Aston University is a mid-sized dual intensive university ranked in the top 25 universities in the United Kingdom. We are an agile and innovative organisation that thrives on collaboration and partnerships with businesses and the community. Our integrated placement year, our applied high-impact research, and our commitment to enhancing employability and social mobility of our students, all help to make Aston University distinct both nationally and internationally.
With our long-term beneficiaries’ strategy firmly in place, our focus remains resolutely on supporting the current and future success of our students, businesses and the professions, along with the communities we serve.
The University has been recognised by a number of awards and rankings, including The Guardian 2020 University of the Year Award and Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award. We have also recently been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Award for 2021. But most importantly, we are highly regarded by our students at Aston University, with more than three quarters of respondents to the 2022 National Student Survey indicating their overall satisfaction, and scoring more than 80% satisfaction levels for learning resources and staff support. We take great pride in our teaching quality and excellent student experience at Aston University.
We have an award-winning Careers and Placements team, who were named the best University Placement Service in the UK at the 2022 National Undergraduate Employability Awards. Employability is embedded into everything we do at Aston University, whereby we are ranked 27th in UK for graduate prospects in the Complete University Guide, 2023. Our staff are committed to doing all they can to meet the needs of students and to assisting them to achieve their career ambitions on graduation.
2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessments published in May 2022, ranked 79% of Aston University research as ‘world leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*). We are building on our world-class research capability to help transform industries, support economic growth and improve lives. Our research is organised within comprehensive interdisciplinary University Research Institutes and across a wide range of outstanding research centres and research groups. Many of our research areas are nation leading and of world-class standard.
We very much look forward to receiving your application and learning more about how you could contribute to Aston University’s continuing success as a valuable member of Team Aston.
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established research-led university known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to business and the professions.
Aston University is establishing a new interdisciplinary Aston Digital Futures Institute (ADFI), to be launched during 2023-24.
ADFI is a multi-disciplinary research institute, established to provide thought leadership on one of the defining trends for the 2020s – the evolution of developed economies towards what is commonly referred to as ‘Industry 4.0’ and beyond.
Vision
Our vision for the new research institute is rooted in the heritage, specialisms, and location of Aston University:
Outstanding graduate employability
Aston University has been a leading university for graduate employment success. With placements integrated into our degree programmes, students develop essential work skills, build industry connections and a professional profile. We have strong relationships with national and international graduate employers, as well as smaller and local employers. These relationships are extremely important and make a real contribution to graduate employability.
Career focused programmes
Close and established links with business, the public sector and the professions ensure that our career focused degree programmes are inspiring, challenging, and constantly updated to equip students with essential work-related skills and experiences.
Excellence in teaching and research
We are committed to high quality teaching and academic excellence, ensuring we provide the highest standard of education to our students. Aston University has an excellent reputation for research which shapes and improves lives. We’re proud of the quality of our research and the real world applications developed as a result – it makes a substantial and beneficial difference to people, organisations and society.
International
Aston University is a popular choice for international students. We recognise and welcome the important academic contribution and cultural diversity international students bring to our university environment. Students from over 120 countries choose to study at Aston University each year.
Birmingham – one of Europe’s liveliest cities
Birmingham has a rich history which makes the city a unique and inspiring place to visit. It is recognised as a leader in leisure, entertainment, shopping and sport and is an international centre for business, commerce and industry. Birmingham is home to world-class companies, innovative entrepreneurs and has one of the youngest populations in Europe. It is a dynamic, business-focused region that is well connected and centrally located in the UK.
A green, sustainable campus
Located in the centre of Birmingham our green, 40 acre campus houses all the University’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for over 15,000 students. All staff have the opportunity to contribute to our sustainability agenda and practices.
Academic colleges and schools
College of Business and Social Sciences (BSS)
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS)
College of Health and Life Sciences (HLS)
The University’s beneficiaries are identified as three groups:
Students
The first and primary beneficiary of Aston University are the individuals who form our student body and who progress to become our alumni. Aston University places students at the heart of our academic and professional endeavour. Through our industry placements, students are at the coalface of our interaction with industry.
