Thank you for your interest in the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences (HELS) at Birmingham City University.
With almost 28,000 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.
HELS has 10,000 full-time students enrolled on courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation level in education, social work, nursing and midwifery, health sciences and defence and health. We are one of the biggest Faculties of our kind in the UK.
Following retirements and promotions we are currently recruiting three senior leadership roles to the Faculty Executive; our Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, our Head of School of Education and Social Work and our Associate Dean for Teaching, Education and Student Experience.
These are wonderful high-profile leadership opportunities. They will be challenging, the sector is changing rapidly, yet Birmingham City and HELS is growing, investing and 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.
With almost 28,000 students from c.100 countries and over 3,200 members of staff, Birmingham City University is a large, diverse and increasingly popular 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. We’ve invested £340 million in our estate, including a major expansion of our city centre campus at Eastside, providing students with an enviable range of facilities.
We have an exciting new 2025 strategy which is clear that through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.
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.
City South Campus in Edgbaston, to the south of the City Centre, is home to our Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences. We have a wide range of courses in health and social care, education (teacher training and non-teacher training), life sciences, and sport, and our students benefit from practical learning facilities – from a mock operating theatre and hospital wards, laboratories and sports clinics, and specialised education facilities. Our City South Campus consists of four buildings, Seacole Building, Bevan House, Ravensbury House and Harborne Road.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery has an outstanding record for graduate employability. We provide a dynamic and forward-thinking learning environment, supported by more than 100 academic staff who are qualified nurses and experts in their fields. Our departments cover Adult Nursing, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Midwifery and Child Nursing.
The School of Education and Social Work dates back to 1897, we have a long and established history when it comes to delivering initial teacher training, education, childhood and youth courses in Birmingham. We offer high-quality courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate degree level that are tailored to meet the needs of the professions. Our graduates are very successful in finding employment and many take jobs in the West Midlands. Courses are taught by a range of experienced practitioners, many of whom have been exceptional teachers or have worked as senior managers in education.
Faculty/ School/ Department: School of Nursing and Midwifery
Responsible to: Deputy Dean
Job purpose
To provide effective strategic leadership and management of the School. Deliver a positive contribution to the Faculty Executive Team and promote, develop and enhance provision within the School in line with the Faculty strategic and operational plans and the University strategic plan.
Main activities and responsibilities
Leadership and team building
Managing people
Managing resources
Policy and planning
Student learning experience
Collaborative working, networking and liaison
Corporate responsibilities
Expertise and experience requirements
Able to demonstrate:
Special requirements
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Special requirements
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:
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.
Faculty/ School/ Department: Head of School of Education and Social Work
Responsible to: Deputy Dean
Job purpose
To provide effective strategic leadership and management of the School. Deliver a positive contribution to the Faculty Executive Team and promote, develop and enhance provision within the School in line with the Faculty strategic and operational plans and the University strategic plan.
Main activities and responsibilities
Leadership and team building
Managing people
Managing resources
Policy and planning
Student learning experience
Collaborative working, networking and liaison
Corporate responsibilities
Expertise and experience requirements
Able to demonstrate:
Special requirements
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Special requirements
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:
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.
Faculty/ School/ Department: School of Teaching, Education and Student Experience
Responsible to: Faculty PVC / Executive Dean
Job purpose
The University regards the Associate Dean, Teaching, Education and Student Experience (AD TESE) as key to the successful delivery of the mission and objectives of the University and is central to the delivery of the University’s Strategy 2025, and related strategic plans.
Reporting to the Faculty PVC/Executive Dean, with a dotted line to the DVC Academic, and to the PVC Learning and Teaching, the AD (TESE) will provide strong, dynamic and inspirational leadership for the Faculty enabling it to contribute to the achievement of the University’s mission to be both the University for Birmingham, and a University with a global reputation for high quality education and research.
The AD (TESE) will be responsible for creating and sustaining a high-quality, supportive and inclusive environment which empowers the development of all students to transform their lives through high quality education and to achieve their full potential on graduation. The AD (TESE) will be responsible for strategic leadership of all aspects of education provision within the Faculty, including quality, standards and enhancement activities, working with Heads of Schools and academic colleagues to deliver student outcomes in line with the University strategy and a student learning experience that is recognised by our students as inclusive and reflective of their needs, and externally as outstanding.
Main activities and responsibilities
Additional key requirements
Managing people and resources
Communication
Teamwork and collaborative working
Initiative, problem solving and decision making
Work environment
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Professional status
In addition, the following specialist expertise, skills and experience is desirable:
Special requirements
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 this level. Job descriptions are not exhaustive and you may be required to undertake other duties of a similar level and responsibility.
The posts are offered on a full time, permanent basis. The Associate Dean grade is MA6 (£72,636 – £78,953), the Head of School grade is MA5 (£61,766 – £67,137). There is a potential 10% market supplement available.
In addition, the you will be entitled to the following terms and conditions:
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 advertisements.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Phil Entwistle on +44(0)7596 954 387 or Ed Pritchard on +44 (0)7980 817 927.
The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 9 May 2022.
Your application should consist of:
Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery:
Head of School of Education and Social Work:
Associate Dean Teaching, Education and the Student Experience: