JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Executive Dean, Business, Management, and Commerce
Department: Executive
Pay Band: Executive
Line Manager: Deputy Vice Chancellor

Role Purpose:

The Executive Dean, Business, Management, and Commerce is a member of the Executive Board, playing a key part in the continued success of the university. They share collective responsibility for the development and achievement of the university’s strategy and associated plans, playing a pivotal role in delivering on the university’s key strategic objectives.

This role supports the Deputy Vice Chancellor in developing and delivering the Academic Strategy and growth plan for the University. This key leadership role is responsible for leading and managing academic delivery and across the school at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Within their school, the Executive Dean has accountability for ensuring that academic and financial objectives and key KPIs are met. As a member of the executive team, the Executive Dean Business, Management, and Commerce shares collective responsibility for the development and achievement of the university’s strategy and associated plans.

The Executive Dean, Business, Management, and Commerce oversees and supports the University’s academic provision by providing strong academic, strategic, planning, and operational execution, coordinating with other executive deans, heads of department, academic staff, student support leaders and professional services. The role is central to delivering an excellent student experience and outcomes through the integration of education, research, knowledge exchange, and professional practice, and they will foster stronger industry partnerships, and drive forward research that is directly aligned with the university’s vision for academic excellence and innovation.

The Executive Dean, Business, Management, and Commerce coordinates with other executive deans, heads of department, academic staff, student support leaders and professional services to ensure an excellent student experience. Each Executive Dean also has executive responsibility for one of three strategic institution-wide areas (Teaching and Learning, International, and Student Journey)

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• As a member of the executive team share collective responsibility and accountability for the performance of the university and the development of university strategies, collaborating to achieve institutional objectives, and acting as the executive lead for cross institutional projects as required.
• Provide sector specific strategic and academic leadership, vision and direction to the school, developing and delivering the Academic Strategy in line with the university’s overarching strategy, and establishing new provisions to support the growth and sustainability of the university.
• Take responsibility and accountability for the overall performance of the school though effective planning, budgetary and staffing arrangements, monitoring performance against plans and working in collaboration with professional services in the university.
• Provide strong leadership and line management to staff, promoting a culture of excellence within the school’s academic areas, managing resources effectively and driving change where necessary in order to build and promote the culture, brand and reputation of the university.
• Chair and participate in university-wide and school groups and committees.

Academic Provision Delivery

• Propose and manage changes to the school’s academic portfolio and the development of new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary provision to enhance the school and university’s profile and student attraction strategy.
• Lead the development of forward-thinking Business, Management, and Commerce courses, delivering cutting-edge courses tailored to school specific needs, and ensuring the curriculum remains relevant to industry demands and technological advancements.
• Ensure the effective delivery of the University’s academic courses ensuring an excellent student experience, coordinating with key academic, student support and other professional services staff to ensure cohesive academic and high standard learning environments.
• Ensure the integration of education, research, knowledge exchange, and professional practice cultivates stronger ties with industry, providing students with greater opportunities for real-world learning experiences which enhance student experience and outcomes.
• Oversee academic standards to ensure high-quality educational offerings comply with regulatory requirements, developing and embedding quality assurance and enhancement processes across the school.

Student Recruitment and Retention

• Develop strategies with professional services to monitor and improve student recruitment processes and attract and retain students.

Partnership Management

• Support the university’s academic partnership activity, facilitating domestic and international academic partnerships across the school in collaboration with appropriate services and strategies which align with the University’s strategic goals.
• Foster strong relationships with industry leaders and practitioners, ensuring that academic course reflect real world requirements.

International

• Hold executive lead responsibility for the academic leadership, management and development of internationalisation across the university in line with RUL’s wider University strategy, chairing internal meetings and representing the University at external committees/meetings as appropriate.
• Work with Professional Services leads to drive international student recruitment to programmes and ensure their sustainability.
• Work with the School Deans, International, Marketing and Communications and other key stakeholders to develop and enhance Ravensbourne an ‘International University’ engaging with, and influencing, national and international stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain of the university’s international links, particularly with identified priority partners and key international networks.

Other

• Demonstrate an understanding of Ravensbourne’s values, culture and educational ethos and promote these through everyday practice in the role.
• Work within Ravensbourne’s Code of Conduct and other Rules.
• Comply with all legislative, regulatory and policy requirements (e.g. Finance, People & Culture) as appropriate.
• Carry out the policies, procedures, and practices of Health & Safety in all aspects of the role.
• Demonstrate value and importance of equality and diversity in every aspect of Ravensbourne’s work and show commitment through everyday practice in the role.

Key working relationships (i.e. titles of roles, both internally and externally, with which this role holder interacts on a regular basis):

• VC, DVC, executive deans, COO and other members of the executive.
• Academic heads, Head of Academic Operations
• Head of Knowledge Exchange and Research
• Director of Learning & Teaching
• Heads of professional service area
• Students’ Union
• Course leaders

Resources Managed

• Budgets: School Academic Budget
• Staff: The school’s Heads of Departments, Director of Learning & Teaching. Course Leader PGCE, Students’ Union Manager.
• Other: (e.g. equipment; space)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

All of the following criteria are considered essential unless otherwise noted.

Knowledge and experience

Education/professional qualifications

• First degree qualified.
• A higher degree, PhD or professional doctorate in a relevant academic area. (Desirable)
• A PGCE or HEA accreditation or evidence of the ability to achieve one of these. (Desirable)

Experience

• Significant and successful track record of academic strategic leadership and management at a senior level within a complex organisation, managing large teams and budgets to stretching performance targets.
• Significant knowledge and skills in the areas of education, research, knowledge exchange and professional practice to enable strategic change.
• Record of achievement in developing and implementing strategy and delivering change.
• Knowledge and awareness of the broad context of higher education policy in the UK, and the current and forthcoming challenges and opportunities it presents.
• Experience of business planning, forecasting student numbers and resource requirements associated with an expanding or contracting portfolio.
• Experience of building successful relationships and collaborations internally, and externally, with outcomes beneficial both to students and to the wider institutional community.
• Strong understanding of the role and future potential of digital technology in industry.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues relating to widening participation and student retention. (Desirable)
• Understands inter-disciplinary and convergent processes in educational activities, and demonstrates a commitment and ability to ensure this is reflected in the educational offer. (Desirable)
• Experience of innovation in learning and teaching in higher education and an ability to evaluate and embed new initiatives successfully. (Desirable)
• Proven ability to develop international activity with positive impact on finance and/or reputation of the University.

Core personal skills abilities and behaviours

Leadership and Management

• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to motivate and develop teams and individuals and to delegate effectively to achieve high levels of performance.
• Ability to articulate priorities and manage competing demands, with the agility a resilience necessary to deal with demanding workloads and deadlines.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong partnerships and relationships both internally and externally, establishing trusting and effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholder.
• Ability to lead and manage complex change, engaging with staff and stakeholders throughout the process.
• Strong teamworking and collaboration skills, including commitment to ensuring decision making is in the interests of the university as a whole and fully aligned with the university’s strategies, priorities and goals.
• Drive, intellect and persona to be a credible advocate for the School and the university, providing strong but facilitative academic and managerial leadership.

Communication and influencing

• Exceptional personal, interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and interact with a wide range of stakeholders including staff at all levels, students and external stakeholders.
• Ability to grow connections between disciplines within and across the school, to ensure cohesiveness and encourage collaboration across departments and the wider university.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

• Demonstrable commitment to the value and importance of equality and diversity and the ability to show leadership and commitment through everyday practice in the role.

Other

• Demonstrates RUL’s organisational values and behaviours in everyday actions and interactions, acting as an exemplar of the RUL’s desired culture in both executive and functional leadership roles.
• Anticipates problems or issues and deals with them creatively and constructively, reaching a rational decision for dealing with the problem or issue; one that is capable of practical implementation.
• Ability to understand, use and present numerical information clearly and accurately.
• Makes optimum use of appropriate digital technology and IT systems in all aspects of the role, particularly the ability to operate in a Virtual Learning Environment.

This Job Description is subject to review and may be amended periodically to meet Ravensbourne’s evolving needs. Any changes will be made in discussion with the postholder.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Executive Dean, Computing and Emerging Technologies
Department: Executive
Pay Band: Executive
Line Manager: Deputy Vice Chancellor

Role Purpose:

The Executive Dean, Computing and Emerging Technologies is a member of the Executive Board, playing a key part in the continued success of the university. They share collective responsibility for the development and achievement of the university’s strategy and associated plans, playing a pivotal role in delivering on the university’s key strategic objectives.

This role supports the Deputy Vice Chancellor in developing and delivering the Academic Strategy and growth plan for the University. This key leadership role is responsible for leading and managing academic delivery and across the school at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Within their school, the Executive Dean has accountability for ensuring that academic and financial objectives and key KPIs are met. As a member of the executive team, the Executive Dean Computing and Emerging Technologies shares collective responsibility for the development and achievement of the university’s strategy and associated plans.

The Executive Dean, Computing and Emerging Technologies oversees and supports the University’s academic provision by providing strong academic, strategic, planning, and operational execution, coordinating with other executive deans, heads of department, academic staff, student support leaders and professional services. The role is central to delivering an excellent student experience and outcomes through the integration of education, research, knowledge exchange, and professional practice, and they will foster stronger industry partnerships and drive forward research that is directly aligned with the university’s vision for academic excellence and innovation.

The Executive Dean, Computing and Emerging Technologies coordinates with other executive deans, heads of department, academic staff, student support leaders and professional services to ensure an excellent student experience. Each Executive Dean also has executive responsibility for one of three strategic institution-wide areas (Teaching and Learning, International, and Student Journey)

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• As a member of the executive team share collective responsibility and accountability for the performance of the university and the development of university strategies, collaborating to achieve institutional objectives, and acting as the executive lead for cross institutional projects as required.
• Provide sector specific strategic and academic leadership, vision and direction to the school, developing and delivering the Academic Strategy in line with the university’s overarching strategy, and establishing new provisions to support the growth and sustainability of the university.
• Take responsibility and accountability for the overall performance of the school though effective planning, budgetary and staffing arrangements, monitoring performance against plans and working in collaboration with professional services in the university.
• Provide strong leadership and line management to staff, promoting a culture of excellence within the school’s academic areas, managing resources effectively and driving change where necessary in order to build and promote the culture, brand and reputation of the university.
• Chair and participate in university-wide and school groups and committees.

Academic Provision Delivery

• Propose and manage changes to the school’s academic portfolio and the development of new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary provision to enhance the school and university’s profile and student attraction strategy.
• Lead the development of forward-thinking Computing and Emerging Technologies courses, delivering cutting-edge courses tailored to school specific needs, and ensuring the curriculum remains relevant to industry demands and technological advancements.
• Ensure the effective delivery of the University’s academic courses ensuring an excellent student experience, coordinating with key academic, student support and other professional services staff to ensure cohesive academic and high standard learning environments.
• Ensure the integration of education, research, knowledge exchange, and professional practice cultivates stronger ties with industry, providing students with greater opportunities for real-world learning experiences which enhance student experience and outcomes.
• Oversee academic standards to ensure high-quality educational offerings comply with regulatory requirements, developing and embedding quality assurance and enhancement processes across the school.

Student Recruitment and Retention

• Develop strategies with professional services to monitor and improve student recruitment processes and attract and retain students.

Partnership Management

• Support the university’s academic partnership activity, facilitating domestic and international academic partnerships across the school in collaboration with appropriate services and strategies which align with the University’s strategic goals.
• Foster strong relationships with industry leaders and practitioners, ensuring that academic course reflect real world requirements.

Student Journey

• Lead a pan-institutional role to facilitate a high-quality student journey, leading specific projects and initiatives to support student progression into, during, and onwards from the university.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Innovation, Industry and Enterprise and team, other Faculty/School Deans, student services and the Students’ Union to drive positive student outcomes.
• Manage the University’s Access and Participation Plan to promote inclusivity and equality and develop initiatives to increase access for underrepresented groups.

