Thank you for your interest in the position of Executive Director of Research Services at the University of Glasgow. This is a hugely exciting role that comes at an important time for Glasgow as we build on our excellent research performance and major research infrastructure investments to further strengthen Glasgow’s position as a globally leading research institution.
As the Executive Director, you will work in close partnership with the Vice Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange (VP R&KE) and senior colleagues on the strategic and operational leadership of the University’s research mission. Enhancing our research environment, ensuring a positive research culture and delivering impact are central to this endeavour. As such, you will be responsible for advising senior management on a wide range of research-related areas, including research governance, policies, integrity, outputs and impact, to enhance our research performance. You will deputise for the VP R&KE across a range of activities as necessary.
Our Research Strategy 2020-2025 has a clear message: by working in teams, building on each other’s ideas and making Glasgow the best place to develop a career, our research transforms lives and changes the world. The strategy has been developed to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment in which research of the highest quality thrives, and involves our research staff and students, our technicians, and our professional services staff. The Research Services Directorate works closely with the VP R&KE and College research leadership and colleagues across the University on the delivery of this strategy. While continuing to deliver and evaluate the current strategy, a key focus over the next 12 months will be to develop the next research strategy.
Furthermore, through the recent launch of the flagship ‘Glasgow Changing Futures’ initiative, you will support the VP R&KE to bring together our pan-institutional expertise in research, innovation and education, and work with our partners to find solutions to major societal challenges. Operational oversight of Glasgow Changing Futures sits within Research Services.
Research Services has evolved significantly over the last three years, and now has six portfolios: 1) Research Governance, Policy & Integrity, 2) Research Impact & Engagement, 3) Research Culture & Researcher Development, 4) Challenge Programmes, 5) Advanced Research Centre, and 6) Operations. A strength of the Directorate is empowering staff by creating an environment of collegiality where people can express ideas, take initiative and grow. The Directorate also ensures that we have a truly integrated research support ecosystem, working in concert with colleagues in our four academic Colleges.
As an Executive Director, you will also be a key member of the Professional Services Group. As such, you will play a critical role in shaping, delivering and contributing to service excellence to meet the overall objectives of the University.
Your ability to influence across a broad range of stakeholders at all levels internally and externally will be essential in this role. This will include horizon scanning, and working with funders and external partners to identify opportunities that will enable Glasgow to reinforce its standing as an international leader in innovative research, making a genuine difference to society and individuals locally, nationally and globally.
This is an intellectually stimulating and multi-faceted role that relies on a significant level of complex problem-solving, extensive negotiation skills, innovative thinking, and strong project and people management.
If you would like to contribute your expertise, creativity and energy to this integral post for the University, we would be delighted to hear from you.
The University of Glasgow has been changing the world since 1451. We are a world top 100 university and a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.
Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation, including eight Nobel Laureates, two UK Prime Ministers, three First Ministers of Scotland, 10 Fellows of the Royal Society and 11 Fellows of the British Academy. Our past achievements inspire our current world changers.
As a globally connected university, we work in partnership with others across the world to advance global solutions to real world problems. We are proud to be a founding member of the university networks Universitas 21 and The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities.
We are committed to tackling the most pressing global challenges facing humanity and the natural world. We are delivering against the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. We were the first European university to declare it would divest from fossil fuels by 2024 and the firs t in Scotland to declare a climate emergency.
We believe that everyone should have fair access to education. We are proud of our long tradition of helping talented people to fulfil their ambitions, regardless of their background or circumstances. Our University of Sanctuary status recognises the safe and welcoming environment we provide for refugees and asylum seekers.
We are home to The Hunterian, our museum and art gallery, one of the leading university museums in the world. We have the world’s largest permanent display of the work of James McNeill Whistler and the largest single holding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that’s part of something bigger.
The strategy is articulated across three themes:
Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation and our past achievements inspire our current world-changers.
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. You can learn more about relocation here.
Job Purpose
Work in close partnership with the Vice Principal for Research & Knowledge Exchange on the development and implementation of the University’s research strategy and policies. Deputise for the VP R&KE, as and when necessary.
Provide strategic and operational leadership and management of Research Services, fostering collegiality, service excellence and continuous improvement.
Contribute to the development of Professional Services at the University in a way that supports our core academic mission to deliver outstanding research performance.
Exploit synergies and work with the VP Economic Development and Innovation and relevant directorates on cross-cutting agendas relating to civic impact and engagement, relevant to our strategic research priorities.
Engage with the global higher education sector and advocate on behalf of the University.
As a senior leader and member of the Professional Services Group, advise on the strategic direction and investment in professional services to meet the overall objectives of the University.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Provide values-driven leadership that fosters a Research Services Directorate environment that supports working in collaboration and enables staff to thrive. Develop people, capability, skills and succession plans to ensure a sustainable and resilient provision of services whilst attracting and retaining talent.
Provide management of the Research Services Directorate ensuring it offers high-quality services and advice that support the University’s researchers and colleagues working in research support roles. Ensure that the Directorate’s operations and services are effective, efficient, and responsive, meeting the evolving needs of the University whilst adapting to developments in the sector.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement of services, processes and practices to ensure the relevance of services to the Colleges and efficiency of operations whilst ensuring compliance with relevant statutory regulations.
Lead the development and implementation of new policies and processes so that the University maintains its position as a leading national and international university and ensure compliance where necessary.
Proactively engage with the sector and maintain current understanding of issues affecting research nationally and internationally to gather intelligence, influence outcomes, and inform institutional decision-making.
Effectively manage the Research Services budget to maximise the performance of the Directorate while delivering a balanced budget annually.
Work closely with the Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Engagement; the Economic Development; and Planning, Insight & Analytics Directorates; and Research Support Office, to ensure that the University’s approach across these areas is closely aligned.
Participate as a senior member of the relevant University research-related committees such as the Research Planning & Strategy Committee, Deans of Research, Lab for Academic Culture, Research Integrity Council, REF Project board, Trusted Research Advisory group and be the sponsor of the University Research Professional Staff network.
Work closely with the leadership of Glasgow Changing Futures, the Centre for Data Science & AI and the Centre for Sustainable Solutions, to ensure effective operation of these University-wide initiatives.
Ensure effective support for the academic roles reporting to the Vice Principal for Research & Knowledge Exchange (currently Academic Director for Glasgow Changing Futures, Academic Lead for Good Research Practice and Academic Lead for Inclusive Research).
Be an active member of the University Research Professional Leadership Group. This includes working together to ensure College and University Services are aligned in their research services and offerings.
Contribute to the leadership of University Services through the Professional Services Group and other forums.
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
Skills
Essential
Experience
Essential
Professional Services Group
The Professional Services Group is led by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and University Secretary and the Deputy Chief Operating Officer (who is also the Vice Principal for Economic Development & Innovation). For line-management purposes, some Executive Directors report to the Chief Operating Officer, and others to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, but University Services (US) operates on the basis of collective leadership – all Executive Directors have access to both the COO and Deputy COO for support and guidance, and contribute to the overall running of US through their membership of the Professional Services Group. As such, you will play a critical role in shaping, delivering and contributing to service excellence to meet the overall objectives of the University.
As a valued member of the University of Glasgow team, you can expect:
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University of Glasgow, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 30 September 2024.
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss the roles in strict confidence, please contact Carolyn Coates on +44(0) 7825 871 944, carolyn.coates@andersonquigley.com or Ed Pritchard on +44 (0)7980 817 927, ed.pritchard@andersonquigley.com.
www.gla.ac.uk 