Title: Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Science and Engineering
Salary: Competitive salary
Hours: Full time
Contract Length: Permanent
Reporting to: Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
Location: Byrom Street Campus, although staff may be asked to work in any location within the University.

Job description

Job summary

The Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science and Engineering) will lead in the development and delivery of excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and enterprise and the international plan, to enhance the reputation of the university as well as to ensure financial sustainability.

As a member of the University’s Executive Leadership Team and a range of central committees, the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science and Engineering) will provide strategic and academic leadership of the Faculty, as well as providing wider institutional leadership around thematic priorities agreed with the Vice-Chancellor.

Pro-Vice-Chancellors are expected to deputise for the Vice-Chancellor when needed, taking whatever decisions are required in this capacity.

Main duties and responsibilities

Pro-Vice-Chancellors (PVCs) are members of the LJMU Executive Leadership Team, all of whom hold a shared responsibility for promoting and achieving the University’s goals, as set out in our Strategic Plan and in line with our values. Underpinning all of our activities is the commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience and providing staff and students with an inclusive environment where they can thrive and contribute to the success of LJMU. PVCs also provide wider institutional leadership around thematic priorities agreed with the Vice-Chancellor.

Within the faculties, our PVCs provide over-arching academic leadership and are responsible for driving excellence in teaching and research, promoting the development of the Faculty and staff and managing Faculty activities through the most effective and cost-efficient use of its resources.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering is at the start of a transformative journey to redefine itself and bring together two distinct faculties into one.

This will enable a shared vision and collaborative approach to delivering an exceptional student experience. Leading a new Faculty, the PVC will be responsible for understanding the distinctive nature of all the disciplines and for developing opportunities for interdisciplinary working within the academic schools.

The Faculty is developing new collaborative partnerships and is involved in a large number of high impact research projects. This brings a complexity to the income streams, which the PVC will be accountable for and expected to develop and grow.

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, the successful candidate will be expected to provide inspirational and enterprising academic leadership that can position the Faculty as a sector leader in terms of teaching, student outcomes, research and knowledge exchange.

Aligned to this there is a requirement to grow and develop commercial partnerships and opportunities to ensure the Faculty is resilient and future facing. Strong engagement with key stakeholders and partnership development in the city, the region and beyond is key.

We are seeking to appoint a candidate with a strong record of academic leadership, ideally at PVC/Dean level, who can demonstrate their experience in developing strategic and impactful relationships between universities and industry.  It will be important to have a comprehensive financial and commercial understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education and LJMU in particular.

The new PVC will be an inclusive leader with a track record of developing the potential of team members and forging authentic and impactful relationships with internal and external stakeholders/partners.

Leading transformational change within established schools beginning with a full portfolio review designed to identify new areas of opportunity, curriculum innovations and new delivery models. This will require demonstrable experience of managing large scale change initiatives, providing strong leadership to facilitate a cohesive team of engaged staff and students who share and support the vision of the new Faculty and are committed to its success.

The post holder will achieve this by:

• Developing and delivering a change management programme designed to bring two existing distinct faculties into one, with a clear vision for the future.
• Leading strategic choices for the Faculty, ensuring the university is able to succeed in an increasingly challenging financial and regulatory environment.
• Ensuring that the Faculty sets challenging Key Performance Targets and that those are aligned with those of the university.
• Ensuring that all university policies are fully and effectively implemented within the Faculty’s areas of responsibility.
• Overseeing the recruitment of high-quality students to the Faculty’s programmes.
• Providing an environment, in which student learning can thrive and the quality of the student experience is at the centre of academic delivery.
• Champion and deliver innovation and excellence in student education. Working in collaboration with the PVC Student Experience and other senior colleagues to drive market-led programmes and ensuring that the benefits of digital and other resources are maximised to support learning, with a focus on student experience and measurable outcomes.
• Supporting the delivery of innovative strategies for embedding enterprise, skills, and employability in the curriculum.
• Lead and build the relationships with all relevant professional and other bodies in order to ensure adequate support for teaching and research.
• Lead, develop and inspire the Faculty Management Team to deliver its objectives and promote the development of leadership skills more broadly.
• Promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative work across the new Faculty and the wider University.
• Ensuring that there is a supportive environment within the Faculty to further develop and grow the research and enterprise culture.
• Increasing income from research, enterprise and all forms of commercial activity.
• Taking responsibility for the delivery of the international plan as it relates to the Faculty. This includes student recruitment, partnership and income generation ambitions.
• Ensuring effective engagement with all relevant external stakeholders and that the Faculty maximises the benefits and value from this engagement.
• Responsible and accountable for allocated financial, human and capital resources.
• Ensuring adherence to university financial procedures and regulations, and that value for money (VFM) is sought and achieved in the use of Faculty budgets; maintaining awareness of good practice and ensuring that these are followed effectively.
• Leading on other thematic areas for the university, to be allocated in discussion with the Vice-Chancellor.

The Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Science and Engineering, is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and as such has the following generic responsibilities to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, the university’s D&I strategy, policies and aspirations to be a truly inclusive employer and place of study.
• Deliver a transformational and world-class educational experience that will enhance students’ career prospects, through working in partnership with ELT colleagues.
• Participate in the university’s decision-making processes and accept responsibility for the implementation of agreed university policies, priorities, and strategic initiatives.
• Work in close partnership with other members of ELT to demonstrate leadership and take accountability for the development, implementation, and co-ordination of policies across the institution to ensure the consistency of high-quality delivery.
• Promote the interests and values of the university internally and externally.
• Represent the university as required at local, national, and international level.
• Build effective and productive relationships with key influencers in local and national government, business, and professional bodies.
• Provide regular reports and updates for the Board of Governors on all issues relating to areas of responsibility.
• Engender a culture of creativity, enterprise and innovation that flourishes throughout the university.
• Any other commensurate duties as deemed necessary by the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive.
• A commitment to LJMU’s values and regulations including the Respect Always agenda.
• Liverpool John Moores University recognises and is aware of its Social, Economic and Environmental responsibilities. The post holder is required to minimise the environmental impact in the performance of the role, contribute to (and supervise if applicable) the implementation of environmental improvement measures and actively contribute to the delivery of LJMU’s Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy and the Climate Change Action Plan.
• The post-holder’s mandatory Health and Safety responsibilities, which have been agreed by the University’s Executive Leadership Team, are contained in Section 2 of the University’s Safety Management Code of Practice (MCP1) Organisation for the Implementation of the Health and Safety Policy. The post-holder’s mandatory Environmental Management responsibilities are contained in Section 2 of the University’s Environmental Management Code of Practice (ECP1) Organisation for the Implementation of the Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification describes the skills, experience, knowledge and aptitude required to perform the duties of this post effectively.  The criteria order listed should not be taken to imply their relative importance.  Both paid and unpaid experience may be relevant.

All of the following criteria are essential and will be evidenced by written application, interview and/or presentation.

• Professorship/doctorate/extensive academic leadership experience in a relevant discipline.
• Senior strategic/academic leadership and management experience in a Higher Education environment.
• Recognition at an international level as a leading academic within own specialist area of research.
• Experience of successfully leading extensive change management programmes within comparable schools/faculties.
• Demonstrable experience of academic portfolio review and implementation of new programmes to meet student demand.
• Sufficient general understanding of, and interest in, the wider range of subjects across the Faculty with an ability to lead the further development of both research-related activities and a relevant and innovative taught portfolio.
• Demonstrable experience of course/programme developments as well as leading and developing curriculum innovation, including enhancing the student experience.
• Demonstrable commercial business acumen, including a track record of income generation and successful budget management.
• The capacity to operate as an effective and collaborative member of the Executive Leadership Team with the readiness to work in a climate of cabinet responsibility.
• Demonstrable experience of the professional accreditation of programmes.
• Proven networking skills, with the capability to be a key high-profile ambassador for the University.
• An understanding of, and demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion, including engagement in the Athena SWAN Gender Equality Charter for promoting the career of women in STEM in higher education, or equivalent.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrable diplomatic, persuasive and negotiating ability.
• Ability to think through challenges, represented by the Strategic Plan and deliver against targets to achieve key performance indicators.
• An understanding of the wider aspects of the Higher Education environment and the implications for LJMU, particularly in relation to academic affairs, education and the evolving student and collaborative partnerships.
• Full engagement with the Strategic Plan, and values approved by the Board of Governors and in particular the personal manifestation of the behavioural values.

The Faculty is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, including the Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter for promoting the career of Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) in higher education. We particularly welcome applications from women for this post along with ethnically diverse groups, LGBTQ+ groups and disabled people. The university is proud of its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and endeavours to cultivate a staff base that is representative of society. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Title: Pro-Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement and Partnerships
Salary: Competitive salary
Hours: Full time
Contract Length: Permanent
Reporting to: Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
Location: LJMU campus based with national and international travel. Staff may be asked to work in any location within the University.

