Chair and Associate Dean (Accreditation and Strategic Projects)

University of Sheffield

Welcome

Our University Vision and Strategic Plan is to deliver life-enhancing research, innovation and education that not only transform the lives of our graduates, but shapes the world we live in. This Vision is underpinned by four equally important pillars: Research, Innovation, Education, and One University.

The University of Sheffield was founded more than a century ago through penny donations from the citizens of the city and region on a pledge to build a university ʻfor the peopleʼ.

Today, we continue to hold a profound belief in the public benefit of a first-class higher education and our community puts civic commitment at its heart. Our leading researchers focus on making a difference by finding solutions to some of the greatest challenges we face. From pioneering new treatments for life-threatening diseases and helping us to live healthier lives for longer, to solving the problem of feeding a world of 10 billion people and creating sustainable energy solutions to save our planet – the work we do matters.

Our education and research-led teaching gives students from across the globe the skills to make a positive impact on the world, and many of our graduates go on to become leaders in their fields. We celebrate the role that our international students, staff, partnerships and alumni play in positioning the University of Sheffield as a truly global voice.

Our innovation, including at our Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC, drives economic growth and productivity, and attracts significant inward investment to our city and region. We have expanded our footprint, with AMRC facilities in north Wales and Lancashire, to support more businesses and communities across the north.

If you share our ambitions and drive to make a positive difference, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Professor Koen Lamberts
President and Vice-Chancellor

Overview

Are you interested in working for a top-ranked, triple-crown accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) Management School? We are seeking applications from ambitious, highly motivated and talented individuals who will be keen to play an active role in further enhancing the Management School’s international reputation for excellence and delivering our mission for positive societal impact, fostering socially responsible management practices through world-class, innovative research and transformative education.

We are seeking a proven academic leader (Teaching & Research or Teaching Specialist Pathway) with a distinguished record of research and/or scholarship at a world-leading level to join us as Chair and Associate Dean (Accreditation and Strategic Projects). As a member of the Senior Leadership Team and the School’s Executive Board, you will contribute to the academic leadership of the School through collaborative and strategic leadership of the Accreditation and Strategic Projects portfolio, working collaboratively with the Dean, Associate Deans across other portfolios, Head of Professional Services, and wider leadership and School teams. You will have excellent knowledge of, and experience of playing a key role in meeting the standards and requirements of professional bodies and international accreditations (AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS). The successful candidate will be expected to fulfil the Associate Dean leadership role for a period of circa 5 years from appointment (with an underlying permanent Chair position), subject to renewal in consultation with the Dean.

As Associate Dean (Accreditation and Strategic Projects), you will provide strategic planning, oversight and academic leadership of the School’s ‘Triple-Crown’ accreditation portfolio (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA). Working collaboratively with the Dean and Senior Leadership Team, you will make a key contribution to the development and delivery of the School’s strategic activities, aligned with our strategic plan, mission, vision and values, and our continuous improvement priorities fulfilling the principles and standards of accrediting bodies. You will work closely with a wider professional services team (including Data and Accreditation Manager) to ensure successful academic leadership, coordination and delivery of accreditation requirements and will engage with relevant ongoing development and networking opportunities pertaining to accreditations. You will have a global outlook, representing the School nationally and internationally through close engagement with accrediting bodies and communities, in addition to our wider stakeholders of academic partners, professional bodies, employers, alumni and advisory board.

More widely, working with the Dean and Senior Leadership Team, you will take an academic leadership role in further developing, overseeing and delivering a number of key, cross-cutting strategic projects in the School, aligned with priorities across pillars within our 5-year plan and mission, vision and values, including (but not limited to) the following indicative areas:

Faculty (staffing/ people) projects: working with the Dean, AD EDI & Development and heads of Subject Group, on embedding Academic Career Pathways, probation procedures, reviewing staff recruitment processes, and strategic workforce planning.

Philanthropy: working with the Campaigns and Alumni Relations team (CAR) and the Faculty Director of One University, to maximise the impact of philanthropic giving and alumni relations in support of the School’s five-year plan.

Sustainability: working with the Senior Leadership team and wider School, to lead on projects to embed sustainability across the School’s activities, including working with the Head of Professional Services to provide academic leadership in the development of the School’s Estate Strategy in support of our zero carbon goals aligned with University sustainability strategy.

There will be an opportunity to take a lead role in driving other strategic projects aligned with the School’s ambition and five-year plan, and to deputise for the Dean as appropriate.

We invite applications from collaborative and ambitious candidates with a proven track record of strategic leadership to drive innovation, continuous improvement and complex change within a landscape of international accreditation principles.  You will be an excellent, internationally-recognised scholar (research and teaching, or teaching specialist pathway) with a profile commensurate with a Chair appointment (in any area of Management aligned with the School’s research centre/clusters and thematic areas.)

You will be required to exercise leadership, demonstrate vision, and empower others in order to deliver the agreed School strategy within the Faculty.

You will be required to support the Dean to lead, manage and develop the School to ensure it achieves the highest possible standards of excellence in all its activities. You will be supported by the Faculty Vice President, and by colleagues from within the School, Faculty, and Professional Services.

About the University of Sheffield

To find out what makes the University of Sheffield a remarkable place to work, watch this short film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LblLk18zmo

The University of Sheffield is a leading global university renowned for the excellence, impact and distinctiveness of its research-led learning and teaching across a wide range of disciplines. We continue to be recognised for our outstanding teaching and research and are ranked 75th in the word in the QS World University Rankings.

We are home to 29,000 of the brightest students and over 8,000 staff from more than 140 countries around the world. We want Sheffield to be an international centre of excellence for centuries to come, so we recruit ambitious, creative people from across the globe and we nurture their talent. We are the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018.

Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and our alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.

We work with other leading universities, governments and multinational companies to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today, from sustainable energy and food production to the global economy.

Our partnerships with companies, including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Siemens and McLaren, set a new standard for industrial research. Our Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has a global reputation for helping companies overcome manufacturing problems and is a model for collaborative research involving universities, academics and industry worldwide.

Our global reputation is reflected by our impressive student recruitment. We continue to attract strong numbers of high-performing, ambitious students from all over the world.

With our award-winning Students’ Union, we share a common purpose to provide our students with the best possible experience. The level of collaboration here is clearly built on a foundation of mutual appreciation and respect and I am immensely proud of the work we do in partnership.

Our world-leading research has a real impact on our economy and society and helps enrich our teaching. We are among the top 10% of UK universities for our research strength and 99% of our research is assessed as internationally recognised or better. Our new flagship interdisciplinary University of Sheffield Research Institutes will help address some of our most pressing global social, economic and health challenges. They build on some of our acknowledged areas of research excellence and will bring together people from across all our faculties to maximise our existing strengths and support new ambitions.

The University’s role in supporting growth in the Sheffield City Region is clear for all to see. In the last year, we have continued to support our partners Boeing and McLaren as they build factories next to our AMRC. Our University is truly proud that our research partnerships have attracted this level of investment from high-value global companies and hope these new facilities will act as a catalyst for further investment in our region.

It is a privilege to lead an institution and work with colleagues committed to academic excellence and making a real difference to lives across the world.

For more information, follow @sheffielduni and @ShefUniJobs on Twitter.

Our Vision and Strategic Plan

The University of Sheffield is special. A world class institution at the heart of our city. Driven by outstanding people working as One University. We believe our work has the power to change lives. Not just for those who study, teach and do research here. But for those who benefit from the breakthroughs we make every day. Weʼre proud of our past. Yet it is the future that really excites us. We are the University of Sheffield. And this is our vision.

Find out more about our Vision and Strategic Plan.

Our Four Pillars

Through our 4 pillars of Research, Innovation, Education and One University, we will deliver life-enhancing research, innovation and education that not only transforms the lives of our graduates but shapes the world we live in.

Research
Our distinctive and innovative research will be world-leading and world- changing. We will produce the highest quality research to drive intellectual advances and address global challenges.

Innovation
Our transformative research and enterprise will address the worldʼs most pressing challenges. We will enable and promote a culture of excellence in innovation and entrepreneurship across the University.

Education
Our research-led programmes will inspire, enthuse and challenge a diverse community of outstanding students. Our graduates will be equipped to stand out as confident global citizens guided by strong values, ethics and standards, able to make meaningful contributions to society.

One University
We will build a diverse community of staff and students from a broad range of backgrounds, demographics and cultures, and create an inclusive, supportive and collaborative environment in which they can succeed and flourish.

Our Story

115 years in the making, our story continues to evolve every day, defined not just by our achievements but by the unique character of our people and this remarkable city.

Our Values

We believe the best way to achieve our Vision and Strategic Plan is by fostering an ambitious, inclusive, collaborative community through our values.

We are, and will always be, guided by our values:
We are ambitious and strive for excellence in all that we do. We believe in collaborative working. We champion an inclusive and diverse community. We are responsible – for our people and the wider world.
We are open and transparent about the decisions we make.

About the Sheffield University Management School

Our Mission

Our mission is to have a positive impact on working lives, organisations and societies worldwide, fostering socially responsible management practices through world-class, innovative research and transformative education.

Our Vision

Our vision as an internationally leading management school is to deliver excellence in research and education that promotes positive societal transformation for a fairer, sustainable future.

Sheffield University Management School is a vibrant, internationally diverse community of over 250 academic and professional services colleagues. As a Russell Group School, our world-class research and ambition is at the heart of our endeavours, driving excellent, transformative education and positive societal impact. Through the distinctiveness of our graduates, excellence of our staff, intellectually rigorous research and extensive network of partners, we seek to shape socially responsible management practice and to make a difference to our communities around the world.

We are among the global elite of business and management schools worldwide to hold Triple Crown accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education, research, student experience and engagement with our external partners, organisations, business and policymakers.

We are home to over 3400 students, studying across the range of our exciting programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA and PhD level. Our professional programme-level accreditations and dedicated employability hub prepare students for the changing world of work. Our students come from across the world and enjoy a global learning experience that fosters an international outlook.  Close synergy between our research and teaching underpins our distinctive, transformative education that positively impacts our students, organisations and wider society.

Our six subject groups provide vibrant, collegial intellectual environments to deliver excellence in research and education. Our thriving, ambitious research centres and clusters drive our world-class research and impact, promoting socially responsible work practices towards positive societal transformation and sustainable policy outcomes. We address local, national and global challenges, foster interdisciplinarity and extensive national and international collaborations with partners, organisations, policymakers and practitioners. Our vibrant, enabling, and inclusive research environment advances cutting-edge knowledge around contemporary challenges towards a fairer, sustainable future.

Management School scholars make significant contributions to collaborative, interdisciplinary research agendas addressing global societal challenges within the thriving Faculty of Social Sciences and wider University communities.

The role

Chair and Associate Dean (Accreditation and Strategic Projects) (AQ1611)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

The University of Sheffield has an established Academic Career Pathway, which is built upon our shared understanding of what it means to be an academic in an ambitious, research-intensive institution like the University of Sheffield. As a Chair (Teaching & Research or Teaching Specialist Pathway), you will contribute to the areas of research, teaching, leadership, professional standing and wider engagement.

Main duties and responsibilities

As Associate Dean (Accreditation and Strategic Projects)

Note: Associate Deans are not expected to carry a teaching load during their term as AD, but will ensure a global outlook across our educational and student experience provision, working collaboratively with the SLT and external partners.

  • Lead, with the Dean and members of the School Leadership Team (SLT), on the School’s implementation of the University Strategy, in line with the mission, vision and values of the School.
  • Take a leading role, as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and Executive Board, in the overall strategic development of the School.
  • Take responsibility for strategic planning, oversight and academic leadership of the School’s ‘Triple-Crown’ accreditation portfolio (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA), working collaboratively with the Dean, SLT, Data and Accreditation Manager and wider team.
  • Work collaboratively with the Dean and Senior Leadership Team to make a key contribution to the development and delivery of the School’s strategic activities, aligned with our strategic plan, mission, vision and values, and our continuous improvement priorities, fulfilling the principles and standards of accrediting bodies.
  • Work closely with a wider professional services team (including Data and Accreditation team) to ensure successful academic leadership, coordination and delivery of accreditation requirements and activities.
  • Engage with relevant ongoing development, training and networking opportunities pertaining to accreditations.
  • Chair the School’s Accreditation Committee, reporting to the Executive Board.
  • Represent the School nationally and internationally through close engagement with accrediting bodies and communities, in addition to our wider stakeholders of academic partners, professional bodies, employers, alumni and advisory board.
  • Take a lead role on the development and delivery of a range of cross-cutting strategic projects aligned with School and University priorities (including but not limited to the areas of faculty/ staffing, sustainability, and philanthropy), capturing evidence of outcomes and impact.
  • Build teams and provide academic leadership and direction to colleagues to deliver successful outcomes.
  • Maintain an academic, scholarly profile commensurate with a Chair position.
  • Represent the interests of the School at Faculty and Institutional level.
  • Participate in relevant Faculty, institutional and external working groups to enhance the profile and activities of the School.
  • Liaise with the Finance and Operations Manager to agree appropriate non-staff budgets and resource allocations to support accreditations and strategic projects.
  • Deputise for the Dean as appropriate.

As a member of the professoriate and in line with the underlying Chair appointment once the leadership role concludes:

  • Contribute fully to Sheffield University Management School as a teacher, researcher, leader and collaborator.
  • Demonstrate high-quality teaching practice by leading on the design, delivery and assessment and evaluation of high-quality research-led teaching programmes to enable effective learning. This includes identifying learning objectives, selecting appropriate curricula, teaching methods, and resources, and determining, designing and producing appropriate study material. You will also prepare and implement student assessments, ensuring effective moderation and timely feedback.
  • Provide high-quality student support through personal tutor/pastoral responsibilities for undergraduate and postgraduate students, directing them, as required, to University support services appropriate to their needs.
  • Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
  • Enhance curriculum in the School, including reviewing and developing new programmes of study that are accessible, inclusive, attracting new students and markets and contributing to the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy. This includes reviewing, developing, revising and updating programme content and delivery, ensuring the application of innovative and appropriate teaching techniques and materials that embed the latest educational ideas and methods (including digital technologies); ensuring compliance with quality standards, regulations and accreditation requirements; developing employment focussed modules, providing placements and effective links with external organisations.
  • Plan teaching up to one year ahead unless there are significant teaching programme changes or new courses then plan for up to two years ahead of their introduction.
  • Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuing professional development in teaching by developing and implementing ideas for improving own teaching design, delivery and assessment, in order to build pedagogic knowledge and demonstrate impact.
  • Liaise effectively with academic staff and other colleagues to ensure teaching programmes are appropriate to the needs of both students and employers.
  • Share and promote good practice in teaching within the School and Faculty.
  • Establish, lead and sustain a world-class research programme, in pedagogic scholarship or a management research discipline giving due consideration to ways of retaining connections with teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
  • Conduct personal research of international standing, independently and collaboratively, in line with the Faculty Research Strategy.
  • Maintain a strong academic and professional profile through national and international engagement and high-quality publications.
  • Determine research objectives, and initiate and implement a strong programme of research, leading to visible academic and non-academic impact.
  • Direct and supervise the work of research students and research staff.
  • Lead and participate in applications to secure external funding to support high-quality and ambitious research activity.
  • Provide strong academic leadership, including line management and staff development as appropriate.
  • Provide leadership in developing a strong research or scholarship portfolio.
  • Participate in University, School and Faculty committees as appropriate.
  • Foster high-quality links with academic colleagues in relevant disciplines across the University, with other academic institutions and with industry.
  • Plan and prioritise own work, and forward plan up to five years for some tasks.
  • You will be a role model and champion for the values and behaviours of the ‘Sheffield Academic’ and promote its integration into the life of the University.
  • As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
  • Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You should provide evidence in your application that you meet the following criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure your abilities in these areas including reviewing your online application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post.

The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, we commit to recruit and retain disabled applicants and support positive action. We encourage disabled people to apply for our jobs and to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities at the interview stage. We commit to offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job.  For further information on the Disability Confident Scheme, please follow the link.

Criteria

All of the following are essential unless otherwise noted.

