Deputy Dean – Academic

Jobtailor

Reading

On-site

GBP 65,000 - 95,000

Full time

2 days ago

Be an early applicant

Application generator

Turn this role into an interview — a resume and cover letter built around what this employer wants.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior academic leader to provide strategic direction across Schools, translate goals into operational plans, and drive excellence in teaching, learning, and research.

You will work with Deans, Associate Deans, and Programme Leaders to maintain student satisfaction and outcomes, chair committees, and manage budgets and staff development.

Qualifications

First degree in a built environment discipline or cognate subject.
Experience in a similar role.
Experience within the education sector, Built Environment, or Higher Education.
Experience identifying risks and options and developing strategies to manage and mitigate them.
Alignment to the University’s core values and growth mindset approach.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to generate clear and concise documentation.
Ability to work collaboratively and develop positive relationships with senior stakeholders inside and outside the organisation.
Self-motivated and proactive approach.
Creative and innovative approach grounded in practical solutions and achieving results.

Responsibilities

Provide academic leadership across the Schools and contribute to collective university-level strategic decision-making.
Assist the Dean (Academic) in ensuring excellence across the full portfolio of academic activity.
Develop the academic portfolio to support an effective and successful student learning experience.
Translate strategic goals into operational plans and lead programme teams in implementing them.
Work with Associate Deans and Programme Leaders to maintain subject currency, student satisfaction, and student outcomes.
Establish a research culture with the Associate Dean (Research).
Manage staff performance in accordance with HR policies, procedures, and University values.
Assist with recruitment, induction, and probation of academic staff.
Ensure completion of Performance Development Review activities.
Develop effective relationships with senior internal and external partners.
Lead Schools to meet targets and KPIs supporting the University’s CX Strategy.
Implement University regulations, policies, and procedures.
Ensure educational delivery meets standards of the Office for Students, Ofsted, professional bodies, and external agencies.
Present information, analyses, and opinions to the Academic Board, Board of Trustees, and committees.
Engage staff with Student Representatives and promote the student voice.
Represent the University in marketing, student recruitment, validation, accreditation, quality assurance, inspection, professional, and industry activities.
Ensure module delivery, module development, programme development, administration, industry and academic engagement, research, scholarship, and knowledge exchange are appropriately resourced.
Chair academic committees, School meetings, working groups, and quality assurance bodies
Undertake relevant duties and committee memberships
Line-manage 2–3 direct reports and hold budget responsibility
Liaise with academic operations, digital learning, professional services, apprenticeships, admissions, business development, marketing, external practitioners, and professional bodies

Skills

Academic leadership

Strategic decision-making

Staff performance management

Student outcomes

Compliance with educational standards

Verbal communication

Written communication

Collaboration

Proactive approach

Independent work

Education

First degree in Built Environment or cognate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Teams

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Provide academic leadership across the Schools and contribute to collective university-level strategic decision-making
Assist the Dean (Academic) in ensuring excellence across the full portfolio of academic activity
Develop the academic portfolio to support an effective and successful student learning experience
Translate strategic goals into operational plans and lead programme teams in implementing them
Work with Associate Deans and Programme Leaders to maintain subject currency, student satisfaction, and student outcomes
Establish a research culture with the Associate Dean (Research)
Manage staff performance in accordance with HR policies, procedures, and University values
Assist with recruitment, induction, and probation of academic staff
Ensure completion of Performance Development Review activities
Develop effective relationships with senior internal and external partners
Lead Schools to meet targets and KPIs supporting the University’s CX Strategy
Implement University regulations, policies, and procedures
Ensure educational delivery meets standards of the Office for Students, Ofsted, professional bodies, and external agencies
Present information, analyses, and opinions to the Academic Board, Board of Trustees, and committees
Engage staff with Student Representatives and promote the student voice
Represent the University in marketing, student recruitment, validation, accreditation, quality assurance, inspection, professional, and industry activities
Ensure module delivery, module development, programme development, administration, industry and academic engagement, research, scholarship, and knowledge exchange are appropriately resourced
Chair academic committees, School meetings, working groups, and quality assurance bodies
Undertake relevant duties and committee memberships
Line-manage 2–3 direct reports and hold budget responsibility
Liaise with academic operations, digital learning, professional services, apprenticeships, admissions, business development, marketing, external practitioners, and professional bodies

Requirements

First degree in a built environment discipline or cognate subject
Experience in a similar role
Experience within the education sector, Built Environment, or Higher Education
Experience identifying risks and options and developing strategies to manage and mitigate them
Alignment to the University’s core values and growth mindset approach
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to generate clear and concise documentation
Ability to work collaboratively and develop positive relationships with senior stakeholders inside and outside the organisation
Self-motivated and proactive approach
Creative and innovative approach grounded in practical solutions and achieving results
Ability to work independently or as part of a team
Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Commitment to delivering positive student outcomes
Preparedness to undertake mandatory online training
Compliance with safeguarding, Prevent, and anti-harassment and bullying requirements
Must provide documentary evidence of relevant qualifications
Must satisfy identity, right-to-work, criminal record, and three-year employment-history checks

Core Competencies

Demonstrates academic leadership and strategic decision-making in higher education, with a focus on developing effective academic portfolios and ensuring compliance with educational standards. Proven ability to manage staff performance, foster collaborative relationships, and drive positive student outcomes.

Highest-signal resume keywords