Appointment of the Head of Department, Computer Science
Thank you for your interest in this key leadership role in our Department of Computer Science.
The Department of Computer Science has grown rapidly over the last two years. Highly rated, the Department is ranked 7th for student experience for computer science in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 and top 10 for course satisfaction for computer science & information systems in the Guardian University Guide 2022. With state of the art facilities and equipment and links with some of the industry’s leading companies, the Department offers a supportive and creative environment. Research is strongly interdisciplinary with particular strengths in four main areas: Artificial intelligence; Human-computer interaction; Mathematical foundations of computation; and Visual computing.
We are now looking for a new Head of Department to lead the Department and build on our current success and strengths to ensure that the Department plays a key role in supporting the University’s strategic ambitions including driving high impact research. The new Head will steer the development of a strong cross-disciplinary research programme, building on both internal and external strategic partnerships. The role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the Department for the future, working closely with colleagues. New ways of working will need to be developed in light of the growth in student numbers and the teaching and other changes associated with the pandemic and our Curriculum Transformation programme.
With a track record of high quality academic work, candidates will need experience of research leadership to lead the growth of research in the Department. A track record of driving and managing change will be essential in order to define the next steps on the Department’s journey and to build on and take further our success. Highly effective interpersonal communication skills will be needed to inspire, influence and support the Department through these changes and develop a supportive, inclusive culture where ambition and innovation can thrive.
This is an excellent opportunity to lead a successful Department in a top 10 university. If you are excited by this opportunity then we would be delighted to hear from you. Our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley would be pleased to discuss the role with you in confidence and their details can be found on this site.
The University of Bath was established by Royal Charter in 1966. We are now established as a top 10 UK university with a reputation for research and teaching excellence. Our campus overlooks the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath and offers a welcoming, supportive and inspiring environment for research and study.
Fifty years of achievement have seen the University grow into a globally recognised institution with over 17,000 students from 130 countries. We believe in offering our students a well-rounded education: high quality teaching from research-led academics; extra-curricular activities such as our award-winning sports facilities; placements as an integral part of all of our undergraduate courses; a substantial and growing range of options for post-graduate study. The result: a very engaged, high-quality student body with strong values and excellent levels of student satisfaction.
Ours is a learning community, as students and academics work closely together in education and research. While this is frequently a transformative experience for students, the reach is very much wider, contributing to local and global understanding of the world in which we find ourselves. Our academics collaborate across traditional and emerging subject areas so that our research has practical applications with social and economic benefit. We continue to invest in new facilities and people to grow the impact of our research. We make a positive contribution to our community and the vigour of our local economy, accounting for around £300M to Bath & NE Somerset’s GDP. We work closely with globally-recognised as well as small and specialised industrial partners and our Innovation Centre grows new businesses.
We are a vibrant, close-knit, intellectual, cultural, sporting and social community who are proud of what we do and who we are, committed to using our skills and expertise to discover and solve real-world problems. From the beginning, the University was designed to be different, innovative and inclusive. Our compact campus provides a sense of community which underpins our commitment to collegiality. A lively, international and impactful alumni community helps us reach out into the world. Linking with partners who are both national and international, industrial and social, this is a place where social sciences, humanities, the arts, engineering and the broader sciences, come together to benefit wider global society.
Our rankings and reputation
The University ranks highly in major national and international rankings and surveys:
- Ranked 8th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2022
- Ranked 9th by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022
- Ranked 6th for graduate prospects in the Complete University Guide 2022
- Awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework
- 87% of research graded as world-leading or internationally excellent by the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014
- 86% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021
- Ranked 166th of 1300 institutions across the globe in the QS World University Rankings 2022
You can read more about our rankings and reputation here.
Our future
Over the next five years, we will seek to enhance our global position within the top world-leading institutions. The University Strategy 2021 to 2026 expresses our ambitions across four key pillars:
- Fostering an outstanding and inclusive community
- Driving excellence in education
- Driving high impact research
- Enhancing strategic partnerships
Our Mission and Vision form the basis for the University Strategy 2021 to 2026.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to deliver world-class research and teaching, educating our students to become future leaders and innovators, and benefiting the wider population through our research, enterprise and influence.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to be an outstanding and inclusive University community, characterised by excellence in education, research, and innovation, working in partnership with others for the advancement of knowledge, in support of the global common good.
Our Values
The five values at the centre of the University Strategy 2021 to 2026 are:
- delivering quality and excellence, whilst being quick to listen and learn
- nurturing high aspirations, for the benefit of all
- aspiring to the highest standards of scientific, ethical, and professional integrity, whilst supporting the freedom to challenge received wisdom
- supporting a sustainable community and adopting best environmental practice
- fostering inclusion, equality, diversity, and accessibility where the unique value of each individual is recognised as we build a community of trust and care by treating each other with respect
The full University Strategy 2021 to 2026 is available here.
Our Faculties and School
Our Faculties and School are as follows:
Faculty of Engineering & Design
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Inclusion and Diversity
We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a better environment for our employees and students, creating a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances health and wellbeing across our community. We are very proud to have recently received Ambassadors for Autism certification and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.
Further information
You can read more about the University of Bath on our website here.
The Department of Computer Science sits within the Faculty of Science and has grown rapidly over the last few years.
The Department offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees covering a range of computer science specialisms. Our awards and league table rankings are as follows:
- 7th for student experience for computer science in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022
- Top 10 for course satisfaction for computer science & information systems in the Guardian University Guide 2022
- Athena SWAN Bronze Award
- 82% of our research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2014
Our research is strongly interdisciplinary and combines practical application with a theoretical understanding. We have research groups in:
- Artificial intelligence
- Human-computer interaction
- Mathematical foundations of computation
- Visual computing
The Department hosts two centres for Doctoral Training (the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Accountable, Responsible and Transparent AI (ART-AI) and the Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE) funded by EPSRC to 2023) as well as the Digital Economy Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications (CAMERA). In addition to an existing large makerspace and bespoke VR and motion capture labs, we have recently added a new fabrication research laboratory to our facilities.
You can read more about the Department here.
Team profiles in the Department can be accessed here.
Head of Department, Computer Science
Job Title: Head of Department
Period: The appointment of the Head of Department will be up to five years in the first instance, with an underlying permanent academic appointment at the University
Reporting to: Dean of the Faculty of Science
Direct Reports to: Staff within the Education and Research Job Family and other staff within the Department as delegated by the Dean
Overall Purpose
To lead and manage the Department so that it realises its potential and delivers excellence in the full portfolio of academic activity, within the context of the operation and strategic development of the Faculty and University and their objectives. This includes leading the growth of research in the Department and driving and managing change, building on and taking further our success.
Principal Responsibilities
- Contribute to the formation of strategy and plans at Faculty level, through engagement with the Dean, Associate Deans and Faculty colleagues, environment scanning and assessment of opportunities and risks.
- Ensure delivery of the Department’s contribution to University and Faculty strategic plans.
- Oversee delivery of a positive and effective educational delivery and student experience.
- Promote and drive forward research performance.
- Support and develop academic leadership in the Department and wider community.
- Effective management of all staff in the Education and Research job family, plus other staff as delegated by the Dean, through the establishment and operation of an effective Departmental leadership team.
- Appropriate and effective management of the Departmental budgets.
- Management of the Department’s physical estate as appropriate, in collaboration with the Faculty, Department of Estates and other agencies.
- Ensure that Health, Safety and Environmental practice in the Department complies with University policy and regulations.
- Ensure effective representation of the Department’s interests within and outside the University.
- Ensure that the activities of the Department are undertaken in accordance with the governance, policy and regulatory frameworks of the University.
- Promote the University’s equality and diversity objectives.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Candidates for the role will be expected to demonstrate evidence of the following knowledge, skills, and attributes:
Knowledge and skills
- Highly effective leadership and management skills
- Ability to set and communicate clear vision and expectations for Departmental and individual performance
- Highly effective interpersonal communication skills including negotiation and influencing
- Ability to manage difficult situations
- Good decision-making skills
Experience
- Demonstrable track record of leading and managing change
- Credible track record of high-quality academic work
- Experience of research leadership
- Experience in managing budgets and academic programmes
- Experience of effectively line-managing individual members of staff and teams
- Understanding and delivering a positive student experience
Attributes
- Ability to create a collegiate atmosphere and willingness to take account of diverse views, while accepting responsibility for decisions
- Commitment to excellence in academic endeavour
- Commitment to nurturing talent, recognising contributions and providing opportunities for professional development
- Commitment to challenging poor performance and inappropriate behaviour
- Commitment to promoting inclusion
- Integrity: keeping promises, following through on commitments, demonstrating the values expected of others
Competitive salary with the possibility of a relocation allowance.
The appointment of the Head of Department will be up to five years in the first instance, with an underlying permanent academic appointment at the University.
Leave: 26 days per annum plus five University days taken in conjunction with Bank Holidays.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an employment advisor to the University. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley:
- Imogen Wilde on +44(0)7864 652 633 or imogen@andersonquigley.com
- Elliott Rae on +44 (0)7584 078 534 or elliott@andersonquigley.com
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 17 December 2021.
Applications should consist of:
- A full CV
- A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining how you meet the points under the person specification.
- Please include details of two referees, though please note that we will not approach referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.
- Please complete the following online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
Completed applications should be emailed to welcome@andersonquigley.com using the reference AQ1277
Timetable
| Closing date: | noon on Friday 17 December 2021 |
| Longlisting: | Friday 7 January 2022 |
| Preliminary Interviews with AQ: | w/c 10 January 2022 |
| Shortlisting: | Thursday 20 January 2022 |
| Final Panel Interviews: | Friday 4 February 2022 (in person, on campus) |
We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a better environment for our employees and students, creating a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances health and wellbeing across our community. We are very proud to have recently received Ambassadors for Autism certification and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.