Other

• Demonstrate an understanding of Ravensbourne’s values, culture and educational ethos and promote these through everyday practice in the role.
• Work within Ravensbourne’s Code of Conduct and other Rules.
• Comply with all legislative, regulatory and policy requirements (e.g. Finance, People & Culture) as appropriate.
• Carry out the policies, procedures, and practices of Health & Safety in all aspects of the role.
• Demonstrate value and importance of equality and diversity in every aspect of Ravensbourne’s work and show commitment through everyday practice in the role.

Key working relationships (i.e. titles of roles, both internally and externally, with which this role holder interacts on a regular basis):

• VC, DVC, executive deans, COO and other members of the executive
• Academic heads, Head of Academic Operations
• Head of Knowledge Exchange and Research
• Director of Learning & Teaching
• Heads of professional service area
• Students’ Union
• Course leaders

Resources Managed

• Budgets: School Academic Budget
• Staff: The school’s Heads of Departments, Director of Learning & Teaching , Course Leader PGCE, Students’ Union Manager
• Other: (e.g. equipment; space)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

All of the following criteria are considered essential unless otherwise noted.

Knowledge and experience

Education/professional qualifications

• First degree qualified
• A higher degree, PhD or professional doctorate in a relevant academic area.
• A PGCE or HEA accreditation or evidence of the ability to achieve one of these

Experience

• Significant and successful track record of academic strategic leadership and management at a senior level within a complex organisation, managing large teams and budgets to stretching performance targets.
• Significant knowledge and skills in the areas of education, research, knowledge exchange and professional practice to enable strategic change.
• Record of achievement in developing and implementing strategy and delivering change.
• Knowledge and awareness of the broad context of higher education policy in the UK, and the current and forthcoming challenges and opportunities it presents.
• Experience of business planning, forecasting student numbers and resource requirements associated with an expanding or contracting portfolio.
• Experience of building successful relationships and collaborations internally, and externally, with outcomes beneficial both to students and to the wider institutional community.
• Strong understanding of the role and future potential of digital technology in industry.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues relating to widening participation, student progression and retention, and graduate outcomes.
• Understands inter-disciplinary and convergent processes in educational activities, and demonstrates a commitment and ability to ensure this is reflected in the educational offer.
• Experience of innovation in learning and teaching in higher education and an ability to evaluate and embed new initiatives successfully.

Core personal skills abilities and behaviours

Leadership and Management

• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to motivate and develop teams and individuals and to delegate effectively to achieve high levels of performance.
• Ability to articulate priorities and manage competing demands, with the agility a resilience necessary to deal with demanding workloads and deadlines.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong partnerships and relationships both internally and externally, establishing trusting and effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholder.
• Ability to lead and manage complex change, engaging with staff and stakeholders throughout the process.
• Strong teamworking and collaboration skills, including commitment to ensuring decision making is in the interests of the university as a whole and fully aligned with the university’s strategies, priorities and goals.
• Drive, intellect and persona to be a credible advocate for the School and the university, providing strong but facilitative academic and managerial leadership.

Communication and influencing

• Exceptional personal, interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and interact with a wide range of stakeholders including staff at all levels, students and external stakeholders.
• Ability to grow connections between disciplines within and across the school, to ensure cohesiveness and encourage collaboration across departments and the wider university.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

• Demonstrable commitment to the value and importance of equality and diversity and the ability to show leadership and commitment through everyday practice in the role.

Other

• Demonstrates RUL’s organisational values and behaviours in everyday actions and interactions, acting as an exemplar of the RUL’s desired culture in both executive and functional leadership roles.
• Anticipates problems or issues and deals with them creatively and constructively, reaching a rational decision for dealing with the problem or issue; one that is capable of practical implementation.
• Ability to understand, use and present numerical information clearly and accurately.
• Makes optimum use of appropriate digital technology and IT systems in all aspects of the role, particularly the ability to operate in a Virtual Learning Environment.

This Job Description is subject to review and may be amended periodically to meet Ravensbourne’s evolving needs. Any changes will be made in discussion with the postholder.