FACULTY MANAGER FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES CANDIDATE PACK – MARCH 2017
University of Essex Faculty Manager, Faculty of Social Sciences Candidate Pack – March 2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The University of Essex is a place where bold ideas bear fruit, where staff and students are encouraged to seek opportunities and to make things happen. Essex is a growing and thriving university. The Faculty of Social Sciences is the largest of three faculties at the University. It is led by Professor Sasha Roseneil, the Executive Dean, and is home to some of the most highly-rated social science departments and research centres in the country. A rare leadership opportunity has arisen within the Faculty of Social Sciences. If you want a job in which you can combine working at a strategic level with an operational focus, that will bring you into contact with all areas of University life and that will allow you to demonstrate your commitment to the pursuit of excellence in the Social Sciences, read on. The University is looking for an outstanding Faculty Manager with the curiosity and imagination to support the Executive Dean in driving progress across Social Sciences. You will need to be an excellent all-rounder, able to operate credibly in the areas of academic and financial planning, human resources management, with skills in communication, negotiation, problem solving, staff motivation, project and change management. You will display the enthusiasm and creativity needed to ensure that the Social Sciences continue to deliver both outstanding research and a transformational education for all students. This role is a lynchpin between academic staff and professional services; if developing working practices, being part of strategic change and motivating colleagues stimulates you, then this could be the role for you. This is a full-time post, based on the Colchester campus but some travel to Southend will be required.
ORGANISATION
Essex is a university where curiosity prevails, and where exploring new ways of thinking and pushing boundaries, isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. The University is committed to two things: excellence in teaching and excellence in research. Students are members of a unique, transformational living and learning community which empowers them with the skills to make a difference to the world around them. History 'A new kind of university… where students could live and learn… and research really mattered' – this was the founding vision of Essex’s first Vice-Chancellor Sir Albert Sloman. The plans were seen as so ground-breaking that Sir Albert was asked to give the prestigious Reith Lectures on BBC Radio in 1963, the year before the University opened to explain their cutting-edge approach to study, research and teaching. The architecture of Essex’s Colchester Campus was designed to integrate social and educational space to foster a real sense of community. ‘Brutalist’ buildings such as the Albert Sloman Library and the Hexagon, created by architect Kenneth Capon, have now become iconic. In 1964, 122 students arrived at the University for the very first academic year, attracted by its bold vision. Over the next five decades over 85,000 students from more than 130 countries would graduate, and inspired by the inquisitive and ambitious Essex Spirit, they would go on to make a difference in the world. Essex has a proud tradition of encouraging students to challenge convention and think differently. Graduates include two Nobel Prize winners – economist Professor Chris Pissarides and peace campaigner Óscar Arias Sánchez, who has served as President of Costa Rica on two occasions. Key Statistics
There are 13,628 students: 10,414 undergraduates and 3,230 postgraduates (2015-16). Over 5,000 international students are studying at Essex – close to 40% of the student community. This includes 2,137 students from the European Union and the rest of Europe.
Essex is a growing and thriving university and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014; it continues to develop and push for success in all areas of its work. The University is in the top 30 universities in the Times Good University Guide. In 2014, it ranked 19th in the Research Excellence Framework; and the 2016 National Student Survey results placed Essex joint 8th out of all English mainstream universities and in the top 10 for the fourth year in a row. The mock Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), published in June 2016, placed Essex 13th in the UK. Confirming its global reputation, the Times Higher Education World Rankings positioned Essex in the world’s top 20 for international outlook; in the QS World Rankings Essex is ranked 25th for the most international student community and 60th for the most international academic community in the world. Over the last five years the University has invested £200m in the provision of a top-class student experience with state-of the-art facilities. It is continuing with an ambitious refurbishment and new build programme to ensure Essex remains globally competitive.
