Associate Dean

As the University for the Creative Arts moves into a new era, we are looking for an ambitious and strategic leader to take on the role of Associate Dean at our Canterbury or Epsom campus. This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping academic excellence, student success and industry engagement, ensuring UCA continues to thrive as a sector leader in creative education.

Working closely with the Executive Dean, you will play a pivotal role in delivering the University strategic priorities and contributing to the ambitions to grow our student community - you will also bring the world of work closer to university life and support the development of new revenue streams. As a member of the Campus Executive, you will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to advance our ambition of being the sector leader in practice-based creative education, equipping students to excel in the creative industries. You will also be instrumental in leading and embedding change within an evolving organisation, ensuring we not only meet but exceed sector expectations.

Your Impact

This is a role for a proactive, strategic, and adaptable leader who can:

• Deliver growth, ensuring student recruitment and retention remain strong.
• Strengthen academic and research excellence, improving outcomes across teaching and knowledge exchange.
• Expand industry engagement, building partnerships that drive innovation and income generation.
• Lead change effectively, supporting teams through transformation with confidence and clarity.
• Champion an inclusive and enabling culture, ensuring staff and students can reach their full potential.

About You

We are looking for a highly motivated leader with:

• A strong track record in senior academic leadership, managing teams and budgets effectively.
• A deep understanding of the creative industries and their future needs.
• A proven ability to drive change, ensuring measurable improvements in student experience and research.
• A commitment to building external partnerships and securing new revenue opportunities.
• An authentic, inclusive and empowering approach, bringing out the best in teams and individuals.

Why Join UCA?

For nearly 160 years, UCA has nurtured generations of artists, designers, makers, and innovators. With campuses in Farnham, Epsom, and Canterbury, a presence at Maidstone Studios, and a growing global footprint, we are shaping a creative future that supports and empowers talent worldwide.

This is a high-impact leadership role in a complex and ambitious organisation, offering a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference.

If you are ready to take on this challenge, drive change, and shape the future of creative education, we encourage you to apply or contact us for an informal discussion.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 23rd March 2025. Applications must include a full CV and a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how your knowledge, skills and experience match the essential criteria being sought (no more than two pages).

At UCA, creativity and innovation are at the heart of what we do. Our legacy of educating eager and passionate artists, makers and thinkers runs back almost 160 years, and today we’re helping shape a global future that supports and nourishes talent worldwide.

Our campuses across Surrey and Kent are vibrant communities, each specialising in different areas of the creative industries. We are also home to a thriving research hub, with academic experts and fellows leading the way in research on sustainability, design, textiles, animation, history and culture, and more.

Are you ready to share your passion for creativity with the next generation of innovators? If so, we want to hear from you.