  1. Have PhD in a relevant subject area.
  2. Have a proven, excellent track record in high quality research and/ or scholarship, at a professorial level (evidenced through publication; income generation; knowledge exchange, engagement and impact activity; external networks nationally and internationally; and other indicators of esteem).
  3. Have a proven track record in a strategic leadership role in a business or management school, including evidence of leading organisational change.
  4. Experience of developing, promoting and delivering key strategic projects with successful outcomes for organizational performance and reputation. 
  5. Possess highly-developed leadership skills.
  6. Excellent knowledge of, and experience of playing a key role in meeting the standards and requirements of professional bodies and international accreditations (AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS).
  7. Proven ability to build and sustain high performing teams through mentoring and motivating colleagues in their personal and professional development.
  8. Excellent ability to understand and work with key data measuring and assessing progress, outcomes and impact of key strategic projects.
  9. A demonstrable commitment to continuous improvement, in own practice and that of others, in key strategic areas.
  10. An understanding of, and demonstrable commitment to, promoting and embedding equality, diversity and inclusion principles and practices across all areas of strategic activity.
  11. Significant evidence of external engagement and relationship-building nationally and internationally (e.g. accrediting and professional bodies, professional networks, national or international policy working groups, academic and non-academic partners, organisational and business stakeholders).
  12. Excellent understanding of the Higher Education regulatory and governance environment, with experience in leading strategic action plans pertaining to key measures (e.g. NSS, TEF, REF, KEF).
  13. Experience of playing a key role in Faculty/ staffing projects to enhance recruitment, reward, development and progression of staff at all stages of academic careers.
  14. Experience of leading or contributing to projects to drive and embed sustainability agenda in strategic activities.
  15. Experience of leading or contributing to development and impact of philanthropic activities and alumni relations, to support delivery of strategic ambitions. (Desirable)
  16. Considerable experience of working effectively, both independently and collaboratively, in research, leadership and teaching teams.
  17. Excellent communication skills and very good ambassadorial and diplomatic skills.
  18. Evidence of the ability to work to and meet deadlines, adapt to rapidly changing contexts and manage a number of competing demands.

Terms of appointment

Terms and conditions of employment

Will be those for Professorial staff.

Salary for this grade

Professorial Pay Scheme Band Structure which ranges £64,946 – £128,006 per annum.

In recognition of the significance of this role, an annual allowance will be paid each year that the person is in post through Academic Leaders Reward and contribution each year can also be considered through the Professorial Salary Review.

This Leadership post is fixed for circa 5 years.

This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University. Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business needs of the post. If you wish to explore flexible working opportunities in relation to this post, we encourage you to call or email the departmental contact listed below.

If you join the University, you will have access to a Total Reward Package that includes a competitive salary, a generous Pension Scheme and annual leave entitlement, as well as access to a range of learning and development courses to support your personal and professional development. You will have access to your own personalised portal where you can also access a comprehensive selection of benefits and offers to suit your changing lifestyle needs, for example financial wellbeing, travel options, shopping and cinema discounts.

The University is committed to tackling the global climate emergency. Our sustainability strategy forms an integral part of all we do. We strive to embed this in all areas of university life, from our students’ education, the globally impacting international research we contribute, to campus life.

We aim to empower staff to work sustainably by giving them the knowledge to make ethical decisions at work and home. Staff have the opportunity to be involved in impactful sustainability projects through the nationally recognised Green Impact scheme.

Staff have access to excellent green benefits including the cycle to work scheme with discounts and free secure bike storage, as well as many greener choices across campus.

If you have an interest in this area, the university will strive to passionately support you in these commitments. Check out www.sheffield.ac.uk/sustainability for more information.

The University of Sheffield recognises the importance of creating a positive environment, whereby all staff feel able to talk openly and with trust about wellbeing and mental health.

Our Staff Wellbeing offer, encourages and supports staff to maintain their own positive health and wellbeing through a range of accessible, inclusive and supportive services and activities.

Our leadership development has been designed to ensure that our leaders have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed by the University.

Inclusion at Sheffield is everyone’s responsibility. Our vision is to build a University community that actively attracts, engages and develops talented individuals from many different backgrounds.

We are proud of our award-winning equality, diversity and inclusion action, and we continue to work to create a fully inclusive environment where everyone can flourish.

To find out more about the benefits of working at the University, visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits

Creating a remarkable place to work

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

We are consistently ranked in the top 100 of the world’s universities, but there’s so much more to us than that. By joining the University, you will be joining award-winning teams and departments who are all working together to make the University of Sheffield a remarkable place to work.

How to apply

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 25th May 2023.

Panel Interviews will take place on Monday 26th and Thursday 29th June.

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining how you meet the essential experience criteria of the person specification.
  • Please include details of two referees in your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Elyse Turner-Pearce on +44 (0)7808 648 559, elyse@andersonquigley.com or Kiersten Avery on +44 (0)7510 384 735, kiersten@andersonquigley.com.