Solent University Southampton
Thank you for your interest in our recruitment programme to appoint two Pro Vice-Chancellors to join the executive team at Solent University, Southampton.
With 7,600+ students, Solent has been awarded three Gold ratings in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework, recognising that our student experience and student outcome are outstanding. I joined the university in spring last year and I have been delighted and motivated by the commitment of our staff and students. There is no doubt that the TEF has raised the bar on teaching, learning and student experience across the sector, and I am particularly proud that we now belong to a small group of universities who have gained the ‘triple Gold’. This award is a real endorsement of our ‘real-world’ approach, and of the work we do with each student to tailor our approach to meet their needs, and to support them to achieve their goals.
Our excellent teaching is complemented by our practice-based and applied research culture and infrastructure. Rapidly building on the success of the 2021 REF where overall, 34% of research and 50% of our research outputs were assessed as world-leading and internationally excellent, in 2022/23 we grew our income by over 60%, attracting considerable HEIF funding and we have achieved our first successful ESPRC-funded award as part of the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub.
We have consistently scored well in areas such as engineering and architectural technology, and we are immensely proud of our award-winning cadets and creative students, including top-15 rankings for graduate start-ups. Warsash Maritime School is an internationally recognised leader in its field. We have completed a £100M estate development, which includes hosting the new Institute of Technology, and we boast some of the best educational facilities, including the maritime simulation suite, the new virtual production stage, and the iconic ‘Spark’ building.
Our PVC Education will be responsible for leading the education strategy and innovation across the university, taking a holistic view of student education and experience from UG to PGT, and working in line with University Strategy, strategic KPIs, external benchmarks, and the institutional values. You will champion the role of education internally and externally, and work broadly and collaboratively across the university, encouraging co-creation in the educational offering and delivery methods, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver the Solent mission of ‘work-ready, world-ready, future-ready’ education.
Our PVC Research, Academic Strategy and Planning will be accountable for providing the institution’s academic strategic leadership of research, knowledge exchange and innovation across the university, including strategic academic planning. Working closely with the Associate PVC Research and Innovation, you will grow our research, knowledge exchange, and innovation capacity at all levels of the institution, championing research and knowledge exchange internally and externally. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities for growth, differentiation and improvement in academic programs and portfolios and ensuring that the University’s academic structure, resources and performance align to the delivery of our academic strategy.
Both roles need leaders with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills including the ability to communicate a clear vision to a wide range of audiences. You will join the executive of the university and will be passionate advocates for our work in delivering ‘work-ready, world-ready, future-ready’ graduates.
We look forward to meeting you.
Best wishes,
To view our 2020-2025 Solent Future Ready Strategy please click here: https://www.solent.ac.uk/strategy-2025/welcome
To deliver our strategy, achieve our vision and ensure our students and the university are ready for the future, we are shaping our work around three key priorities:
1. Student success
2. Research and knowledge exchange
3. Engaging with our communities
For us, student success means ensuring our students are ready for the future world of work, enterprise, and volunteering. We offer a portfolio of exciting, modern and academically rigorous degree courses with employment-focused, real-world learning that prepares students to succeed in their chosen profession, vocation or enterprise.
Through our research and knowledge exchange, we strive for real-world learning, real-world research and real-world impact. This means that the successes of our students and our engagements with our communities are shaped and inspired by our applied research and knowledge exchange.
We are committed to having a positive role in shaping the future of Southampton and beyond, and to delivering opportunities for our students, staff and alumni to be part of that regional success. Public engagement is in our DNA, and at the start of 2021 we signed the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s (NCCPE) Manifesto for Public Engagement and have committed to working with NCCPE to review our current public engagement strategies, activities and staff support.
As we build on our students’ and the University’s successes, we will seek further opportunities to grow and improve whilst remaining focused on creating a university that is sustainable and which fosters equal opportunities. To do this, we must maintain our financial resilience and ensure we are underpinned by a culture that will allow us to change, adapt and focus on the future.
We are dedicated to the pursuit of university education that enables learners from all backgrounds to become enterprising citizens and responsible leaders. We are committed to promoting economic and social prosperity for the communities we serve.
Put simply – we want Solent graduates to be the passionate, creative professionals of the future, bringing expertise and energy into their communities and workplaces.
University Values
Respect: Respecting each other, recognising others’ strengths and celebrating our diversity so that everyone can give their best.
Ownership: Owning and being accountable for delivering a welcoming and professional service and working with pace and commitment to deliver objectives and support strategic priorities.
Inclusivity: Ensuring through our teaching, support and work that we are inclusive, underpinning all the work we do at the University.
Engagement: Engage with focus, drive and enthusiasm to deliver excellent teaching, new initiatives and objectives, setting an example and motivating others to engage as appropriate.
Integrity: Act with professionalism and honesty in all our dealings with each other, our students, suppliers and partners of the University.
Teamwork: Working effectively and collaboratively and being united in delivering the priorities of the University in everything we do.
Click here for more information on the University and here to view our organisational chart.
Click here to listen to Justine Greening’s podcast, part of her Fit for Purpose Coalition, where she interviews Solent’s Vice-Chancellor on our commitment to social mobility and innovation.
Southampton is a city with something for everyone. From the hustle and bustle of the city centre to the laid back atmosphere of Ocean Village, Southampton’s variety makes it a thriving University environment.
The city is home to many great entertainment venues, and is a regular stop on nationwide concert and theatre tours. The city centre features several museums, ranging from the city’s involvement in pivotal sea and air conflicts to its rich medieval history.
Southampton’s residents also enjoy access to a range of sporting venues, art galleries and spas and the city itself is only a short distance from some of the best countryside the South has to offer.
The city is also conveniently located only 75 miles away from London and has excellent transport links, with Southampton Airport and Southampton Central Station only a few minutes away.
Job title: Pro Vice-Chancellor (PVC) Research, Academic Strategy & Planning
Reports to: Vice-Chancellor
Grade: SMT
School/Service: Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Responsible for: No. of direct reports – 5
Working hours: 37
JOB DESCRIPTION
As part of the executive team and working collaboratively, you will provide visionary leadership to successfully deliver Solent’s academic mission of ‘work-ready, world-ready, future-ready’, and be accountable for providing the institution’s academic strategic leadership of research, knowledge exchange and innovation, including strategic academic planning. Working closely with the Associate PVC Research and Innovation, you will grow our research, knowledge exchange, and innovation capacity at all levels of the institution, championing research and knowledge exchange internally and externally. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities for growth, differentiation and improvement in academic programmes and portfolios and ensuring that the University’s academic structure, resources, and performance align to the delivery of our academic strategy. You will work closely with the PVC Education to link research and knowledge exchange with education, taking a holistic view of student education and experience from UG to PGT, in line with University Strategy, strategic KPIs, external benchmarks, and the institutional values. As a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group (executive team) your role is central to the collaborative leadership of the University.
Main duties and responsibilities
Academic Planning
Research and knowledge exchange
Other
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
Knowledge
Experience
Skills
Job title: Pro Vice-Chancellor (PVC) Education
Reports to: Vice-Chancellor Grade: SMT
School/Service: Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Responsible for: No. of direct reports – 5
Working hours: 37
JOB DESCRIPTION
Responsible for leading the education strategy and innovation across the university, taking a holistic view of student education and experience from UG to PGT, and working in line with University Strategy, strategic KPIs, external benchmarks, and the institutional values. You will champion the role of education internally and externally, and work broadly and collaboratively across the university, encouraging co-creation in the educational offering and delivery methods, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver the Solent mission of ‘work-ready, world-ready, future-ready’ education. As a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group (executive team), your role is central to the collaborative leadership of the University.
Main duties and responsibilities
Other
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
Knowledge
Experience
Skills
A competitive salary will be negotiated with the successful candidates. In addition, the package will include:
We offer a range of workplace benefits, including:
Equality & Diversity
At Solent, we don’t just accept difference, we celebrate it and support it, for the benefit of our people, our students, staff and our community.
The University’s equality objectives are integral in promoting and achieving fair treatment and equality for all and as part of this, we aim to foster a community with a culture of transparency, mutual trust and respect devoid of hatred and intolerance.
University staff can join our LGBT+ staff network – a supportive social group for employees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, or are questioning their sexuality or gender identity. This group also supports many events both on-campus and in the local community, including the Human Library and Southampton Pride.
Solent also has a well-established Equality and Wellbeing committee, made up of students and staff, to proactively assist us in providing an excellent people experience underpinned by our values, and our genuine commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity, irrespective of personal or protected characteristics.
This committee plays a key role in ensuring equality and diversity across the University, and leads on wellbeing initiatives, such as the introduction of our Mental Health and Wellbeing vision for both staff and students, launched earlier this year.
We believe that all our people should be treated fairly, regardless of their age, ethnicity, beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender. As part of this, Solent University is committed to continuing to work on closing the gender pay gap and is in the process of creating an updated action plan to determine the necessary steps to make this happen.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an employment advisor to Solent University, Southampton. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Should you wish to discuss the roles in strict confidence, please contact:
For PVC Education: Sophie Rees at sophie.rees@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7719 313 982, or Ed Pritchard at ed.pritchard@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7980 817 927.
For PVC Research, Academic Strategy & Planning: Aino Betts at aino.betts@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7743 934 723, or Ed Pritchard at ed.pritchard@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7980 817 927.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 16 February 2024
Applications should consist of:
Closing Date | Friday 16 February |
Longlist | Wednesday 28 February |
Preliminary Interviews with Anderson Quigley | w/c 4 March & 11 March |
Shortlist | Friday 22 March |
Final Interviews for the PVC Education | Monday 15 April & Tuesday 16 April |
Final Interviews for the PVC Research, Academic Strategy and Planning | Tuesday 16 April & Wednesday 17 April |