UWS.AC.UK

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL /DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLORjob description and person specificationOctober 2017

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor

The PositionReporting to and working closely with the Principal/Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) role is of key strategic importance to the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in its leadership and day-to-day operational management of the University. The post holder will deputise for the Principal/Vice-Chancellor across all Executive functions and will support the Principal/Vice-Chancellor’s focus on external stakeholder development in areas such as international partnerships, business sector, Scottish and UK government bodies, finance sector interests, donors and UK university agencies.

The DVC will contribute to the University’s strategic leadership as demanded by a dynamic, ambitious organisation operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The DVC will be Executive lead for the Academic Schools with Deans reporting directly to them. Academic policies, which have a direct impact on the University’s financial performance, will be the responsibility of the DVC who will be an advocate for the distinctive academic and research portfolio offered by UWS. Through this, the DVC will help strengthen the reputation of the University for teaching and research excellence and ensure that the student experience is enhanced and integral to all that is achieved at the University.

The University operates in a competitive international Higher Education environment. Consequently, the portfolios of its senior leaders continually evolve to optimise institutional agility and effectiveness. The DVC has responsibility for the business performance and sustainability of the Schools and will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer and the Vice-Principals to oversee success. The DVC will lead on strategic and operational planning, working with members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group (VCEG) to ensure that the resources of the Schools and Professional Services are aligned with the delivery of the University’s Corporate Strategy. The DVC will also have control of all new significant projects and capital expenditures. The DVC will take responsibility for oversight and approval of all actions arising from VCEG members’ portfolios, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor at regular surgeries. This role is a pivotal link between the Principal/Vice-Chancellor, VCEG and University Leadership Team (ULT) members, and requires the ability to influence, negotiate, enforce decisions, monitor actions and effect change as appropriate.

The DVC will also engage with the governing body (the University Court) as a full member, particularly with regard to its responsibility to review progress towards meeting its strategic objectives, the monitoring of institutional performance and in the oversight of major capital projects. The DVC will be responsible for ensuring the provision of high-quality, appropriate and timely data to enable VCEG and the Court to understand and assess institutional performance, and to inform long-term strategic planning. Whilst the Vice-Chancellor is responsible for providing the governing body with advice on the strategic direction of the institution and for its management, the DVC is a key contributor in meeting this responsibility and in implementing the decisions of the Court. The DVC may be called upon to deputise for the Vice-Chancellor at specified Court sub-committees and related events as required.

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Main Duties and Responsibilities The main role of the DVC is to support the Principal/Vice-Chancellor and ensure alignment across all Executive functions, including:

Strategic and Operational Planning

The DVC will lead on strategic and operational planning, including:

• shaping institutional strategy and priorities, including the periodic review of the University Corporate Strategy;

• ensuring that all Enabling Plans are aligned with the delivery of the Corporate Strategy and institutional goals;

• keeping under review the University’s overall academic portfolio using comprehensive data and analysis to ensure the relevance and attractiveness of UWS academic programmes;

• working with the Vice-Principal (Academic), providing University oversight of the satisfactory completion and submission to REF 2020;

• communicating institutional strategy and priorities to internal and external stakeholders;

• oversight/liaison of the proper and efficient flow of University Committee business.

Academic Portfolio

The DVC will provide leadership for the academic portfolio and promoting a culture of excellence and enterprise, including:

• delivering motivational leadership, management and development of the Deans;

• advancing academic recruitment, development and promotion processes;

• contributing to the recruitment of key professorial and senior academic appointments;

• working with the Vice-Principals ensuring that research and teaching activities across the University are conducted to the highest standards;

• working with the Vice-Principals ensuring that teaching and research staff are fully aware of the expectations the University holds for them in their teaching and research activities;

University Management

The DVC will support the Principal/Vice-Chancellor in running the University and its relationships with other organisations and will deputise when necessary or appropriate, including:

• advising the Principal/Vice-Chancellor on any matters regarding the University and its management;

• contributing to the communication of the University Truths and vision encompassed within the Corporate Strategy and engendering engagement of staff and students;

• working with other members of VCEG making certain that the global engagement activities, advancement and professional services activities of the University, are delivering a positive contribution to the brand, reputation, sustainability and achievements of the University.

