The School of Health and Wellbeing aims to prevent disease, improve health and wellbeing, and reduce inequalities on a local and global scale. Through our inter-disciplinary programme of world-leading research and excellent research-led teaching we aim to improve population health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities in health. Our research spans three research themes and is delivered across six research groups (General Practice and Primary Care (36.4 Full time equivalent FTE), Public Health (38.6 FTE), Mental Health and Wellbeing (78.2 FTE), Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment Unit (30.5 FTE),  Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (112.7 FTE), and Robertson Centre for Biostatistics (50.7 FTE)).

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Our academics have a wide range of skills and expertise and our external collaborators include academics, the Scottish and UK Governments, the NHS, local authorities, and the voluntary and private sectors. We have strong links with researchers in other schools across MVLS such as the Schools of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine and Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health,  a number of associate  Social Scientists in Health academics based in the  School of Social and Political Sciences, College of Social Sciences and elsewhere in University of Glasgow; as well as with the University of Glasgow Changing Futures Initiative. The school is based in the Clarice Pears Building in the Gilmorehill Campus and is home to the Byres Road Community Hub which enables the school to engage with the public by sharing research findings with the wider community.

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The school is one of 8 in the college of MVLS, https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/. The college has 4 overarching research themes which sit across the schools, https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/mvls2033/, is based across several campuses, Gilmorehill, Garscube, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Gartnavel General Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, with over 3000 research, teaching and support staff and over 8500 students at undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research level.

Job Purpose

As an integral member of both the School’s Leadership Team and the College Administrative Management Group, the postholder will play a lead role in the successful implementation and delivery of the College and School's strategy, policies, and objectives to fully achieve key University/College/School goals and deliver improvements evidenced by internal and external measures.

The post is accountable to the Deputy Director of Professional Services, with day-to-day responsibility to the Head of School to support development and delivery of School strategies and business needs. In addition to the general leadership contributions above, the post is responsible for the provision of all professional services in support of learning and teaching, research, and operations. This includes line management responsibility, direct and indirect, for all professional/administrative staff within the School. This will involve setting and monitoring appropriate operating models and services standards, across a wide range of activities, including ensuring appropriate integration with wider College and University services.

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Main Duties & Responsibilities 

• Working as part of the School Executive Group in partnership with Head of School, the postholder will make major contributions to the development and delivery of School strategy in line with the School, College and University's strategic objectives, evidenced by external measures including KPI's and targets such as student satisfaction, research performance, public engagement, impact and return on investment. 

• Manage and develop the professional/administrative support functions and structures in the School to ensure effective delivery of the School's priorities and KPI target delivery.

• Coordinate the planning and operational delivery of the school’s research, teaching and administrative budgets in partnership with College Finance to facilitate smooth delivery of the School’s financial strategy and ensure sustainability for growth.

• Engage the School Leadership Team, and act with their delegated authority as agreed, to improve School business and league table performance. Such efforts will include organising and analysing relevant external information from relevant authorities and benchmarking sources

• Lead horizon scanning for the School to future-proof performance sustainability within an increasingly competitive HE environment.

• Participate in regular reviews of external competitor benchmarking, developing plans to improve School league table performance.

• Work with senior academic colleagues to develop and manage external partnerships and networks to enhance the School’s reputation at local, national, and international levels.

• Work collaboratively across College Administrative Management Group and, where relevant, broader University departments, to plan and deliver coherent and efficient ways of working across Professional Services. Perform a leading role in effecting change, driving measurable improvement in key performance areas and resource planning to deliver the key strategic objectives of the School/College and University

• Ensure effective compliance on behalf of the School with the University's governance framework, sourcing appropriate support from specialist/professional colleagues across the institution as required. 

• In partnership with senior academic colleagues develop a robust framework to support compliance with relevant accreditation, including Athena SWAN, regulatory requirements and quality assurance processes.

• Responsible for the implementation of the teaching contribution model to support efficient and effective resourcing of teaching activity, working in partnership with senior academic colleagues to optimise resources and their impact to deliver improvement in KPI and league table performance.  Responsible for supporting the success of the Byres Community Hub.

• As the School professional services lead, play a leading role as a member of the School Leadership team as well as the College professional services leadership team.

• Undertake other duties as are assigned by the College Director of Professional Services and Head of School.

• To contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan 

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Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience 

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1.   Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification) or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in a relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a similar management level role / Or in the absence of specific relevant qualifications, a significant track record in a similar or number of relevant specialist roles.

A2.   Knowledge of governance and business processes in a large complex organisation.

A3.   Broad knowledge of Lean/process improvement and change management.

A4.   Knowledge and understanding of the HE sector, especially in relation to research and teaching and potential challenges.

A5.   Broad knowledge of financial management within a budgetary control framework.

A6.   Knowledge/understanding of research processes and funding.

Desirable:

B1.   A PhD and/or equivalent scientific experience in relevant scientific area is highly desirable.

B2.   Good knowledge of University funding and governance arrangements.

Skills

Essential:

C1.   Excellent communications and presentational skills, including the ability to contribute to written reports for a variety of audiences.

C2.   Excellent interpersonal skills, particularly influencing, negotiation and diplomacy.

C3.   Highly effective leadership skills as a business partner.

C4.   Resilient and able to maintain momentum in the face of challenges and setbacks.

C5.   Understanding of financial planning and business analytics.

C6.   Excellent customer service, stakeholder management and skills.

C7.   Ability to develop, deliver and articulate a clear vision.

C8.   Ability to develop operational plans to support strategic initiatives.

C9.   Excellent ability to empower and motivate others to deliver a high-performance culture in a participative manner.

Experience

Essential:

E1.   Extensive and recent administrative leadership role in a large complex organisation, demonstrating excellent staff management skills.

E2.   Experience of working in an HE environment at a senior level.

E3.   Extensive experience in a business partner role working with senior staff to formulate ,develop and implement strategies and major projects.

E4.   Proven track record using Lean/other methodology in the delivery of significant benefits to the business through process improvement programmes.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, £49,250 - £56,921 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended. Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

Informal enquiries should be directed via email to Alison Wallace alison.wallace@glasgow.ac.uk

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The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information pleasevisit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Closing date: 23:45 on Sunday 16th March 2025.