Dean - Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology Candidate Information Pack
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Welcome.
As Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Northampton, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the role of Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology (FAST). The most diverse in terms of the disciplines of our three faculties, FAST supports excellence in education, research and knowledge exchange. Having gained Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, we are steadily improving all aspects of our provision with the goal of achieving Gold in the next TEF exercise. We are proud of our track record in research and contribution to knowledge creation, and we are building our relationships with external stakeholders across the County of Northamptonshire, nationally, and globally. We are looking for a leader who values all our activity, and all the disciplines represented in the Faculty. In challenging external circumstances the University of Northampton has maintained strong student recruitment, and the new Dean will join an able, collegiate and ambitious University leadership team.
The next era will demand strategic leadership as we navigate new qualifications frameworks, and ongoing funding constraints, while maintaining staff morale. At the University of Northampton, we take immense pride in our educational offer, our ability to transform the lives of those who study with us, and the nurturing environment we provide for our diverse community of students and staff. If you want to be part of our community, we’d love to hear from you. I encourage you to explore this candidate pack and I hope you will be able to see yourself as a crucial component of the University of Northampton’s continued growth and success.
With warm regards,
Professor Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Northampton
Executive summary About us Our strategy The role Working at the University of Northampton How to apply
“Only when you
experience a place do you learn how to make it your own.”
About us.
The University of Northampton is one of the youngest universities in the UK, gaining full university status and research degree awaring powers in 2005. Whilst we may be a ‘new’ University, we have made our impact in the Higher Education sector. We are committed to doing things differently; for example, we were the first University in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012 and are dedicated to creating social impact in all that we do. Our overt focus on positive change was spearheaded by our relocation to Northampton town centre with the opening of our Waterside Campus for the 2018/2019 academic year. The impetus of this bold move was to create a
learning experience based on how our students want to learn, rather than how it is expected, whilst also securing the sustainable future of our University. Since 2018, we have embraced our purpose- built state-of-the-art campus, being witness to many day-to-day interactions/experiences of our University community within our new physical estate. Listening and learning from those experiences, has allowed us to identify further opportunities to evolve. Against a backdrop of sustained growth in student numbers, with 2022 marking our current record year, this is an exciting era for the University of Northampton. Our recent achievements can be viewed at northampton.ac.uk/about-us/our-achievements/
Becky Bradshaw, Chief Operating Officer
Our mission. Supporting aspiration Creating opportunities Delivering impact
This strategy has been developed through a process of co-creation. Throughout the winter of 2022/23, we held a range of face- to-face and online events where staff from across the University came together to discuss our ambitions, sourced ideas from across our staff body through a dedicated survey, and spoke to students about what is most important to them. We also referred to existing data where available and held focused conversations in the University Leadership Team and our Board of Governors. A draft version of the strategy (the Green Paper) was circulated for consultation in June 2023 and final revisions have been made based on feedback received. Our strategy.
Our values. Four core values, developed through conversations across our community, underpin everything in our strategy and will guide our decisions. Inclusivity
OUR PRIORITIES
Our staff
Student experience
Learning and teaching
Research
Sustainability The University aims to become net zero carbon this decade. We will mobilise our University community towards common objectives and collective action to be a sustainable institution, with positive impacts on our environment and on society. Aspiration The motto on the University’s crest is ‘Ne Nesciamus’ (Let us not be ignorant). Our strategy outlines our ambitions for the future of our University, but also will enable us to realise the aspirations of our staff, students and stakeholders for excellence in all we do.
The University of Northampton celebrates and promotes being a diverse and inclusive community because diverse characteristics bring diversity of thought and experiences. This creates a richer community where – with respect and fairness – everyone matters and everyone can excel. Trust Trust is a core principle of the way we work together. We will build relationships which foster trust through respect, reliability, transparency and a shared mission to support aspiration, create opportunities, and deliver impact.
OUR PURPOSE Social Impact
FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS
Our campus, place & communities
How we work
Finance and resourcing
Chair of the Board
The Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology
Vice Chancellor & CEO
Deputy Vice Chancellor
Dean, Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology
Head of Subject Fashion & Leather and Foundation
Head of Subject Culture
Research & Enterprise Lead
Head of Subject Art & Design
Deputy Dean
Deputy Dean
Faculty Manager
PA to the Dean/ Faculty Administrator
Head of Subject Science
Faculty Administrator
Head of Subject Technology
FAST is a complex and proudly multi- disciplinary Faculty which delivers Level 3-8 programmes of study across a wide range of Subjects, a majority of which are strongly practical. The Faculty has been proactive in reviewing and refreshing its portfolio and its partnerships since 2020 and seen substantial growth in student numbers and income as a result. A key area of growth has been the Integrated Foundation, Year 0 of which FAST delivers on behalf of all Faculties and which exemplifies our commitment to equality of opportunity for all students and genuine social impact. Research outputs and impact are strengths of the Faculty and will continue to develop over the next 5 years.
Art & Design
Science
Culture
• Journalism • English • History • Acting & Acting CDP • Music • CFTDMP, HMPSS, Film & Screen Studies Culture Fashion, Leather & Foundation • Fashion, Footwear & Accessories • Leather Technology • Integrated Foundation Year
• Environmental & Geographical Sciences • Life Sciences • Sport & Exercise Sciences
• Fine Art • Illustration • Photography • Architectural Technology • Graphic
Communication Design • Interior Architecture & Spatial Design • Product Design
Technology
• Computing • Games • Engineering
The role.
• Support a portfolio and student experience that is future focused, at the forefront of digital technologies, graduate skills development, and sustainability. • Protect students and the reputation and finances of the university with appropriate knowledge of, commitment to, and implementation of regulatory and legislative requirements. Research Cultivate an environment which values and nurtures research and scholarship. • Improve research success metrics including REF outcomes for the Faculty. • Grow the proportion of staff attaining promotion criteria based on research. • Meet targets for income generation through research. • Build successful collaborations with research outputs with other bodies. • Aligning research excellence with portfolio planning and workforce strategy. Enterprise Harness the intellectual power of the University for positive social and economic impact. • Build a culture of enterprise through leadership style, and integration with research and the portfolio. • Build collaborations to support enterprise and the University strategy for local, regional, national and global influence and impact. • Meet enterprise income generation targets.
Job Title
Dean - Faculty Arts, Science and Technology Deputy Vice Chancellor
Principal duties & responsibilities The Dean’s role is to ensure the success of the Faculty. • Contribute to strategic planning and responsiveness as a member of the University Management team. • Ensure the financial viability of their Faculty through effective leadership, planning and management of portfolio, staff teams, budget and physical and technical resources. • Develop and deliver capability and outcomes in their Faculty in teaching, research and enterprise aligned to the University Strategy. • Work closely with students at all levels to understand their experience and aspirations, and to drive a culture Successful Education and Student Experience Promote the success and wellbeing of all students. • Plan and implement a portfolio which meets the needs of and is attractive to prospective and current students and employers, and has positive social impact. • Ensure students (undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research) experience a super supportive environment which promotes their continuation, wellbeing and academic and professional success • Be well informed about equality, diversity and inclusivity issues and actively work with staff and students to use research and best practice to minimise inequality of opportunity and structural barriers to inclusion and diversity. amongst students and staff of ambition, respect, supportiveness and co-creation.
Responsible to Accountable to
Vice Chancellor
Overall purpose Deans lead their Faculty and contribute to the leadership of the University. The Dean’s role is to ensure the success and long-term future of their Faculty, and its role in a thriving university that adapts and meets the challenges of the present and the future. They work collaboratively and respectfully with staff and students across their Faculty and the University to promote the success of individuals, teams and the University. The Deans report to the Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Lead and manage people Bring out the best in people, and create a culture where students and staff feel able to contribute and valued • Maintain a strategic approach to staff teams, to ensure inclusivity and diversity, succession planning, continuing professional development, wellbeing and productivity.
• Manage and deploy staff to deliver successfully the academic portfolio, research and enterprise objectives, including planning for areas of expansion and contraction. • Follow and uphold University HR policies and procedures, and to contribute to the ongoing development and enhancement of these in line with our strategy and aspirations.
• Maintain a culture of high staff performance through recruitment, reward, recognition, effective leadership and judgement in dealing with appeals, grievances, disciplinary issues and poor performance. • Promote good relations within the local area for all aspects of the work within the University, and to communicate with significant external communities and stakeholders. Finance • With UMT, to make long term plans for the Faculty income and expenditure aligned to the University Strategy • To receive, implement and be accountable for an approved budget, devising appropriate arrangements for the management of resource. • Hold authority and responsibility for Faculty budgets at all time, despite any delegation of day-to-day management of budgets, Partnerships Extend the influence and impact of the University via partnerships: • In collaboration with other University staff and teams, lead and deliver longer term alliances with key strategic partners, including but not restricted to higher education to create significant and sustained value. • maintain an effective external profile and promote the university through links to external bodies, nationally and internationally, securing good relationships with Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies. • seek opportunities to sit on the regional and national bodies to participate in and influence sector debates that will benefit the university.
In addition the Deans will be expected to undertake other responsibilities and duties as reasonably requested by the Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Person specification.
Qualifications Essential: • A relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience • A research degree or equivalent professional experience Desirable: • Relevant and current professional registration Skills, knowledge and experience Essential: • Demonstrable success in a relevant disciplinary area and in a higher education senior leadership role, in staff leadership, student experience and budget management • Evidence of reshaping and rebuilding staff teams for high performance over a sustained period, and improving diversity in the process • Proven successful financial management experience and an ability to act in accordance with financial imperatives • Evidence of successful strategic planning and delivery of transformational change and project management • Ability to collaborate with others to fulfil institutional goals, build trust and reputation internally and externally. • Evidence of commitment to research, scholarship, curiosity, and development of others
Personal qualities Essential: • Ability to motivate and engage staff and achieve ambitions • Articulate, excellent communicator, with the ability to inform and persuade others, build trust and negotiate effectively • Adaptable to organisational change • Ability to seek out best practice and apply it • The ability to work under pressure, and respond constructively to the challenge of being accountable for the achievements of others in the delivery against goals, targets and deadlines • Ability to lead by example, be organised, self-motivated and adapt during times of organisational change • Evidence of ability to think strategically, analyse complex problems and problem solve creatively to deploy finite resources in the achievement of objectives • A commitment to equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity • An understanding of the HE context in the UK in relation to government policy and funding body strategies and requirements
Working at the University of Northampton. Our mission is to transform lives and inspire change. We aim to ensure you have a positive experience of working with us by providing a supportive and caring environment. We also have a unique commitment to social impact which means we support our staff and students to have a positive effect on the world and society.
the knowledge and confidence to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues and can signpost you towards the right support • We have a number of staff networks to support you including New Parents, LGBT+, GEM (Global Ethnic Majority) and Women • Our Employee Assistance Programme which is provided by our Occupational Health partner includes advice and counselling services to offer support through times of difficulty. Work - life balance/smarter working We want you to be able to carry out your work in a way that best supports UON and our students, but also you as an individual. We understand what that looks like will vary between different areas of the University as well as from one person to another. With Smarter Working you can work with increased flexibility, if you would like to, to facilitate greater freedom, autonomy and to better support each of us as individuals. Should you have family/caring responsibilities, we also have a whole package of family-friendly policies that provide for flexible working, maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, and leave for family emergencies. Environment We have reaffirmed our commitment to combating climate change and have pledged to become net zero carbon by 2030. We have also retained our green accreditation in Investors in the Environment.
Generous benefits package • A contribution to an occupational pension plan acceptable to the University at the employer’s contribution rate. • Teachers’ Pension Scheme is the main scheme for academic staff at the University of Northampton. TPS gives you: A Defined Benefit Pension: providing you with a future income payable for life, • In addition to statutory Bank Holidays, local discretionary holidays and days when the University is closed in the working days paid holiday during the course of the holiday year. Up to 5 days unused holiday entitlement can be automatically carried forward to the next holiday year • Health insurance under a preferred provider organisation selected by the University, for single, individual coverage. • Death in service benefit in the amount of two (2) year’s salary of the Senior Member of Staff. Employee wellbeing At the University of Northampton, we believe in the importance of health and wellbeing and we aim to ensure it underpins the staff and student experience at all stages. With this in mind we have introduced the Waterside Wellbeing interest of efficiency, the Senior Member of Staff is entitled to 35 Community, bringing together teams from across the University to support, improve and promote the wellbeing and physical and mental health of those living, studying and working here. • We have trained over 130 Mental
Health First Aiders to ensure we have a network of staff who have
For a confidential discussion to learn more about the role and opportunity, please contact the University of Northampton’s appointed recruitment partner Sian Gardiner of MRG University People: sian.gardiner@universitypeople.co.uk Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and should be sent to northampton@universitypeople.co.uk Closing date for applications is Sunday 7th January 2024. Final Interviews will take place at our Waterside Campus on Thursday 1st February 2024 (an alternative interview date has been reserved on Monday 5th February 2024). The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical and sustainable work, study and living environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion. This commitment, along with our legal and moral obligations, provides an inclusive environment for staff, students and the public who may be affected by our activities. Together @ UON confirms our commitment to equality and inclusion, underpinned by our belief in taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates equality and harnesses the power of diversity. Together @ UON demonstrates our pledge to our staff, students and partners to nurture and develop an environment where equality and inclusion can thrive whilst we Transform Lives and Inspire Change How to apply.
northampton.ac.uk
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