Appointment of the Head of the Birmingham Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles and the Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Enterprise
Thank you for your interest in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media (ADM) at Birmingham City University.
With over 25,500 students from c.100 countries, 3,200 staff, and an annual income of c.£246m, Birmingham City University is an ambitious, exciting, and diverse place to study. We put students at the heart of everything we do, giving them the best opportunities for future success. The University has an enviable reputation for providing quality, student-focused education in a professional and friendly environment. Our superb courses, state-of-the-art facilities, first-rate staff and focus on practical skills and professional relevance is producing some of the country’s most employable graduates. Located in the heart of a vibrant Birmingham, we are proud of how we represent and positively impact this wonderful city, and with Sir Lenny Henry as our Chancellor, we are truly the University for Birmingham.
ADM has over 5,500 students enrolled on courses in music, theatre, writing, media, digital technology, art, design, jewellery and architecture and is one of Britain’s leading providers of talented professionals to the cultural and creative industries. We believe that creativity thrives on careful nurturing and rich experience. The rewards are there to see. Last year our students won or were short-listed for no fewer than 28 national or international prizes.
We are currently recruiting two roles on the Faculty Executive; our Head of the Birmingham Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles and our Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Enterprise.
These are wonderful high-profile leadership opportunities. They will be challenging, the sector is changing rapidly, yet Birmingham City and ADM are ideally placed to respond to those challenges. If you would like to contribute your expertise, creativity and energy to this wonderful institution, we would be delighted to hear from you.
About the University
Our University has a well-deserved reputation as a vibrant and successful institution. The investment of over £340 million into the estate has created a truly astonishing environment for students and staff, in the heart of our city. Birmingham itself, with its five universities and 85,000 students, is the ‘youngest city in Europe’ with under-20s accounting for 29% of its population. With 50% of our students from a BAME background, we are proud of how we represent and positively impact this wonderful city and, with Sir Lenny Henry as our Chancellor, we are truly the University for Birmingham.
The University focuses on practice-led, knowledge-based learning, providing access to cutting-edge facilities and real-world experience. We benefit from around 50 professional accreditations and have a well-established reputation for delivering in-company training and development programmes.
Our teaching staff come from and maintain their links with industry, ensuring students are given an insight into the latest thinking. We are constantly looking for new ways to enhance the learning experience, with inspiring visiting lecturers and learning environments that are designed to replicate the workplaces our learners aim to enter. We even give students the chance to gain work experience in real roles around the University, through our student employment scheme.
The work undertaken by our research staff and students is not only enriching our courses, it is literally shaping the world. In the Research Excellence Framework 2014, which measures universities’ research performance, 90% of Birmingham City University’s total submission was judged to have delivered ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ impact externally.
The University has a reputation for widening participation and working with local communities. We welcome a broad mix of cultures and nationalities, and over half of our 26,900 students come from the city or the surrounding area. There are also over 2,600 international and EU students from around 80 countries who are attracted by the social and ethnic mix of the University’s student population.
We have been pioneering vocational education in the city since 1843, through a series of predecessor institutions. Having achieved University status in 1992, we changed our name to Birmingham City University in 2007, reflecting our commitment to, and pride in, our home city.
Our History
Birmingham City University was established in 1992. However, our predecessor institutions have played a prominent educational role in Birmingham for over 170 years.
Our roots go back to the 19th Century when a number of institutions specialising in applied knowledge were established in the city. Birmingham School of Art was founded in 1843, joined in 1888 by the School of Jewellery, aiming to raise the level of commercial design.
Similarly, Birmingham College of Commerce had been founded in 1899 to provide an advanced and specialist curriculum useful to local businesses. Birmingham School of Music was originally part of the Birmingham Midland Institute, one of the initiatives of the radical and liberal enlightenment in the city of the mid-19th Century.
In 1971, these colleges joined with the South and North Birmingham Technical Colleges to form the new City of Birmingham Polytechnic, one of many such institutions set up to focus on professional and vocational study. In 1975, the city council introduced three further colleges into the Polytechnic, integrating Anstey College of Physical Education, Bordesley College of Education and the City of Birmingham College of Education. Bournville College of Art became part of the Polytechnic in 1988, merging with the Faculty of Art and Design to create Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.
Birmingham Polytechnic was granted university status in 1992 as the University of Central England in Birmingham. In the following decade, the University experienced considerable growth in student numbers and the curriculum broadened to include health-related professional qualifications. Birmingham and Solihull College of Nursing and Midwifery and West Midlands School of Radiography became part of the University in 1995, and the University is now the host institution for the training of health professionals for the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.
In May 2005, Birmingham School of Acting merged with UCE Birmingham. Formerly known as Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, it had been founded in 1936 to provide opportunities for drama and speech training for all sections of the community. These courses subsequently moved alongside our music courses in an enlarged Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, following the granting of a Royal title by Her Majesty The Queen in 2017.
The University today
Since 2011, the University has undertaken a £340 million investment in its estates and facilities to create a campus fit for the future. The City Centre Campus has seen three major new developments – the Parkside Building for Design and Media students opened in 2013; the Curzon Building, which houses Business, Law and Social Science courses as well as new library, IT and student support facilities opened in 2015; and our new music building for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, opened in 2017.
A new extension to our City South Campus to house our new Sport, Education and Life Science courses, together with existing Education programmes, was opened in 2018. The acquisition of an additional property nearby in 2020 provided further teaching space for Health-related courses and coincided with the launch of a new suite of nursing degree apprenticeships which are intended to help tackle workforce shortages in the sector.
Work is almost complete on the latest phase of our STEAMhouse project – the £60 million transformation of the 121-year-old Belmont Works, next to our City Centre Campus, into an innovation centre where artists, academics and industry can collaborate with each other. STEAM is an interdisciplinary way of thinking that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, aimed at finding the most innovative solutions to today’s challenges.
The University joined forces with education charity IntoUniversity to develop a new £1.2 million education hub in Kingstanding. It is aimed at supporting more young people into higher education through a series of after-school classes, aspiration-building workshops and a mentoring programme with University students and corporate professionals. The hub was officially opened by Chancellor Sir Lenny Henry, and continued to operate virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic.
March 2020 saw the opening of a landmark new research centre aimed at examining diversity across the UK’s media. The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity looks at representation across the industry including journalism, acting, film, TV and radio in both on-screen and behind-the-scenes roles, and is conducting new research and analysis on the subject.
Our staff and student community is defined by our core values, which outline who we are as a University and how we will work with each other.
Our core values are:
Excellence, People focused, Partnership working and Fairness and integrity.
Our mission
“To transform the prospects of individuals, employers and society through excellence in practice-based education, research and knowledge exchange.”
Our vision
“To be the leading university for creative and professional practice inspired by innovation and enquiry.”
We define our role and place in higher education through four characteristics which underpin what we do and how we do it:
Practice
We focus on practice so all students have Practice Intelligence (the capability to learn from experience and apply it to all future practice).
All courses include practice, practical experience and learning through practice; we command credibility and respect from the professions and our curriculum anticipates their changing needs.
Our research and knowledge development are applied to practice.
Creativity and enterprise
We promote the value and application of creativity and enterprise skills in all areas of our staff and students’ work.
Creativity and enterprise skills and capabilities will be distinguishing features of all Birmingham City University graduates.
Student Engagement
We seek high levels of student engagement so our students have a sense of ‘ownership’ in their University.
Our focus is student success and we believe they have a major role to play in shaping what the University does to ensure this.
Click here to view our Core Values Framework.
Birmingham Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles brings together two internationally-renowned schools, with almost 130 years of heritage. Over four sites, the institute’s cutting-edge workshops and facilities create a dynamic culture for innovation and research.
Whether worn, carried on the body, or part of the environment, our students design and make award winning objects and artefacts through old and new technologies. Together we produce graduates with the knowledge and technical skills to carve rewarding careers in industry.
The Queen’s Anniversary Award-winning School of Jewellery is the largest in Europe, with excellent facilities and expertise to develop our students’ careers in this exciting specialist sector. Based in the heart of Birmingham’s thriving Jewellery Quarter, where much of the jewellery made in Britain is still produced today, its location gives students maximum industry exposure before graduation and the chance to work on live projects while they study.
The Vittoria Street building’s historical facade conceals a contemporary environment including workshops, a specialist library, an atrium gallery and exhibition space. Our courses cover all aspects of jewellery, silversmithing, horology and gemmology, using a variety of precious and non-precious metals, gems and experimental materials. Our students also benefit from an enviable range of cutting-edge equipment and technology which is used in industry today.
The School of Fashion and Design is a globally renowned provider of fashion and textiles education, with a history dating back to the 19th Century, renowned for its students’ achievements, innovative research and partnerships with industry.
Our courses address the global fashion and textiles industries within a genuinely creative, collaborative and international student community. All of our staff come from an industry background and bring a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience, as well as access to the latest thinking, creativity and professional networks. Our extensive range of modern workshops and facilities gives students the space and resources they need to define what design means to them.
The Institute sits within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, one of the largest providers of creative education in the UK that is also home to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, together with courses in Architecture, Visual Communication, Media and English, and the Creative Arts.
Head of the Birmingham Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles
Purpose
To provide effective strategic leadership and management of the Institute. Deliver a positive contribution to the Faculty Executive Team and promote, develop and enhance provision within the School/Institute in line with the Faculty strategic and operational plans and the University strategic plan.
Roles and responsibilites
Leadership and team building
- Provide strategic leadership to the School/Institute in the areas of learning and teaching, research, enterprise and wider engagement.
- Provide strategic leadership in the development of an inclusive, dynamic, industry relevant and competitive portfolio of courses.
- Ensure the achievement of agreed performance standards across the School’s/Institute’s provision (relevant performance standards may include REF results, research and enterprise income and impact, National Student Survey (NSS) results, APP gaps, student recruitment, student retention, completion, progression & employability etc.)
- Ensure high standards are maintained in the conduct of all the School’s/Institute’s activities.
Managing people
- Lead a working environment and culture which promotes and ensures equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Create a working environment within the School/Institute and Faculty that is supportive of staff and encourages active engagement and a positive contribution from individuals.
- Ensure there is a strong emphasis across the School/Institute on communication with staff and there are appropriate mechanisms in place to underpin this.
- Oversee the effective deployment of staff resources within the School/Institute.
- Ensure the allocation of appropriate workloads within the School/Institute.
- Ensure that workforce planning is undertaken across the School/Institute on a systematic basis in line with University policy.
- Oversee the effective management of change across the School/Institute.
- Lead and support high performance within the School/Institute. Ensure that individuals have clear SMART objectives and participate in effective performance reviews in line with University policy.
- Participate fully in the University’s performance review process as reviewer and reviewee.
- Ensure compliance with University people management and health and safety policies.
Managing resources
- Utilise the School/Institute budget effectively.
- In liaison with the Faculty Financial Controller, ensure appropriate accountability for effective budgetary and financial management in the School/Institute.
Policy and planning
- Formulate and implement School/Institute academic and business plans ensuring that these are aligned with the strategic objectives of the Faculty and University.
Student learning experience
- Ensure the optimum student experience through adoption of a consistent customer focus across the School/Institute.
- Ensure that the Student Experience and curriculum promotes equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Faculty and wider University, including those in central professional services to ensure the best academic experience for the School’s/Institute’s students.
- Develop the scale and range of high quality academic provision and support/develop new methods and modes of delivery.
- Proactively monitor and review the quality of provision within the School/Institute.
- Ensure the standards of the University’s awards are maintained and provision maintains professional recognition and accreditation as appropriate.
Collaborative working, networking and liaison
- Promote and enhance the reputation of the School/Institute nationally and internationally.
- Represent the interests of the School/Institute within the Faculty and University.
- Embed employer engagement, enterprise and entrepreneurship across the School’s/Institute’s areas of provision.
- Develop strategic partnerships with mutual benefits.
Corporate responsibilities
- Participate effectively and collegiately as a member of the Faculty Executive team.
- Participate in Faculty and University projects and initiatives as directed.
- Participate in the operation of the University’s policies and procedures.
Expertise and experience requirements
- Good first degree.
- Postgraduate and/or professional qualification in relevant area.
- A higher degree, PhD or professional doctorate in a relevant academic area.
- Professorial status or the eligibility to be awarded professorial status upon appointment is desirable.
- Relevant management experience in an academic or commercial environment.
- Ability to manage people, budgets and other resources and deliver projects.
- A track record of successful development, management and delivery of relevant projects.
- Ability to achieve performance targets and support others to meet their performance targets.
- A track record of Higher Education teaching, research or third stream activity.
- Experience and understanding of QAA requirements.
Able to demonstrate:
- Strategic focus with strong leadership and management skills including excellent analytical, communication and presentation skills.
- Demonstrable commitment and awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the work place.
- Strong interpersonal and faciliatory skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team, to lead and to inspire high quality performance in others.
- High levels of motivation with the ability to determine and achieve own targets and objectives.
- Ability to build effective relationships and interact with students, colleagues, external clients, stakeholders and fellow professionals and to work collaboratively.
- Experience and/or ability to plan, manage and implement change in an academic environment while maintaining the confidence of staff at all levels.
- High level of professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment.
- Good organisational skills.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Good IT skills.
Special requirements
Able to undertake duties at different premises including any University campus as required.
National and international travel may be necessary in order to attend conferences and events and effectively represent the University in key professional networks.
Expected to work outside of normal office hours as required.
All academic staff are expected to engage in activities associated with promotion, marketing and public outreach of the subject area.
Expectations of all staff
Professional standards
All staff employed by Birmingham City University are expected to exhibit high professional standards which promote and demonstrate the University’s core values of Excellence, People Focused, Partnership Working, Fairness and Integrity.
In addition, Heads are expected to be an active ambassador for the University and proactively identify ways to enhance the University’s collective reputation.
Equal Opportunities
All staff are expected to understand and enact the University’s commitment to ensuring equality and diversity in all activities. This commitment is enshrined in the Equality Statement and core values.
Dignity at work
Every member of staff has a responsibility to ensure colleagues are treated with dignity and respect.
The University is committed to creating a work environment for all staff that is free from harassment, intimidation and any other forms of bullying at work, where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and professional courtesy.
Health and safety
The arrangements for meeting the University’s health and safety objectives are contained in the Birmingham City University Health and Safety Policy. This includes the responsibilities of key staff and procedures covering the main activities of the University.
All staff are expected to take reasonable care of themselves and those that may be affected by their actions.
Dress code
The University does not operate a formal dress code for its employees, other than for those who are provided with uniform and/or protective clothing. However, employees must ensure that their dress is professional, reasonably smart and appropriate for the situation in which they are working. All staff should ensure that they present a professional image and one that reflects sensitivity to customer perceptions. This may reflect their ethnicity and lifestyle, but should not be provocative or cause offence to those with whom they have contact.
Citizenship
All staff are expected to adhere to good citizenship, being generous with help and support to others, collaborating with colleagues and working for the benefit of the University as a whole. In particular working to provide a positive student experience and achieving excellence in all the University’s activities.
This job description indicates the expectations of staff at Head level. Each Faculty may have a number of Heads with responsibilities for different portfolios which may include:
- School/Institute
- Learning & teaching
- Academic quality
- Academic Portfolio and Market Development
- International
- Research
- Enterprise
One or more portfolio areas may be combined into a single job.
Guidance on typical areas of responsibility and specific knowledge, experience and expertise required for each is provided in the Head Portfolio Descriptions. These may be revised and updated from time to time in line with the University’s strategic aims. Individual objectives and achievement targets will be agreed between PVC Executive Deans of Faculty and reviewed regularly.
With reasonable notice and support, the University can expect and require a member of staff at this level to undertake any of the activities detailed above. You will be expected to perform at this level within a reasonable period following promotion. Job descriptions are not exhaustive and you may be required to undertake other duties of a similar level and responsibility.
Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Enterprise
Specific responsibilities in relation to research
- Chair the Faculty Research & Enterprise Committees including the Faculty Research Degrees Committee.
- Be responsible for the oversight of Faculty Postgraduate Research student recruitment, induction, progression and completion.
- Be responsible for the oversight of the Faculty research and enterprise income targets.
- Champion a vibrant research & enterprise / supervisory / professorial community within the Faculty.
- Work with Heads of School to devise and deliver Faculty work allocations to support and extend research and enterprise activity.
- Contribute strategic leadership in research to the wider University via the University Research and Enterprise Committees.
- Be extensively externally networked to facilitate new research and enterprise contracts and awards.
- Advise and support Faculty REF Units of Assessment (UoA) leaders in recruitment and induction of new researchers.
- Advise and support Faculty commercialisation of knowledge, exchange projects including KTPs.
- Support and develop international research links, joint centres and collaborative partnerships.
- Support and develop enterprise partnerships and external income generation.
- Contribute to the Faculty leadership as a member of the Faculty Executive Group.
Additional expertise and experience requirements
- Significant experience of a research and enterprise portfolio, student supervision and contract success.
- Experience of successful development, management and delivery of postgraduate research programmes.
- Understanding and experience of research and enterprise in the Higher Education sector.
- Evidence of a track record of providing strategic and visionary direction in the development of research projects and enterprise.
- Have good knowledge and awareness of the different opportunities related to research and enterprise.
- Knowledge and awareness of the broad context of research and enterprise in Higher Education and government policy in the UK including REF and KEF, current and forthcoming challenges and opportunities.
- Successful leadership of curriculum and programme development.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Experience of budget management.
In addition, the following specialist expertise, skills and experience is desirable:
- Experience of successful interaction between Higher Education industry or commerce, research and professional bodies.
- Experience of successful income generation.
- Scholarship and publication in a relevant area.
- Evidence of ability to create and sustain a Faculty research culture.
The posts are offered on a full time, permanent basis.
The salaries will be agreed with the successful candidates. In addition, the you will be entitled to the following terms and conditions:
- Pension Scheme Membership
- ‘Paid for’ benefits such as childcare vouchers, season travel ticket loans, cycle to work scheme
- Relocation in line with HMRC guidelines
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 either of these roles in strict confidence, please contact:
- Head of Institute – Carolyn Coates on +44(0)7825 871 944 (carolyn@andersonquigley.com) or Ed Pritchard +44(0)7980 817 927 (ed@andersonquigley.com)
- AD RIE – Sophie Rees +44(0)7719 313 982 (sophie@andersonquigley.com) or Ed Pritchard on +44 (0)7980 817 927 (ed@andersonquigley.com)
The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 22 November 2021
Applications should consist of:
- A full CV.
- A covering letter (maximum of 3 pages) outlining how you meet the points under the person specification above.
- 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 one of the following online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Forms
Completed applications should be uploaded at www.andersonquigley.com/candidates using the above corresponding AQ reference numbers.
