Provost and Chief Academic Officer

As St. Mary's University builds on its proud heritage, we are looking for an exceptional Provost and Chief Academic Officer to help shape our future. We provide a high-quality professional environment, inspired by our distinctive ethos and Catholic mission and values. Our values of excellence, generosity of spirit, inclusiveness and respect inspire us to create an academic community in which everybody is welcomed, and which puts the student at the centre of all our endeavours.

St. Mary’s has a strongly student-focused mission aimed at preparing students for flourishing lives, successful careers and social commitment through excellent, research-enriched teaching in a strong community of mutual respect based on our Catholic ethos and identity. We are committed to providing an increasingly high quality of teaching, learning and student experience as well as ensuring excellent prospects for our graduates in terms of employability and suitability for further study. As evidence of our commitment to quality, we are proud to be rated in the top five universities in the UK for teaching quality and in the top 10 for student experience and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 shows that overall, St Mary’s University ranks in the top 50 out of 132 institutions.

Now is an exciting time to join the University with the launch of the St Mary’s University Medical School. This development keeps in tradition with the University’s commitment to having a sustained and positive impact on society, and we are working towards welcoming our first cohort of students in September 2026.

Following the incumbents move in becoming a Vice-Chancellor, we are seeking to appoint a dynamic and creative leader to join us as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. This is a key appointment for us, with the post holder shaping and delivering the Academic Strategy for the University, at a time of significant change in the university, sector and society as a whole. The Provost will play a major role in determining university strategy and effecting its implementation, and the Provost is directly responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for providing strategic leadership in all academic areas including education, research and student experience and outcomes.

The Provost will be responsible for the Faculty Deans and Directors of Research and Education and Outcomes in all matters across their areas and has primary responsibility for the development and implementation of the Academic Strategy and the academic portfolio, alongside responsibility for ensuring that the academic departments meet the University’s key performance indicators. The Provost will provide leadership in driving through a culture of high performance and achievement across the University and in the development and growth of research.

The successful candidate will be an established academic bringing a track record of impactful leadership and outstanding stakeholder engagement skills. A dynamic individual with a collaborative, inspirational approach, the Provost will bring a strong personal commitment to high quality, inclusive education and widening access, and a proven track record of delivering and contributing to strategy.

For further details, including a job description, person specification and information on how to apply, please visit https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/ quoting reference 7471.

The closing date for applications is at 9am BST on Monday 7th October 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Wednesday 27th November 2024.

St Mary’s University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief, or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring and particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in the University workforce.

St Mary’s University will be supported in this appointment process by the executive search firm Perrett Laver. Perrett Laver will support the panel in the discharge of its duties, both to assist in the assessment of candidates against the requirements for the role and to identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and applicants from minority groups are particularly welcomed.

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