Appointment of the Academic Dean - Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing
Thank you for your interest in the Academic Dean for our Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing.
Coventry University is the rising star of British higher education. Maintaining our strong emphasis on high quality education and applied research, within thirty years of our attainment of university status Coventry University has become a global brand. We have operations in Dubai, Singapore and Rwanda and are the UK’s fourth largest annual recruiter of international students. Our global outlook sits alongside a strong civic identity and mission. The university is a major presence in Coventry, which contributes to the city’s friendly and vibrant atmosphere and also enables us to foster successful business partnerships.
Situated in the birthplace of the British motor industry and the historical heart of UK manufacturing, our Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing enjoys a global reputation for business-focused teaching and research. With three schools (computing, electronics and mathematics; energy, construction and environment; and mechanical, aerospace and automotive engineering) the Faculty is one of the largest in the UK and is nationally and internationally renowned as a centre of innovation for its teaching, learning and research. Currently home to around 6,500 students, 400 staff with significant TNE activity, we are continuing to experience growth and are expanding activity across our portfolio. Whether harnessing the power of new technologies to streamline manufacturing, developing complex algorithms to mine big data or pioneering sustainable solutions to industry problems, our students and staff are tackling some of society’s most pressing issues.
With a focus on growth and delivering high-quality student outcomes, our new Academic Dean will bring a strategic vision for the diversity of disciplines across the Faculty. With proven leadership skills, a strong track record of academic achievement and experience of delivering sustainable change, candidates will blend a commercial mindset with an inclusive approach to leadership and an unwavering commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience.
The role represents an opportunity to take our reputation to the next level. If you share our values and ambition and want to be part of this vibrant academic community, we look forward to hearing from you. You can find out more about the role on this site and further information on the University by clicking here. Our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley would be delighted to discuss the opportunities with you in the first instance.
We are a unique institution with distinctive approach to our activities.
Our staff are central to the university’s success and we are committed to supporting them in their delivery of teaching and learning, research outputs and impact, and enterprise development – all of which will enhance our ability to operate globally. Our approach is partnership-driven, entrepreneurial and sustainable. You can take a look at our Group Strategy and find out more about our vision for 2030 here.
Our teaching, staff, facilities and student experience have received a variety of awards and accolades in recent years. We were awarded University of the Year for Student Experience by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019, and were shortlisted for University of the Year in 2021; we were ranked 38th in the Guardian University Guide 2022. We hold a TEF Gold and received 5 stars for teaching, student satisfaction and online learning in the QS Stars Ratings 2020.
We’re proud of our achievements and of the way in which the university’s global reputation is flourishing, but we’re not resting on our past successes. We’re committed to continuing to deliver quality teaching and learning, outstanding student satisfaction, and to equipping our graduates with the skills they need to flourish personally and professionally.
Our Structure
Coventry gained its university status in 1992. Since then we have worked tirelessly to become a global enterprise, establishing multiple campuses and initiatives across the world.
The Coventry University Group is an umbrella term for Coventry University and all of our locations owned and governed by Coventry University. You can view our structure chart and other relevant organigrams for a more detailed overview here.
We are one of the top-rated universities for working with business and are proud to be seen as a business-facing University. Many of our commercial activities are delivered and supported through our trading subsidiaries: Coventry University Enterprises and Coventry University Services. We have other subsidiaries around the UK that offer educational and business support services.
Teaching & Learning
We aim to deliver a teaching and learning experience that encourages, inspires and develops our students into graduates who are globally employable.
Our students benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in all academic disciplines, including Europe’s largest academic trading floors, mock courtooms, hospital wards, design and engineering laboratories, performing arts studios and computing centres.
- 76% overall positive student satisfaction at Coventry University (National Student Survey 2021)
- 92% of our research was rated as ‘world-leading’, ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘recognised internationally’ (REF 2014 – assessed every seven years)
We’ve also been awarded an overall QS Stars rating of 5 stars and have scored top marks in the following areas:
- 5 stars for teaching (including 100% for teaching satisfaction)
- 5 stars for employability (including 100% graduate employment rate)
- 5 stars for facilities
- 5 stars for internationalisation
- 5 stars for inclusiveness
- 5 stars for online learning
Student Experience
We are continually evolving to give our students the best opportunities and experiences.
