Dean of Gray's School of Art

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is an innovative, inclusive and professional university, focused on delivering courses that provide our graduates with the best outcomes for their future.

Over the last decade RGU has consistently had one of the best records of any UK university for graduate level employment. It celebrates a high-quality student experience and is currently ranked in the top three universities in Scotland for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. It has been named as the Scottish University of the Year 2021 in The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2021.

RGU is now seeking to appoint the next Dean of Gray’s School of Art, one of the four major art schools in Scotland and a critical driver for the creative industries in the North-East, providing support for creative pathways from school through to employment and creative leadership.    

The new Dean will lead a multi-disciplinary school spanning the fine art and design disciplines, with approx. 40 academics, 32 professional service staff, and circa 700 undergraduate, postgraduate, and research students, and will manage a budget of £3.5 million The successful candidate will be central in setting the context and strategic direction that will drive forward Gray’s way of working, ambitions and profile.

Priorities will include: developing the academic portfolio; championing and growing areas of research strength; strengthening the research / teaching interface; enhance the collaborative culture with other schools that provide courses on creative industries such as the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & the Built Environment, School of Computing, and the School of Creative and Cultural Business; building on the strong engagement with the community and maintaining student / staff partnership links key to the school culture

The Dean will be a key member of the University Management & Deans Group, and will be expected to contribute to cross-institutional projects.

The successful candidate will bring a passion for high quality, progressive, student-centred learning and personal research credibility. They will be deeply committed to teaching and research, providing an outstanding student experience and building research capacity and capability.  They will have a track-record of developing a strategic vision and uniting people behind it. They will need to be a strong people manager with emotional intelligence who will understand and appreciate the diversity of the academic and student population within Gray’s. They will be connected in the creative economy, in the UK and internationally, and become an RGU ambassador in this space.

This is an opportunity to lead and shape the strategic direction of a school that has been leading and defining culture and industrial development for over 130 years. If you have vision, passion, creativity and determination to make a difference, we want to hear from you. This is a key appointment for us, and it will be for you – so we will invest time with candidates to get to know you and to give you the chance to get to know us.

 

 

 

 

 

For further information please read the candidate information pack we have put together for this role. If you need further clarifications, please contact our advisors:
Kit Rooney: kit.rooney@gatenbysanderson.com / 02074263983
Hilda Gjika: hilda.gjika@gatenbysanderson.com  
Closing date: Closing date: Tuesday, 2 May 2023

How to apply:
To apply please submit:
•    a CV that has been drafted to outline the strategic leadership experience tailored for RGU
•    a three-page supporting statement that outlines:
o    Your motivation to apply for the Dean of Gray’s School of Art at this time.
o    Evidence of how you have provided strategic leadership for a large portfolio within an institution to drive excellence in teaching, learning, student experience and research & innovation in line with the institutional ambitions.
o    What you perceive the opportunities to be within the School and how you will optimise these to drive highest standards of excellence in all areas including teaching, learning, student experience, research and innovation?

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Vice Principal – Academic Development and Student Experience

RESPONSIBLE FOR: School Admin Manager, Head of Research, MAKE Studio Manager, PA/School Secretary, Research Degree Co-ordinator, Academic Strategic Leads

PURPOSE OF POST: The Dean of School is primarily responsible for the development and effective implementation of a sustainable vision and strategy for the School, and for driving the School forward, in support of achieving the University’s mission and strategic objectives. The Dean of School provides strategic and operational leadership and management of the educational, research and commercial activities and outputs of the School – effectively utilising the human, physical and financial resources of the School

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

•To lead the development and effective implementation of strategic and operational plans which are aligned to the School strategy and the overall strategic objectives of the University

• To ensure the optimal management and development of the School’s resources (staff, finance, equipment/assets, accommodation)

•To lead and support the School senior management team in all aspects of managing the School

• To ensure effective School, team and individual performance against key performance indicators

• To create an environment within the School of effective communication and engagement which engenders a culture of collaboration, inclusivity and innovation. Ensuring that through their academic activities, staff are aligned and motivated with the university’s aspiration to guarantee the quality of student experience and the achievement of strategic goals

• To manage the development and delivery of the School course portfolio to ensure that it delivers high quality, financially viable educational programmes in line with the strategic goals of the University. Monitor and advise on effective management of student numbers, and financial and quality risks across the course portfolio.

• To take lead responsibility for ensuring the optimum student experience through , maintenance of academic standard and quality assurance across the School and adoption of a consistent customer focus

• To ensure that an appropriate School research strategy is in place and effectively managed such that staff maintain and seek to develop high quality research, secure significant external grant income and deliver outputs that maintain and enhance the research reputation of the School and the University

• To coordinate and facilitate excellence in research within the School, and play a major role in supporting the delivery of successful strategic research initiatives. Working with the VP Research and Research Theme Leads, the Head of School will develop and promote the research strategy and culture of the School

• To champion and drive growing commercial income to meet targets set by the University

• To participate effectively and collegiately as a member of the Senior Management Group, and to take a lead role in University working groups, projects and initiatives as required

• To effectively engage with key stakeholder groups in order to influence regional/national policy, promote the School’s reputation, build purposeful collaborations, bring in external funding and improve student experience,

• To perform external academic duties to support other institutions

• To interact regularly and effectively with colleagues (both internal and external) to develop opportunities for collaboration as necessary to achieve the School/University’s strategic ambitions

 

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

• Educated to degree level, with a relevant higher degree or extensive industry /practice experience

Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge and experience of developing and delivering Higher Education services, and of key trends and issues facing the sector

• Track record of delivering significant results through working effectively with others internally, and with external agencies and partners

• Experience of developing and maintaining networks

• Research, knowledge exchange or practice based prowess, leadership and management that shows a track record of national or international esteem, preferably appropriate for a Professorial designation

• Experience of leading, motivating, managing and developing staff at all levels, and managing financial, physical and human resources

• Track record of making and implementing strategic management decisions

• Ability to reconcile academic delivery requirements, research activities and commercial/income generation targets in a complex organisation

• Sound judgment and practical problem solving skills including an enthusiasm for seeking innovative solutions;

• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills