Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences in London

Imperial College London is one of the world's great universities – second in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year 2027 – renowned for ground-breaking research and outstanding education, a highly talented community of staff, students and alumni, and international reach. Our mission is to achieve enduring excellence in research and education in science, engineering, medicine and business, for the benefit of society. We were founded in 1907 with a mission 'To be useful' – understanding the universe to improve lives within it. Since our founding, we have sought to be not only a world-leading university, but a world-changing one, combining our tremendous strength in science, engineering, medicine and business with scientific discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship to create real-world impact addressing global health, climate change, AI, business leadership and more.

Our strategy, Science for Humanity, is unashamedly ambitious in seeking to maximise Imperial's potential as a force for good in the world. Our Imperial Class of 2030 programme will nurture the most talented, enterprising and diverse graduating class we have ever served; the next phase of our White City Deep Tech Campus will be a powerful engine for investment, inclusive economic growth and job creation; and our new cross-institutional School of Convergence Science will bring research impact to the emergent forces shaping our future at unprecedented scale in thematic areas: sustainability; human and artificial intelligence; health and technology; space, security and telecoms.

The natural sciences sit at the very heart of Imperial's identity and global reputation. Our Faculty of Natural Sciences pursues fundamental scientific discovery and applies it to society's greatest challenges – from the building blocks of the universe and the complexities of living systems to climate, energy, the environment and global health. With a vibrant community of almost 1,400 staff and approximately 5,700 students, and research income in excess of 90 million, the Faculty brings together the Departments of Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physics and the Centre for Environmental Policy, across our South Kensington, White City and Silwood Park campuses. Our world-leading research, exceptional students from across the globe, and extensive collaborations across Imperial, with industry and with partners worldwide uniquely position us to deliver transformational change.

To achieve our strategic ambitions and maintain our position at the forefront of scientific excellence worldwide, we need exceptional academic leadership. The Dean of Natural Sciences represents a pivotal appointment for the Faculty and Imperial's future success. Reporting to the Provost and working with the President, and as a member of the University Management Board and Council, you will lead a world-class faculty, driving forward our academic mission and ensuring excellence across our research, education and innovation portfolio.

We are seeking an outstanding individual with the vision, credibility and leadership capabilities to shape the future of the natural sciences at Imperial and beyond. You will have an international academic reputation in a relevant discipline and be able to command respect across the university community in order to deliver Imperial's ambitious vision. As a role model for Imperial's values and behaviours, your leadership will be vital in fostering an inclusive environment in which our scientific community can thrive and deliver on our strategic ambitions. This is truly a role with the potential to be transformational for Imperial, for natural sciences education and research, and for the world we serve.

For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit quoting reference 8584. For informal inquiries please contact Harvir Bains on harvir.bains@perrettlaver.com. The deadline for the receipt of applications is 09:00 am GMT on Monday 30th November 2026. Salary: Competitive. Location: South Kensington, London, with regular travel.

As a leading institution in the heart of London, Imperial proudly upholds a longstanding commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Valuing the diversity of the Imperial community is one of the four cornerstones of the recent strategy and Imperial strongly encourages applications from those with a diverse range of backgrounds. We will build a supportive, diverse, inclusive and highly motivated staff community across all disciplines, functions and activities. This will help us to attract and retain the talented and diverse staff we need to achieve our mission.