Inspire, collaborate, lead.Become our Dean of Faculty

ForewordThank you for your interest in the position of Dean of Natural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Southampton.

The University of Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group, the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, and in the top one per cent of universities worldwide. Through our world-leading research and enterprise activities we work with businesses to create practical solutions to global issues. We work with partners around the world to create relevant, flexible education, which prepares our students for the jobs of the future.

The University has an aspirational Vision 2020 strategy*, which sets out an ambitious view of the University’s future. Our vision is to be a distinctive, global leader in education, research and enterprise.

We aspire to be a place of opportunity and inspiration that attracts the most talented staff and students from the UK and across the globe. We will grow our University resources and facilities to meet the expectations and ambitions of our high-performing staff and students.

All the University’s activities are underpinned by values determined by our community. We are an imaginative and resourceful organisation that inspires and achieves excellence in all we do. We recognise that together we achieve more, and are committed to the highest standards.

As a member of the University’s Executive, the Dean is responsible for the strategic direction, development and performance of the University and will take on specific institution-wide responsibilities. They are responsible for the executive management of the Faculty’s performance, including the formation and delivery of an academic plan aligned to the University Strategy. The Dean will also represent the University and Faculty externally, growing income and contributing to the University’s development activities.

After reading more about the role of Dean of Natural and Environmental Sciences in this document, if you believe you have the skills, experience and drive to shape the future of the University of Southampton, then we hope you will apply for this post.

2

1

*For more information about Vision 2020, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/strategy

2

In this recruitment pack The University in numbers 10

Role of Dean of Natural and Environmental Sciences 12

1 Our values Activities underpinned by the values

determined by the University community.

Page 4

2 The University and region A lively and diverse environment.

Page 14

3

Our Values

Our annual Christmas lights switch-on event brings staff and students together to enjoy festivities on campus, with thousands of attendees each year

All of our activities will be underpinned by the values determined by our community:

– Excellence

– Creativity

– Community

– Integrity

4

CommunityWe achieve more together; we are an inclusive, collegial community that builds tolerance, respect, and mutual support amongst staff and students.

5

ExcellenceWe aspire to be the best in all we do, inspiring the confidence and ambition that enables our staff and students to reach their full potential.

Our research is at the forefront of understanding the role of plants in sustainable biofuels. Professor

Gail Taylor leads the biological sciences research group investigating plants and the environment

6

CreativityWe are imaginative and resourceful, thriving in an environment that values independent thought and encourages originality and innovation amongst its staff and students.

Researchers at the University of Southampton pioneered the technique of surface enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS) and we have continued to lead the way in the application of SERS in a number of fields, including the use of gold to treat killer diseases such as Parkinson’s

Our interdisciplinary researchers are breaking depth barriers to gain a better understanding of relatively unexplored ocean realms. As well as finding deposits of copper and gold, the research teams identified and studied a number of previously unknown species of deep-sea creatures

Image: Leigh Marsh

IntegrityWe are committed to the highest standards. Our personal and institutional conduct is consistent and honest, engendering trust between and within our University communities.

7

The Faculty is renowned for its outstanding research tradition and includes unique services such as the UK’s National X-ray Crystallography Service, which supports and develops world-leading research in chemistry, biochemistry and the physical sciences

8

Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences

The Faculty has an overall budget of around £57m p.a., over 36 per cent of which is from research and commercialisation activity. It consists of 2,017 undergraduate, 49 taught postgraduate and 494 research postgraduate students. The Faculty includes 336 academic and 118 other staff.

The Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences spans a wide range of disciplines including geochemistry, pharmacology, catalysis, electrochemistry, ocean dynamics, paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, ecology and molecular biology.

Currently these disciplines are located in three academic units: Ocean and Earth Science, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences. Their academic activity resides at the main Highfield Campus, the Waterfront Campus, and Southampton General Hospital.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, submissions were made by constituent elements of the Faculty to three Units of Assessment. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences was ranked 2nd, Chemistry 6th and Biological Sciences 12th in the UK based on Research Intensity (a measure of research quality and the proportion of eligible staff submitted).

The University has made a £50m capital investment in our Life Sciences building on the Highfield campus, which brings together teams of world-class scientists and engineers with a common interest in the life sciences to address global challenges. At the Waterfront campus, the Faculty’s oceanography and earth sciences is a hosting partner of the National Oceanography Centre and they work in close partnership. Facilities include the National Oceanographic Library and the research vessel RV Callista.

£25m has been invested in the laboratories in Chemistry and it hosts the EPSRC National Crystallography Service. Chemistry’s enterprise culture has seen four spin-out companies. One of these, Ilika, has established itself as a global leader in the development and application of innovative R&D techniques for the discovery of new materials.

The University’s Vision 2020 involves increasing our total research income to £135m by 2020. This will be achieved by continuing to grow our academic community in line with our overall growth and, through enhanced diversification of funding. We are also transforming the education offer available to undergraduate and postgraduate students, providing greater flexibility, enabling students to personalise their learning and to participate in teaching programmes connected to all parts of the globe. The Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences will play a key role in delivering on this agenda.

The Dean will be responsible for forming and delivering the Faculty’s strategic plan, working with the leadership team to deliver the Faculty’s contribution to the University strategy. The Dean will be supported by four Associate Deans (one each for research, enterprise, internationalisation, and education & student experience), the Heads of Academic Unit, a Finance Manager and an Operating Officer.

9

In the past few years, strategic partnerships have been developed or expanded with GSK, Dstl, QinetiQ, IBM, BAE Systems, Luxfer, DePuy, Philips, Vitacress, Eli Lilly and Google5. And our partnership with Lloyd’s Register represents the largest university-business collaboration of its kind in the UK

1%

Southampton is in

the top one per cent of

global universities1

We attract leading academics from across the globe and students from more than 135 different nations5 135

Out of our 23,500 students, 7,055 are from overseas and our 200,000 alumni community spans 178 countries5

£188m

Our annual turnover exceeded £484m in the 2013–2014 financial year£484m

The amount the University is fundraising for a state-of-the-art Centre for Cancer Immunology£25m

Total EPSRC funding portfolio of £188m; around four per cent of the market share3

5,500We employ over 5,500 staff across our campuses

At any one time we are working with over 1,000 external organisations4

1,000

£111m

Received £111m in research

grant and contracts income

in 2013/142

7 campuses

Six of our seven campuses are located across the south of England, with another at the Iskandar development in Malaysia

Connected University

Connect with Southampton, a global university that changes the world through it’s research collaborations, education partnerships and business links.

A founding member of

the Russell Group of 24

major research-intensive

universities in the UK

178

24

10

1 QS World Rankings 2014–15

2 University of Southampton Financial Report 2013/14

3 EPSRC Grants and web database, September 2014

4 University of Southampton Research and Innovation Services database, September 2014

5 University of Southampton Student and Academic Administration database, September 2014

6 University Business Incubator (UBI) Index

7 Times Higher Education 2014

SETsquared, the University of Southampton’s Business Incubation programme, is one of the top four most influential university business incubators globally6

£35m Our contracts with industry are worth about £35m annually4

Partners with Singapore Institute of Management, Peking University, Dalian Polytechnic University and many other key institutions in East Asia

Our REF results make us

8th in the UK for research intensity7

We have more than 400 active patent families4

with an annual income of over £500,000

400

We connect with students across the world through our Malaysia Campus and through our Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)

4

Connected Faculty

For more information on the University of Southampton connecting for impact, search ‘we are connected’

336

118academic and

other staff

3 Academic units

£56.5mTotal budgeted value of the Faculty economy for 2015/16

11

The role of Dean of Natural and Environmental Sciences

Role purposeThe Dean has three primary duties:

− To be responsible, as a member of the University Executive, for the strategic direction, development and performance of the University, taking on specific institution-wide responsibilities;

− To have general executive management responsibility for the Faculty’s performance, leading on the successful formation and delivery of the Faculty’s academic plan and financial performance, ensuring its alignment to the University Strategy;

− Representing the University and Faculty externally for the purposes of growing income and contributing to the University’s development activities.

Key accountabilities/primary responsibilitiesThe Dean is accountable to the Provost (on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor) for the following:

− To work effectively as a member of the University Executive in the strategic management and leadership of the University.

− To lead the Faculty in developing and implementing its academic plan for excellence in research and education and the achievement of agreed Faculty performance targets including finance and research grant and tuition fee income.

− To be the budget holder of the Faculty and to ensure, within the limits of available resources, that effective arrangements exist within the Faculty for the successful prosecution of academic excellence in research and education within the framework set by the University in pursuit of the Faculty’s academic plan.

− To be accountable for the management, performance and development of the Faculty’s academic staff and to act as line manager for the leadership team within the Faculty.

− To be accountable for matters relating to the admission, recruitment, education and welfare of students.

− Working within the agreed core administrative structure, to organise and manage the Faculty to achieve academic and performance goals.

− To manage the delivery of services by support staff within the Faculty on a day-to-day basis.

− To lead and proactively develop all Faculty relations with alumni.

− To work with Research and Innovation Services and the Development Office to identify and exploit new opportunities to grow sources of income for the Faculty.

− To be accountable for the implementation of University policy and procedures within the Faculty, including implementing equality and diversity aspirations.

− To lead the promotion of the Faculty on behalf of the University to external stakeholders.

− Any other duties that fall within the scope of the post.

Special requirementsThe person appointed will be conferred with an academic title commensurate with their academic standing and discipline.

It is anticipated that the post holder will undertake the role of Dean for at least a period of 5 years. At the end of the defined period, which may be extended, the person appointed will return to their substantive academic position within the University, whilst also having the opportunity to be considered for roles with enhanced managerial responsibility.

12

Person specificationQualifications, knowledge and experience

− A higher degree, PhD or professional doctorate in a relevant academic area.

− A record of outstanding personal academic achievement within own field of study, with international peer recognition.

− A proven track record of providing strategic and visionary direction and maximising performance to a complex group.

− Knowledge and awareness of the broad context of Higher Education and government policy in the UK, the current and forthcoming challenges and opportunities it presents.

Leadership, management and teamwork − A highly visible, democratic leadership style, which is underpinned by strongly held values around excellence, community, integrity and creativity.

− The ability to set the vision and direction of the Faculty and inspire, motivate and lead the Faculty to fulfil that vision and strive for excellence.

− The confidence and courage to take on challenges and be accountable for their decisions and actions.

− The skills to build, support and maintain a high performing management team and to lead a structured approach to strategic planning.

− A proven track record of achieving performance targets and leading others to meet their performance targets.

− The ability to actively contribute in the running of the University as part of University Executive, Senate and other forums as appropriate.

− The ability to lead, develop and manage academic staff.

Communicating and influencing − Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to influence, collaborate and interact effectively with a range of stakeholders including staff (at all levels), students and other stakeholders.

− The ability to cultivate strong networks and build links with the wider community and with business, industry and other stakeholders and to represent the University nationally and internationally.

− The ability to be an articulate advocate for the Faculty and able to promote and protect its interests.

Other skills and behaviours − Financial acumen with the ability to increase or develop additional sources of income.

− A team player with the ability to work with others to ensure staff and resources are managed effectively.

− An understanding of Higher Education funding.

− An external profile, with evidence of committee and other expert work.

Special requirements − A personal commitment to excellence, widening participation and equal opportunities.

For a conversation in confidence, please contact Professor Mark Spearing – Provost at Provost@soton.ac.uk or +44(0)23 80 59 7653.

When applying for this role please upload a copy of your full curriculum vitae, publication list and covering letter, including a minimum of three referees to SeniorRecruitment@soton.ac.uk Please quote vacancy reference number 623515F6 on all correspondence.

The vacancy will close at midnight on the closing date shown on the advert.

How to apply

13

The University and regionThe University campuses

The University has five lively and diverse campuses in Southampton, one in Winchester and an engineering campus in Malaysia.

Our main Highfield Campus is home to three of the UK’s leading arts venues, the John Hansard Gallery, the Nuffield Theatre and the Turner Sims Concert Hall. It also houses our state-of-the-art £8.5m sports complex, our main Hartley Library, the Students’ Union and Staff Social Centre.

Close to Highfield, the Avenue Campus houses most of the Humanities disciplines and the Centre for Language Study. It also has a purpose-built £3m Archaeology building with state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and research.

A few minutes’ walk from Highfield, is the Boldrewood Campus. The University’s collaboration with Lloyd’s Register represents one of the largest business partnerships with any single university in the world. Our new £116m Boldrewood Campus is the result of this partnership and is home to the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute.

Three miles west of Highfield, Southampton General Hospital is the base for the University’s Faculty of Medicine. The campus offers modern laboratories, computer suites, refurbished lecture theatres and a specialist Health Services Library.

Situated on the city’s waterfront, the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) is one of the world’s leading research centres for the study of ocean and earth sciences.

Close to Winchester city centre, 12 miles north of Southampton, our internationally renowned Winchester School of Art provides studios and workshops, an extensive specialist library and a well-stocked art supplies shop. The Winchester Gallery is based on campus.

Southampton

Southampton is a thriving modern city, steeped in history and culture, while less than an hour away the New Forest National Park offers vast open heathland and beautiful forest.

14

A lively city

The city offers a vibrant mix of recreation, culture and entertainment – from restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs to cinemas, sports facilities and internationally acclaimed arts venues. Close to the city centre, the University forms an integral part of this dynamic, multicultural city.

A historic city

Southampton has a fascinating history. It was from Southampton in 1415 that Henry V set sail for Agincourt. The Pilgrim Fathers first set sail from here in 1620 on their historic journey to the New World, and the ill-fated Titanic sailed from Southampton in 1912. Southampton has a rich aviation heritage, with the Spitfire, the fighter aircraft that won the Battle of Britain, developed in the region in the 1930s.

A coastal location

Southampton has one of the biggest commercial ports in Europe, and the city is known across the world as the home of the giant cruise liners, Queen Elizabeth, Queen

Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. With a coastal location, there is a vast range of opportunities for sport and leisure, with a major focus on watersports, sailing and ocean racing.

A gateway to the world

Just over an hour from central London, Southampton has excellent transport links with the rest of the UK and internationally, by road, rail, sea and air. Our award-winning unilink bus service connects all Southampton campuses and halls of residence, the city centre, the airport and railway stations.

Winchester

The historic city of Winchester has a rich cultural heritage, complemented by a lively atmosphere and a wide variety of pubs and restaurants, museums, theatres and galleries.

To see for yourself what the University and surrounding area has to offer, view our virtual tours www.southampton.ac.uk/virtualopenday and watch our film about the city www.southampton.ac.uk/visitus/cityandregion

15

www.jobs.soton.ac.uk SeniorRecruitment@soton.ac.uk +44 (0)23 8059 7653