Deputy Dean – Academic in Reading

• 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

• Academic Leadership
• Strategic Decision-Making
• Staff Performance Management
• Student Outcomes Commitment
• Compliance with Educational Standards

Hard Skills

• First Degree in Built Environment
• Experience in Higher Education
• Risk Management Strategies
• Performance Development Review
• Module Development
• Programme Development
• Quality Assurance
• Budget Responsibility
• Document Generation
• Online Training Compliance

Soft Skills

• Excellent Verbal Communication
• Excellent Written Communication
• Collaborative Relationship Development
• Self-Motivated
• Proactive Approach

Industry Keywords

• Built Environment
• Higher Education
• Student Satisfaction
• Office for Students
• Ofsted
• Professional Bodies
• Quality Assurance
• Accreditation
• Safeguarding
• Prevent

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office
• Teams
• Outlook
• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint