Deputy Director (Sustainability Service) Facilities Directorate January 2018
INTRODUCTION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY, DR LOUISE ELLIS
We have a clear responsibility to have a positive impact on society, something we take very seriously. This means making our economic, social, environmental and cultural responsibilities. Our vision and commitments are outlined in our ambitious strategy The Sustainability Service will drive change across the University, as well as helping others to become more sustainable, from facilitating staff and student forums and assistance with departmental standards to supporting student learning programmes and research. I believe we can achieve our vision of a university where sustainability is embedded through knowledge, engagement, collaboration and innovation. Getting there is going to be possible and challenging, exciting and, most of all, rewarding. The Deputy Director is a newly created post that will forge ahead with these exciting plans to ensure that the University continues to excel and drive our ambitious programme. In our Sustainability Strategy, we were clear that we want to be a University with a reputation for outstanding performance on sustainability; one that challenges the status quo and is renowned for its open, welcoming environment. This remains at our core and we are taking great strides to make it a reality. As a University, we welcome around 11,000 new students every year. That’s 11,000 people with new ideas and ambitions. It’s exciting to think that we can spread the message of sustainability to successive generations of new students, and harness their ideas to become even more sustainable. We’ve already made great progress. I look forward to being part of a university community that creates this change.
The Leeds Curriculum aims to produce graduates who stand out as a result of the knowledge, skills and attributes they have gained. Their ability to talk clearly and confidently about their experiences also makes our graduates distinctive and is complemented by co-curricular learning opportunities. Sustainability is a key part of this, through embedding sustainability throughout the curriculum, including taught modules, dissertations and living lab projects. The creation, dissemination and application of knowledge will remain at the heart of all that we do and builds on the University’s history and traditions. Increasing knowledge and opportunity in powerful combination is, and will continue to be, the defining feature of life at Leeds, distinguishing us from other universities and enabling us to address the challenges of education and research across a broad range of disciplines with energy and confidence. Research is at the heart of what we do and at Leeds, we are committed to conducting research that makes a difference in society this is reflected in our research theme which by working across disciplines help tackle global challenges of: cities; climate; culture; energy; food; health and water.
The Deputy Director role will be key in driving forward our ambition and ensuring we achieve our vision of a sustainable university.
THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
This information should be read in conjunction with visiting the University website www.leeds.ac.uk
• affirms that we will play a full part in the development of the Leeds City region and the country as a whole, boosting engagement with the City, the NHS, the world-class cultural community in the North of England and industry partners. In parallel, we are working to build our international reach and influence, developing enduring education and research initiatives with carefully selected partners around the world. The biggest challenge is, however, boosting the quality and volume of our research. The plan commits us to secure an ambitious step change in research income – of 50 per cent by 2020 – which would give us a concomitant uplift in research performance and reputation. To that end, we are investing in new staff and new studentships, in buildings, and in the research base, especially in new technology platforms. Achieving the objectives set out in the plan requires us to adopt different ways of working within the University – to become more agile; to be more outward-looking and responsive to market opportunities; and to reduce the bureaucratic burden, freeing up academic time for new academic initiatives within a more open, high-trust environment in which our expectations of staff and their personal responsibilities and accountabilities are clear.
INCREASING KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITY
Established by Royal Charter in 1904, the University of Leeds is one of the UK’s top ten research institutions, and one of the UK’s largest, most prestigious and diverse universities, with more than 35,000 students from 146 different countries, and with more than 220,000 alumni from over 180 different countries. We are now embarking upon an exciting and critical period in our development. A new strategic plan was adopted in July 2014, covering the period 2014-20. Reaffirming that the creation, dissemination and application of knowledge remain at the heart of our mission, the plan commits us to provide a wide range of opportunities for students and staff, ensuring excellence in every aspect of student education, research and innovation, and promoting enterprise and creativity. Increasing knowledge and opportunity in powerful combination is a defining feature of life at Leeds, distinguishing us from other universities and enabling us to address the challenges of higher learning and research across a broad range of disciplines with energy and confidence.
The plan recognises that we need to be more outward-facing. It therefore:
• places a premium on establishing and enhancing strategic partnerships and collaborations, to promote creativity, innovation, enterprise and impact;
THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (continued)
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
ENTERPRISE AND INITIATIVE
• 20 of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships – more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales – reflecting the excellence of our teaching. • We are a top 10 university for research power in the UK according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. • We are currently recruiting 250 academic fellows. These are new posts, which will substantially boost our research capacity and capability. • We are part of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), which comprises 18 research intensive institutions spanning five continents. • We are a member of the Russell Group of research- intensive universities. For further information please see: www.russellgroup. ac.uk • We were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary prize, one of the country’s highest accolade for an academic institution, in 2009 and 2011. • In the latest National Student Survey (NSS), 90 per cent of our final year students rated their course as intellectually stimulating. • In our latest audit by the Quality Assurance Agency the University received a commendation, the highest category of praise available, for our enhancement of student learning opportunities.
We play a major role in the city, region and have international reach and influence. We draw on strong partnerships – promoting creativity, enterprise, innovation and impact – with other universities, industry and the public and third sectors to ensure the transfer of knowledge and higher level skills. • Since 1995 the University of Leeds has produced 101 ‘spinout’companies, the second largest number in the higher education sector in the UK. We currently have 40 active spinout companies and have the largest number of listed spinout companies of any UK university (seven). • 59 per cent of our academics are involved in applied research or as consultants to industry with an estimated contract value of £78 million. • We have 16 active Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, the sixth highest number in the UK. • Our ‘Spark’ initiative offers business start-up support and we run an annual business plan competition with prizes of up to £2,000 for entrepreneurial students. • Our research income in 2013-14 was £133 million.
OUR STRATEGY
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OUR ANNUAL REPORT
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THE ROLE
What does the job entail?
• Developing and implementing an auditable, cross-University, systematic approach which enables measurement and reporting of the total value and holistic nature of sustainability, linked to the University’s Strategy; • Providing sustainability leadership across the University and externally, including providing specialist advice to senior leaders in the University Executive Group, Services and Faculties; • Establishing and driving forward strategic external relationships, building key partnerships across the University’s stakeholder group and raising our profile as a sustainable organisation; • Planning and leading strategic projects, making key decisions that will have impacts across the University, and reporting on project initiatives, progress and implementation to senior management;
As Deputy Director (Sustainability Service), your main duties will include:
• Supporting the Director in the strategic development of the University’s Sustainability Service, developing and implementing plans as appropriate; • Developing and embedding sustainability into the University’s core-decision making and the governance structure, including key strategic projects and programmes; including ensuring true and accurate reporting to the University’s Steering Group, which is led by a representation of the Universities Executive Group (UEG); • Owning and being accountable for the preparation and production of the University’s annual sustainability report, tracking how we are taking responsibility for our environmental, social, community, culture and economic impacts; • Responsibility for the successful delivery of the Positive Partner theme of the University’s Sustainability Strategy, including setting the strategic vision, objectives and KPIs for the projects in this area; • Developing and overseeing the delivery of key external facing engagement programmes, which will create wider social value whilst enhancing the University’s reputation in this area. This will include working with key stakeholders in the city region and on a national level; • Providing highly effective management of staff ensuring that they are committed and motivated to achieve key Service objectives, in line with the University’s Strategic Plan and Sustainability Strategy. In addition providing technical support across the Service to support problem solving and wider staff development;
• Leading and developing high level collaborative work with senior managers internally and externally;
• Deputising for the Director of Sustainability where necessary including representation at meetings and making decisions in their absence; • Proactively seeking opportunities for external funding, which supports and enhances the University’s Sustainability Strategy, this may include developing project and research partnerships.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
What will you bring to the role?
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to solve complex problems using own initiative and sound judgement, demonstrating tenacity and commitment to achieving timely results; • Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively and across boundaries in order to deliver results with evidence of success in building and maintaining effective and productive working relationships internally and externally and across all levels;
As Deputy Director (Sustainability Service) you will have: • A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area;
• Significant experience of working in a senior sustainability role within a complex organisational environment, including experience of setting objectives and priorities; • An excellent understanding of sustainability, in its holistic sense, alongside the ability to critically evaluate organisational implications and opportunities;
• Demonstrable behaviours in line with University values.
You may also have:
• Excellent understanding of and ability to translate technical information into organisational solutions;
• Experience of delivering community engagement programmes;
• Experience of working in or with the Higher Education sector to progress the sustainability agenda;
• Significant experience of effective project and programme management work and delivery of sustainability projects within a multi-stakeholder environment; • A proven ability to lead and manage others, setting and achieving high standards of performance and demonstrating well defined people management and coaching skills; • Highly developed communication, negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to persuade others at all levels;
• Experience of producing effective and innovative sustainabiity reporting.
• Experience of developing and being part of effective professional external networks;
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & HOW TO APPLY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their disability but will still be covered by the Equality Act once their disability becomes known. Further information for applicants with disabilities, impairments or health conditions is available in the applicant guidance.
The University offers generous terms and conditions of employment, a wide range of benefits, services, facilities and family friendly policies. Full details are available on the Human Resources web pages accessible at www.leeds.ac.uk/hr The Partnership The Partnership has been developed by students and staff and describes the mutual expectations of us all as members of the University of Leeds community. More information about the Partnership is available at http://partnership.leeds.ac.uk Disclosure and Barring Service A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is not required for this position. However, applicants who have unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, including any pending criminal proceedings must indicate this in the ‘other personal details’ section of the application form and send details to the Recruitment Officer at disclosure@leeds.ac.uk Disabled Applicants The post is located in the Facilities Directorate which is based in the Facilities Directorate Building in Clobery Steet. Disabled applicants wishing to review access to the building are invited to contact the department direct. Additional information may be sought from the Recruitment Officer, email disclosure@leeds.ac.uk or tel + 44 (0)113 343 1723.
HOW TO APPLY
For a confidential discussion please contact our advisor Michael Hewlett on 020 8892 0115.
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than four pages) and supporting cover letter (of not more than two pages) outlining key matching experience and rationale for applying for the post and should be sent to michael.hewlett@mrgpeople.co.uk
You can also apply online HERE.
Closing date for applications is Sunday 28th January 2018.
Interviews are expected to be held during the first week of March 2018.
University of Leeds Leeds United kingdom LS2 9JT
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