As a global University that ranks strongly in national and worldwide league tables – as well as for positive feedback from our students – we’re aiming to set ourselves apart as the university of choice for a great experience while studying.
- Awarded University of the Year for Student Experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019)
- We were the country’s highest ranking university for seven consecutive years (Guardian University Guide 2013-2019)
- Coventry University is ranked 38th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2022)
- 97% of our graduates were employed or in further study six months after graduation (DLHE Survey, UG UK, 2016/17, published 2018)
- 1st for overseas student experiences 4 years running (based on student trips abroad from HESA 2014/15 – 2017/18 UK data)
- 76% overall positive student satisfaction at Coventry University (National Student Survey 2021)
Academic Dean - Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing
Grade: 10
Salary range: Competitive + Benefits
Mode: Full Time, Permanent
Role purpose
Academic Deans are responsible for providing the operational leadership of the Faculty and for the development and achievement of the Faculty’s strategy and business plan through the Faculty’s Leadership Team. Accountable for the following areas:
- Providing overall Faculty leadership and driving delivery of the University’s Mission Statement, Corporate Strategy and institutional policies and procedures, by developing Faculty business plans that align to the four core pillars of the University Group Corporate Plan (education, research, knowledge transfer and internationalisation), setting goals and ensuring the achievement of corporate key performance indicators.
- To be responsible for direct line management of the Associate Deans and Heads of School, driving transformational change and growth, through effective leadership, to support the achievement of Corporate and Faculty objectives.
- Ensuring the Faculty School model is developed to enhance the competitive standing and developing of leading edge solutions, driven by market demands.
- Ensure the Faculty Research Centres are developed and aligned to the corporate research strategy, delivering against agreed business plans and financial targets.
- Creating an inclusive, communicative and performance-focussed management culture, encouraging staff engagement and motivation to deliver in order for students to progress and achieve within a stimulating, creative and safe environment.
- Delivering the strategic goals of the Faculty, stimulating new ideas and innovations, challenging and supporting managers to integrate and align strategies and plans with corporate objectives, to ensure staff and students have a consistently excellent experience in the Faculty and across the University Group.
- Contributing to University leadership through participation in University Leadership Team (ULT), cross-Faculty and occasionally cross-institutional projects as determined by the Pro Vice-Chancellor.
Main Duties and responsibilities
- To be accountable for development and delivery of the Faculty annual business/operational plan and its objectives, through the Faculty Leadership Team, to ensure successful implementation and review.
- Accountable for academic development across the Faculty; ensuring quality of the education provision and student experience is aligned to the University education strategy and contributing positively to the Teaching Excellence and Student outcomes Framework (TEF).
- To ensure that the Faculty fully exploits commercial opportunities, creating national and international partnerships across relevant sectors and develops the Faculty business aligned to the enterprise and innovation strategy and contributing to the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).
- To ensure that the Faculty fully exploits research opportunities across relevant sectors and develops activity aligned to the University research strategy and contributes to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
- To ensure that the Faculty is fully aligned to the Global Engagement strategy in the delivery of its business, in particular through internationalisation of courses, student experience and recruitment overseas.
- Through effective leadership, oversee responsibilities and delivery of objectives for the Associate Deans and Heads of School. Liaise with the relevant Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro Vice-Chancellor in relation to reaching a tripartite agreement on the workplan and objectives for the relevant Associate Dean.
- In delivering the strategic goals of the Faculty, actively work to promote the stimulation of new ideas and innovations by challenging and supporting managers to integrate and align strategies and plans with corporate objectives. This will require personal skill in leading collectively agreed change, some of which may be for the wider good.
- Oversee and agree on workload modelling with Heads of Schools to determine staff workloads, staffing level requirements, Hourly Paid Lecturer (HPL) budgets, allowances and related priorities.
- Ensure effective management and oversight of Faculty resources related to timetable, space allocation, facilities and equipment, Finance/Procurement and staffing levels (academic and professional services), ensuring adherence to University wide policy, procedures and regulation.