Job description

Job summary

As a member of the University’s Executive Leadership Team and a range of central committees, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement and Partnerships, will provide strategic direction for building and maintaining regional, national and international partnerships to place the university as a catalyst for change for the benefit of Liverpool, the wider city region and beyond. This will include leading on implementing activities in the LJMU Place and Partnership Plan 2030.

Provide wider institutional leadership around thematic priorities agreed with the Vice-Chancellor.

Pro-Vice-Chancellors are expected to deputise for the Vice-Chancellor when required, taking whatever decisions are required in this capacity.

Main duties and responsibilities

Pro-Vice-Chancellors (PVCs) are members of the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) Executive Leadership Team, all of whom hold a shared responsibility for promoting and achieving the University’s ambitions, as set out in our Strategic Plan (Strategy 2030) and in line with our values.

As a university, we have committed to being an active partner who makes a difference to our neighbours, the city of Liverpool, the Liverpool City Region and beyond, positioning LJMU at the heart of the community.

This is reflected in the Place and Partnership theme within the Strategy 2030. The PVC, External Engagement and Partnerships is a new role within the leadership structure and demonstrates LJMU’s commitment to further strengthening effective partnerships and collaborations locally, nationally and internationally.

Inclusive engagement will be a key aspect of this role. Working alongside the Vice-Chancellor, this will include building strong alliances with the city leaders; local, regional and national authorities and collaborative partners both nationally and internationally. Engagement with businesses and development bodies will be a key aspect of this role and will require the successful post holder to demonstrate they can build authentic and trusting relationships across a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

LJMU is anchored within the city of Liverpool and our commitment is to better the economic, educational, health and wider societal outcomes within the city, the region and beyond. Our staff, students and graduates contribute to the local economy and have a strong history of volunteering throughout the city.

We are a civic university and have underpinned our commitment by making Community one of our four institutional values. Widening access to the university underpins everything we do and we were one of the first in higher education to be awarded the Care Leaver’s Charter Mark; we have also achieved the silver award as part of our participation in the Armed Forces Covenant with a plan to extend this work.

We are now looking to build on our community achievements through the appointment of a PVC, External Engagement and Partnerships.

The successful candidate will have leadership and responsibility for driving forward the ongoing agenda of relationship building with key industry, government (both regional and national) and institutional partners. Working with the Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations Team, this post will play a pivotal role in further enhancing LJMU’s civic reputation, from broadening and leveraging our presence and impact from within the city region to enhancing our global ambitions.

One of the main elements of this role will be to enhance and implement plans that build on the skills within the university in relation to entrepreneurship and engagement with businesses and grow our reputation for ethical partnership working.

The PVC, External Engagement and Partnerships will have strategic responsibility for the university Customer Relationship Management system, as it relates to external engagement, ensuring that our partners share our values and commitment to Liverpool and the wider region, and that we adopt a coordinated approach to stakeholder management across the institution.

Working with our International Relations Team, the PVC, External Engagement and Partnerships will be responsible for the delivery of our International Plan. We are looking for someone with a proven track record in developing, negotiating and managing international partnerships and who can positively impact on attracting overseas students to LJMU through the development of relationships with partners and pathway providers for international cohorts of students.

Pro-Vice-Chancellors are expected to deputise for the Vice-Chancellor as needed, taking whatever decisions are required in this capacity. The post holder will report to the Vice-Chancellor.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish and deliver a coherent and coordinated approach to University partnerships with external organisations. In particular, partners, both privately and publicly funded, from the sectors of business, education, government, located within the City, the region, nationally, and internationally.
• Work with the Vice-Chancellor on the development and delivery of a coherent development funding plan and associated campaign. The campaign will be designed to support student opportunities and the wider capital building programme as a key strand in our income generation portfolio.
• Strategic leadership for establishing and delivering a plan that ensures that the university maintains and enhances its engagement with, and reputation in, the Liverpool City Region and is respected and acknowledged as an institution that discharges its social responsibility with vigour and enthusiasm and is a key partner in supporting the Liverpool City Region and its people.
• To lead the process of monitoring engagement activity and evaluating its success against an agreed set of indicators.
• Lead a coordinated approach to raise the profile of the university with its different stakeholders nationally and overseas, specifically around the development of partnerships. This will include engaging with and influencing the relevant external policy agendas.
• To provide strategic leadership of the university’s international portfolio, coordinating and driving the university’s international profile, influence, and global reputation to ensure the university is recognised as a high-quality partner of choice.
• Deliver commercial and reputational value from the university brand as it relates to collaborative partnerships.Deliver commercial and competitive advantage through the development of innovative, efficient and transformative practices.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement and Partnerships is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and as such has the following generic responsibilities:

• Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, the university’s Diversity and Inclusivity strategy, policies and aspirations to be a truly inclusive employer and place of study.
• Deliver a transformational and world-class educational experience that will enhance students’ career prospects, through working in partnership with ELT colleagues.
• Participate in the university’s decision-making processes and accept responsibility for the implementation of agreed university policies, priorities, and strategic initiatives.
• Work in close partnership with other members of the ELT to demonstrate leadership and take accountability for the development, implementation, and coordination of policies across the institution to ensure the consistency of high-quality delivery.
• Promote the interests and values of the university internally and externally.
• Represent the university as required at local, national, and international level.
• Build effective and productive relationships with key influencers in local and national government, business, and professional bodies.
• Provide regular reports and updates for the Board of Governors on all issues relating to areas of responsibility.
• Engender a culture of creativity, enterprise and innovation that flourishes throughout the university.
• Any other commensurate duties as deemed necessary by the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive.
• A commitment to LJMU’s values and regulations including the Respect Always agenda.
•  Key internal relationships include:
  •  Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
  •  Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience)
  • Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange)
  • Registrar and Chief Operating Officer
  • Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellors
  • Director of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations
  • Director of International Relations

• Key External relationships include:
  • International Collaborative Partners
  • Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
  • Local and regional government and public bodies
  • Local and regional industry bodies; local and regional voluntary sector organisations
  • Universities UK International
  • British Council
  • Association of Commonwealth Universities
• Liverpool John Moores University recognises and is aware of its Social, Economic and Environmental responsibilities. The post holder is required to minimise the environmental impact in the performance of the role, contribute to (and supervise if applicable) the implementation of environmental improvement measures and actively contribute to the delivery of LJMU’s Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy and the Climate Change Action Plan.
• The post-holder’s mandatory Health and Safety responsibilities, which have been agreed by the University’s Executive Leadership Team, are contained in Section 2 of the University’s Safety Management Code of Practice (MCP1) Organisation for the Implementation of the Health and Safety Policy. The post-holder’s mandatory Environmental Management responsibilities are contained in Section 2 of the University’s Environmental Management Code of Practice (ECP1) Organisation for the Implementation of the Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification describes the skills, experience, knowledge and aptitude required to perform the duties of this post effectively. The criteria order listed should not be taken to imply their relative importance. Both paid and unpaid experience may be relevant.

All of the following criteria are essential and will be evidenced by written application, interview and/or presentation.

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification.
• Possess the leadership and professional credibility to influence others within the university and externally.
• Significant senior strategic leadership and management experience, including a record of representing and championing an organisation, raising its profile and increasing its impact and influence, adding value and identifying income streams.
• The capacity to operate as an effective and collaborative member of the Executive Leadership Team with the readiness to work in a climate of cabinet responsibility.
• Ability to nurture strong networks and build links with the wider community and other stakeholders, adapting communication style for diverse audiences to ensure clear and consistent messages.
• Demonstrate an understanding of regional and national priorities and agendas and the role of higher education in positively impacting upon them.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of key stakeholders and promote and position the university on a local, national and global stage.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of major topics in national and international education, including outbound student mobility, international student recruitment landscape and trans-national education.
• Willingness to travel overseas regularly, as required.
• Demonstrable ability to successfully lead transformational change across the institution.
• Demonstrable commercial acumen and experience of project management, risk and data analysis.
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion, alongside a personal commitment to core principles of opportunity, openness, transparency and respect for others.
• Record of adopting a collaborative approach to delivering organisational goals and cultivating an environment of shared decision-making.
• Demonstrable diplomatic, persuasive and negotiating skills including managing through influence as well as through executive authority.
• Ability to think through challenges represented by the University Strategic Plan and deliver against targets to achieve key performance indicators.
• An understanding of the wider aspects of the Higher Education environment and the implications for LJMU, particularly in relation to partnership development and management.
• A track record in developing and delivering a coordinated approach to driving external funding and philanthropic giving.
• The commitment and presence to promote the university as an excellent university with external partners, securing our reputation externally.
• Full engagement with the Strategic Plan and values and in particular the personal manifestation of the behavioural values.

We would encourage applications from all individuals who meet the advert criteria, but would particularly encourage applications from women; ethnically diverse groups, LGBTQ+ groups; and disabled people. The university is proud of its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and endeavours to cultivate a staff base that is representative of society. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.