Chemistry, Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy and Geography, Geology and the Environment. Together, these Schools teach campus-based undergraduate and masters students, undertaking diverse programmes of study, through a range of laboratory-based subjects. The College hosts Space Park Leicester that facilitates a collaborative community of space engineers, academics and industry partners working at the forefront of the UK space sector.

Researchers within the College have international reputations and collaborations throughout the world, making it an exciting environment for both research and teaching. Generating more than a third of the University’s research income, the College has a wide range of innovative and exciting research and international networks which facilitate collaborative work focused on theoretical and real-world solutions.

The role of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester will lead and drive an ambitious Citizens of Change: Our second century | University of Leicester strategy and vision across the UK and internationally, leaving an impressive footprint in the delivery of our Research Inspired Education, ‘Our Citizens’ and World Leading Research. You will focus on securing the financial sustainability and excellent performance for the College, navigating priorities and delivering sustained growth for the College and University.

Reporting directly to the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, you will be a member of the University Executive Board. In this role you will drive innovation, lead on strategic business development opportunities and partnerships including active collaborations with national and international stakeholders in education, research, government and industry.

About you

This is a high profile and pivotal appointment for the institution and an exciting opportunity for a highly credible academic, with a successful track record in research and teaching, together with outstanding leadership skills, strategic development and management experience gained in a research-intensive environment.

You will be an accomplished communicator who can lead, inspire and motivate colleagues, and crucially you must be capable of leading change and delivering against the strategic priorities of the University. You will be committed to enhancing the student experience and improving the working environment for staff, ensuring academic excellence, in all its forms, across the diverse disciplines. This role presents an opportunity to have a real impact on a vital and ambitious institution.

For further information on the role and its responsibilities, please see the Candidate Brochure on the right-hand side of this page.

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and can be made to Professor Henrietta O’Connor, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor via e-mail to hso1@le.ac.uk.

Applications should consist of a curriculum vitae detailing relevant qualifications and experience, full employment history and achievements. CVs should be accompanied by a two page covering letter describing briefly how you meet the criteria outlined in the Job Summary Form, your achievements, the reasons for your interest in the role and what you'd like to achieve in the role.

The first selection stage will take place remotely on 19 March 2025, with the final selection stage taking place in-person on 09 April 2025.

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world. 

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive. 

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Advert closes midnight on: 28 February 2025