- Accountable for and lead on people issues within the Faculty related to recruitment, induction, progression, retention and performance management, working in conjunction with the People Team and other service areas and with wider University policies and procedures.
- Ensure an inclusive communication and performance focused management culture across the Faculty.
- Understand the workings of a complex group structure and develop collaborative cross-group activity.
- Support or represent the Pro Vice-Chancellor at University, local, national and international level as required.
AND such other duties as are within the scope and spirit of the job purpose, the title of the post and it’s grading.
Supervision received
- The post-holder will be directly responsible to the Pro Vice-Chancellor.
Supervision given
- Direct line management of the Associate Deans & Heads of School.
- Academic and/or Professional Services staff as allocated.
Contacts
- All staff across the University Group, students and external contacts/bodies.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education/ qualifications
- A PhD plus experience in the relevant subject area or an equivalent level of professional experience alongside a postgraduate qualification in the relevant subject.
- Advantageous to have:
- Professorial status
- Evidence the achievement of the Criteria for Principal Fellow within the UK Professional Standards Framework for Higher Education, or a suitable professional body
- Membership of relevant external organisations
- An approved teaching qualification
Experience (paid and unpaid)
- Experience of working at Associate Dean level, with demonstrable academic standing
- Significant understanding of the Faculty’s business as a whole and the Faculty’s role in the University context from a policy and operational perspective
- Significant previous leadership and management experience in an academic context
- Demonstrable ability to lead, engage and motivate staff and to address poor performance
- Excellent team working skills
- Experience of working in a complex matrix group structure
- The ability to respond effectively to a fast moving environment, to take appropriate levels of risk in moving the business forward and to create and maintain the momentum needed in the Faculty to pursue change and transformational growth
- The ability to accurately analyse complex data/information quickly
Job related skills/ aptitudes
- The ability to make clear and timely decisions in a consultative, and where appropriate, participative way
- The ability to manage demanding workloads and tight deadlines
- Project management, budgeting and financial management skills
- Awareness of external context of the University and its global agenda
- Ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities and developments, driving faculty performance
Interpersonal skills
- Ability to effectively lead and manage large diverse teams
- High level communication skills both oral and written with an ability to act as a representative of the Faculty and University Group in a wide range of situations, both internally and externally, nationally and internationally
- High-level negotiation, influencing and enabling skills to ensure Faculty priorities are met
- Collaborative working across a complex, multi-site Group structure
Other requirements
- Be able to work flexibly and use own initiative when appropriate
- Must demonstrate cultural awareness and be able to travel to represent the School/Faculty/University Group in the UK and overseas
- Advantageous to have:
- Competence in more than one language.
The salary (grade 10, up to £125,000) will be agreed with the successful candidate.
We offer benefits including pension schemes, generous holiday allowances, flexible working, a childcare vouchers scheme, training, personal and professional development and discounted membership to the university’s bespoke £4m sport and recreation centre.
In addition, we have a number of lifestyle benefits, such as our cycle to work scheme and our Coventry University car share scheme, all designed to support your career, wellbeing and the environment. The university is also primarily based in the centre of Coventry, allowing great access to the road and rail networks.
A summary of our benefits can be found by clicking here.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the university, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on Wednesday 17 November 2021.
Should you wish to discuss this role in strict confidence, please contact: Phil Entwistle on phil@andersonquigley.com or +44(0)7596 954 387; or Ed Pritchard on ed@andersonquigley.com or +44(0)7980 817 927.
Applications should consist of:
- A full CV.
- A covering letter (maximum of three pages) outlining how you meet the education and experience criteria of the person specifications.
- Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.
- Please use the following links to complete an online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
Completed applications should be uploaded at www.andersonquigley.com/candidates using the reference AQ1245. The forward timetable is to be agreed.
Timetable
| Closing date: | Noon on Wednesday 17 November 2021 |
| Longlisting: | Wednesday 24 November 2021 |
| Preliminary Interviews with AQ: | Week commencing 29 November 2021 |
| Shortlisting: | Wednesday 8 December 2021 |
| Final Panel Interviews: | Friday 7 January 2022 |