Sustainability

The DVC will work with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure delivery of the University’s future financial sustainability through selective, strategic resource allocation and leadership of corporate funding initiatives, including:

• promoting an understanding of the full economic costs of academic activities;

• co-ordinating student intake targets, entry tariffs and programme cohort sizes, across all levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate, home-EU/RUK/international, full and part-time, distance learning and on-line;

• helping to broaden the base of the curriculum across all levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate, home-EU/RUK/international, full and part-time, distance and on-line;

• managing the allocation of key strategic resources resulting from recruitment processes and alternative funding initiatives (eg graduate apprenticeships);

• working with the Chief Operating Officer to deliver an outstanding student experience with efficient and effective Professional Services across the University.

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

External Liaison

The DVC will liaise with external stakeholders to develop and maintain strategic academic partnerships, including:

• taking responsibility for liaison with the Scottish Funding Council including the University Outcome Agreement and ensuring compliance with SFC requirements;

• acting as a key point of contact for other funders, including health bodies;

• representing the University’s interests in policy debates at local, regional and national level, in liaison with the Principal/Vice-Chancellor and the Vice-Principal (Political Liaison);

• engaging with external partners, including international providers, to build robust academic, research and enterprise opportunities.

Source and Nature of Leadership and Management This is a senior leadership role with extensive impact across the whole University community. The post holder will be required to work closely with the Chief Finance Officer to manage their own budget and oversee University budgets. In particular, the DVC will provide scrutiny and monitoring of Academic School budgets, especially income from recruitment, international activities and research grant applications together with staffing expenditure. They will also be expected to monitor and interrogate the impact of the financial performance for all Professional Services. The DVC is a member of Court, VCEG, the University Leadership Team, Senate, Audit and Risk Committee, Policy and Resources Committee and will report directly to the Principal/Vice-Chancellor.

The DVC has direct line management responsibility for the Deans and the Strategic Planning Directorate. In leading the annual planning process, they will play a significant role in aligning the Professional Services with the delivery of the University’s academic mission. The DVC will provide motivational leadership, and will foster the personal and professional development of their direct reports. Ensuring cabinet responsibility is a significant part of this role and the DVC will be required to oversee the portfolios of other members of VCEG on the Principal/Vice-Chancellor’s behalf.

The DVC may be required to undertake such other duties commensurate with the nature and level of the post as directed by the Principal/Vice-Chancellor. This may include the chairing of Appointment Panels, Appeals and Grievances Hearings as well as a wide variety of ad hoc ‘task and finish’ groups and strategic reviews.

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

The Candidate

QualificationsEssential

• Professorial or equivalent standing, with an academic reputation (or the ability to generate academic respect) and profile commensurate with a senior leadership role.

Desirable

• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Experience/KnowledgeEssential

• Breadth and depth of Higher Education experience necessary to deputise for the Principal/Vice-Chancellor in a wide variety of internal and external settings.

• A thorough knowledge of the key planning issues impacting UK and Scottish Higher Education (including international context).

• A proven record of accomplishment in Higher Education (or similarly complex sector) of positioning an institution/division/operation for future success.

• Ability to contribute to institutional policy development across all the major areas in a research-led teaching University.

• Accomplished record in strategic and business planning.

• Experience of working with a wide range of strategic groups, including Funding Bodies and Research Councils, government agencies, civil servants, health bodies, businesses, third sector and international partners.

Desirable

• Experience of managing organisational change and the methods used to effect this.

• Significant experience working with governmental agencies and positively influencing policy development.

SkillsEssential

• Inspirational leadership and management skills, including a commitment to high performance and continuous improvement.

• Proven influencing and negotiating skills and the ability to represent the University’s interests in policy debates at local, regional and national level.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including constructing complex messages for diverse stakeholders.

• Excellent motivational and team-building skills.

• Emotional intelligence and ability to demonstrate astuteness in negotiation and in liaison with internal and external stakeholders.

AttributesEssential

• A strategic and analytical approach to financial management.

• A positive energy capable of uniting diverse stakeholders to deliver common goals.

• A creative and innovative approach to problem-solving.

• An engaging and convincing speaker capable of enthusing listeners.

Desirable

• An agile and flexible outlook to respond effectively to the pace of change in Higher Education.

• A presence and delivery that will instil confidence when communicating directly or via a range of media.

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Terms and Conditions

Salary

• Competitive - commensurate with skills and experience.

Location

• The post holder will be based at Paisley Campus, but notwithstanding this, will be required by the University to work at any other location such as the University’s business may require subject to any request to do so being reasonable.

Tenure

• The appointment will be for a period of five years, renewable for one additional term not exceeding five years, subject to satisfactory performance.

Annual leave

• 31 days’ paid holiday in addition to the normal 12 days’ statutory and public holidays. The University’s holiday year commences on 1 October and ends on 30 September.

Hours of work

• The post holder will be required to work such hours as are necessary for the full performance and efficient discharge of the duties. This will include cover as may be necessary to sustain the management of the University in the absence of colleagues.

Sick pay

• The University will pay salary during any period of absence on medical grounds for a maximum of 26 weeks’ full pay, followed by a further 26 weeks at half pay in any period of 12 months subject to specific provisions.

Superannuation

• The post is superannuable under the Local Government Pension Scheme. Employee pension contribution is based on annual salary. Further information can be obtained at www.spfo.org.uk

Should the successful candidate currently be a member of an alternative pension scheme then this can be explored during the appointment process.

Equality and diversity

• UWS prides itself as being inspirational, innovative, international and inclusive. We celebrate and value the diversity of our student and staff populations and are committed to providing Higher Education and employment opportunities to people of all backgrounds, cultures and other characteristics outlined so that they can fulfil their potential in an environment that is free from any forms of discrimination, harassment or prejudicial behaviour.

• The following are protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

• We are proud to excel in the HE sector as a University that encourages and values staff and students from widening participation backgrounds.

• Our staff work to promote understanding and integration and will not tolerate exclusion, bullying, harassment or victimisation of students or visitors to the University. We are committed to eliminating discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and understanding between people of diverse backgrounds. Full details are available at www.uws.ac.uk/equality

Relocation

• Subject to the terms of the University Relocation Policy and HMRC guidelines, the maximum amount of relocation expenses that can be reimbursed in relation to this position is £8k.

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Application

University of the West of Scotland will be supported in this appointment process by the executive search firm Dixon Walter who will support the appointing panel in the discharge of its duties, both to assist in the assessment of candidates against the requirements of the role and to identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates.

Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application addressing the job description and person specification.

Closing date: 10th November 2017. Interviews scheduled: 11-12th December 2017.

The final appointment will be made subject to satisfactory references.

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity with one of the country’s most innovative and ambitious universities contact our recruitment consultant Alan Walter on +44 (0)131 202 1000, email alan@dixonwalter.co.uk or visit www.dixonwalter.co.uk/vacancies/uwsdepute

www.uws.ac.uk

At UWS, we believe in our students’ future.

We have a proud record in delivering work-readygraduates and developing effective partnershipswith business, industry and the public andvoluntary sectors.

With our cutting-edge courses, practicalknowledge, and intelligent teaching, we help ourstudents get ahead.

Through our innovative learning partnership weinvest in people’s potential to shape their future.Built on uniting students, professionals, industryand our communities, this partnership stretchesfrom the West of Scotland around the world.

We believe in the transformative power of activelearning and engagement. We treat our studentsas individuals, partners and potential leadersin their fields and professions, providing themwith the globally relevant knowledge, skills andconfidence to think critically and to challengereceived wisdom.

DREAMING, BELIEVING, ACHIEVINGA 21ST CENTURY UNIVERSITY