Dean of the Faculty of Education, Theology and the Arts

At St Mary’s University, we are dedicated to preparing our students for flourishing lives and successful careers within a community of mutual respect. We aspire to enable every student to achieve their full potential, through outstanding support for their learning and giving them a broad and rich experience. Inspired by our Catholic mission, we have prided ourselves, since our foundation in 1850, on being an academic community which values positive human relationships, promoting belonging and supporting individuals to be the best version of themselves.

In challenging times, we continue to thrive, achieving real progress and success in student satisfaction, research and community impact. We have recently climbed to our highest ever positions in all three of the major university guides and the Good University Guide 2023 ranked St Mary’s 5th for student satisfaction and 7th for student experience. The 2021 Research Excellence Framework results found that the majority of research submitted by St Mary’s was 4* world leading or 3* internationally excellent in its originality, significance and rigour, with a number of particular strengths in the new Faculty of Education, Theology and the Arts.

We will be implementing a new academic structure from August 2023 and we are now seeking to appoint the inaugural Dean of the new Faculty of Education, Theology and the Arts. The Dean will be responsible for shaping the new Faculty and developing its strategic plan, building on our existing strengths in these subjects. At both undergraduate and postgraduate level, we are committed to offering vocationally relevant programmes of study with the highest academic standards. We are seeking to grow our student population in across education, theology and the arts by developing innovative and contemporary programmes and new partnerships, as well as continuing to develop our research and knowledge exchange activities. In addition to leading the Faculty, the Dean will have corporate responsibilities focused on supporting international students.

Education provision at St Mary’s has consistently been rated Ofsted outstanding and we have superb relationships with academies and voluntary aided and local authority schools, especially in, though not limited to, the Catholic sector. Theology is an area of real academic strength in teaching and research and the University works closely with Mater Ecclesiae College, a pontifical institute based at St Mary’s, preparing and examining students for ecclesiastical degrees. The University has demonstrated its commitment to excellent liberal arts provision in its desire to ensure that we have a broad-based academic offering.

You will be an academic leader with a strong track record of academic achievement in a relevant discipline and experience of delivering sustainable change. You will have the skills to manage, develop and motivate staff to create a culture of excellence and will be adept at working with partners, including the Catholic Education Service and Mater Ecclesiae College. You will also bring entrepreneurial skills to drive our ambition for expansion and reputational growth. You will have an inclusive approach to leadership and an unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding student experience.

The closing date is noon on Friday 28th April 2023. 

St Mary’s University is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Learn more about our EDI initiatives and work as a Disability Confident employer. We will consider flexible working arrangements.