Business and Industry
Our strategy has an emphasis on the businesses and other external organisations who engage with us. Aston University is a market leader in industry-engaged research, as well as graduate employability. Our industry partners benefit from our work through our leading research and knowledge exchange, and from the quality of graduates we produce. Each student at Aston University is offered the opportunity for a year-long work placement; these placements not only cement our relationships with industry but ensure businesses have access to work-ready graduates.
Region and Society
We are committed to having a positive and transformative impact on Birmingham and the West Midlands. Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in Europe and Aston University plays an important civic role by educating the leaders of the future. By emphasising research that has a regional impact, engaging with local businesses to develop a strong economy and educating top graduates, we are helping to shape our society around us.
Our mission is to be the UK’s leading university for students aspiring to succeed in business and the professions, where original research, enterprise and inspiring teaching deliver local and global impact by:
All staff are expected to demonstrate and promote the University’s values and behaviours, , which are an integral part of our strategy and underpin the culture of the University.
OUR VALUES
Aston is professional and ambitious
The University believes this is a prerequisite to realise our mission and vision, and will be recognised by businesses and external organisations as shared values which make Aston an attractive partner for research and education.
Aston is innovative and collaborative
The University works across disciplines, institutions and partners to be proactive in creating and implementing new ideas, to be a leader in modern educational techniques and to undertake research which inspires staff, students and external partners.
Aston is ethical and inclusive
The University recognises its responsibility to be an exemplar of behaviour and conduct in all that it does. It will leverage the diversity of its staff and student body to achieve outcomes for its beneficiaries and provide opportunities for education and professional development to all.
Our behaviours
The behaviour framework outlines the behaviours we demonstrate when working towards our priorities. The focus is not just on what you achieved but how you have achieved it.
Aston’s behaviours are split into five key areas:
In addition, our leaders are expected to be accountable, help to execute strategic visions of the University and share and set clear expectations that inspire those around them. All staff are expected to demonstrate the expected standards in Our Commitment to You, which you will find on the Aston University website ‘About’ section, to deliver a good service experience.
For further details see https://www.aston.ac.uk/about
Six key aims of ADFI
The aims of the new research institute are to:
For more information on Aston Digital Futures Institute, please visit https://www.aston.ac.uk/research/digital-futures
STAFF BENEFITS
The size and scope of the university means that the opportunities on offer are as diverse as the people who work here. From a generous annual leave scheme, gym membership, on-site nursery and flexible working to opportunities to volunteer in the community, there is something for everyone. Let’s have a look at some of these benefits in detail.
For more information please visit the benefit pages on our website; https://www2.aston.ac.uk/staff-public/hr/
Cycle-to-work scheme
Cycle-to-Work is open to all employees. Through our salary conversion scheme, we’ll make a bicycle available to you for commuting – alongside safety equipment, free of income tax and national insurance.
Employee travel pass scheme
The University has an affiliation to Company Travelwise in Birmingham and an on-going commitment to green transport. As a result, annual travel passes purchased under the Employee Travel Pass Scheme will be available at a discounted price.
Car park scheme
Under the Flexible Benefits Scheme, instead of the car park charges being collected from your net pay, you can exchange an amount of gross salary that is equivalent to the charge. As a result, you will pay less National Insurance, thereby reducing the cost of car park charges.
Low emission car lease scheme
The new Low Emission Car Lease Scheme offers you the opportunity of a new car, benefiting from corporate discounts and savings on Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions. The car scheme will only offer cars with low CO2 emissions (120g/km or less).
Aston University nursery scheme
Aston University Nursery was founded in 1973 with a commitment to provide the highest standard of care and education. The Salary Conversion Scheme for the Aston University Nursery has been set up to provide Tax and National Insurance savings.
Computer share childcare vouchers
The University recognises that employees with children often require flexible pre-school and out-of school childcare in a convenient location. Childcare vouchers allow you to choose your own childcare provider, reduce your childcare costs and help you achieve the work/life balance you need.
Aston gym memberships
The Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre is a fantastic onsite staff facility. Permanent members of staff can choose to pay their membership fee via their monthly/weekly salary or in a one-off lump sum payment. Non-permanent staff can still get Aston staff prices but must pay for the membership in one lump sum.
Charitable giving
We have been looking at ways of promoting charitable giving through the payroll and of providing the most effective way of making tax savings on donations.
There are two ways you can do it:
Citysave Credit Union
Having a regular savings plan means building up a fund of money towards Christmas, a holiday or just for a rainy day. Having it come directly out of your salary means saving has never been easier. In addition, surplus profits the credit union makes are returned to our members in the form of a yearly dividend. Citysave is covered by the FSCS, so your savings up to £75,000 are secure.
Cinema Society Club
You can register with the Cinema Society Club to receive up to 40% off tickets.
Will Writing Service
Aston University has teamed up with Dunham McCarthy, Estate Planning & Will Specialists, to offer Aston employees and their families a free will writing service.
Conference Aston
All staff receive a 15% discount when dining at Conference Aston.
Annual Leave
The annual bookable leave entitlement for staff working on a full-time basis is 25 days for staff in Grades 1 to 6, 30 days for staff in Grades 7 to 10 and 31 days for Professorial and equivalent staff. In addition to the above bookable leave entitlement, a minimum of 13 additional days holiday per year is given as specified Bank and University holidays, the dates of which are circulated annually and are published on the University’s website. Part-time staff are entitled to the same amount of annual leave, including Bank and University Holidays, as full-time staff, on a pro-rata basis to the hours that they work.
Pension
If you are a regularly employed member of staff, you will be enrolled into a pension scheme, the exact scheme will depend upon the grade of the post. Further information is available on our website: http://www.aston.ac.uk/staff/hr/payrollpensions-and-benefits/
Recognition Vouchers
We designed this scheme to provide managers with the flexibility and autonomy to recognise individuals or whole teams ‘in the moment’ by awarding them with e-vouchers. Typically e-vouchers are given for going above and beyond normal expectations of a job or role: completion of a project, innovative idea or process/product improvement that has had a positive impact for the university, students, staff or the wider community; excellent customer feedback; citizenship where an individual has gone out of their way to help others.
Personal/Professional Development
To equip you with all the skills you need, we offer a comprehensive range of learning and development programmes. Whatever your role and ambitions, we will support you to build your skills set and be your best at work. As well as training, we offer an induction programme for all our new starters. This induction will give you a basic overview of our organisation, along with the chance to meet colleagues from across the University.
Employee Assistance Programme
Open to all staff, the service offers confidential support for a variety of issues such as managing money; having a family; moving house; personal life; retirement; work life; returning to work after a break; family crises; personal crises; healthy choices; illness. Services are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Relocation Support
Subject to the conditions of the University’s relocation policy, we provide assistance to new employees who have to relocate to take up a position. This policy applies to staff appointed to a position at grade 7 (salary point 25) or above on an open-ended contract or to a fixed term position of two years or more, and who have to relocate their place of residence in order to take up the appointment. Positions which are externally funded fall outside of this policy.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University, 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 15 March 2023. Please apply using the ‘Apply’ button in the roles section above.
AQ Reference:
AQ1669 (Director of Aston Digital Futures Institute)
AQ1671 (Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Health)
AQ1672 (Professor of Data Science in Bioinformatics)
AQ1673 (Professor of Gamification)
AQ1674 (Professor of Digital Inclusion)
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss the role(s) in strict confidence, please contact one of the following based on the role:
Director of Aston Digital Futures Institute – Kiersten Avery at kiersten@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7510 384 735
Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Health – Imogen Wilde at imogen@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7864 652 633
Professor of Data Science in Bioinformatics – Imogen Wilde at imogen@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7864 652 633
Professor of Gamification – Elyse Turner-Pearce at elyse@andersonquigley.com, +44 (0)7808 648 559
Professor of Digital Inclusion – Carolyn Coates at carolyn@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7825 871 944
Advert closes | 15th March |
Longlist | TBC, 23/24 March |
Shortlist | TBC, 13/14 April |
Panel Interviews | 27/28 April |