Economic Impact The University of Essex contributes £464 million per annum to the East of England economy. Turnover per annum across the three campuses at Colchester, Southend and Loughton is £205 million and the University contributes £259 million indirectly to the region. Strategic Plan The University of Essex, under the leadership of Professor Anthony Forster, has an ambitious – and successful – strategic plan which places an equal focus on a commitment to excellence in education and excellence in research. To read the University’s Strategic Plan 2013-2019 click here.
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
The Faculty of Social Sciences is the largest of the University’s three faculties. It is led by Professor Sasha Roseneil, the Executive Dean, and is home to some of the most highly-rated social science departments and research centres in the country. The Faculty is training social scientists of the future through research-led teaching at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. Students learn how substantive knowledge about the world is created from a hunch and developed into credible research with well-supported findings. The Faculty is rated 4th in the UK for research excellence in social science. It houses five academic departments, including the top ranking department for politics in the UK, one centre, one institute and the world-renowned UK Data Archive: • • • • • • • •
Department of Economics Essex Business School Department of Government Department of Language and Linguistics Department of Sociology Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies Institute for Social and Economic Research UK Data Archive
The Faculty of Social Sciences seeks to build knowledge about the world, challenge conventional wisdom, and create innovative ways to change things. The Faculty team is 30 strong, covering roles in finance, human resources, publicity, communications, employability, and research development and impact. The Faculty Manager is the lynchpin of this team, with 5.52 FTE members of staff reporting directly to them. Their remit is much wider than this, however, as the role allows its holder to be involved in many aspects of university work, coordinating and leading activities across the faculty, and within all areas of Professional Services in the departments. The Faculty Manager works very closely with both the Executive Dean, and the Registrar and Secretary.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Job Titles and Grades:
Faculty Manager, Faculty of Social Sciences (Grade 10)
Contract:
Permanent, full-time
Hours:
A notional minimum of 36 hours per week.
Salary:
£59,400 p.a. (including £3,401 market supplement, reviewed in two years)
Department/Section:
Faculty of Social Sciences
Responsible for:
Seven posts (Faculty Accountant; Faculty Financial Analyst; Faculty Executive Officer; PA/Faculty Administrator; Faculty Administrative Assistant; Faculty Publicity and Promotions Officer; and Faculty Communications Officer), currently 5.52 FTE. The post-holder also leads the work of the larger Social Sciences Faculty Support Team, as well as providing leadership for professional services teams working within departments and schools.
Appraisal and Personal Development by: Key Working Relationships:
Principal Location:
Executive Dean, in consultation with the Registrar and Secretary.
The Faculty Manager’s key internal relationships are with: their Executive Dean, Deputy Dean (Education) and Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Research Education); Heads of Department/School and Department Managers; and Heads of Service and sections within Professional Services (for example the Director of Strategic Planning and Change in relation to the University’s strategic planning process, the Academic Registrar and the Director of the Research and Enterprise Office). Post will be based at Colchester, but some travel to Southend will be required.
The Faculty Manager is a member of Professional Services deployed locally to lead the effective delivery of professional and administrative services within the Faculty of Social Sciences and its constituent departments, and to provide management support for the Executive Dean. The Faculty Manager implements the University’s Strategic Plan through the development and monitoring of plans and budgets of departments within the Faculty. The post-holder also plays a significant role in supporting the Executive Dean, the Deputy Dean (Research), Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Research and Education) and the Deputy Dean (Education) in leading and managing cross-Faculty initiatives and activities. The Faculty Manager is a key channel of communication between the Faculty and its constituent departments/schools and central Professional Services. The Faculty Manager is responsible to the Registrar and Secretary for ensuring that administrative structures and processes within the Faculty and its constituent departments/schools interact effectively with the University’s Professional Services as a whole.
The Registrar and Secretary may, in consultation with the relevant Executive Deans and the individuals concerned, arrange for the deployment of an individual Faculty Manager to the same role in an alternative Faculty where this is in the interests of the University.
DUTIES OF THE POST
Academic & Financial Planning
To develop the plans and budgets of departments within the Faculty, working closely with and coordinating Heads of Department/School, Department Managers and other members of the Faculty Support Team, and taking a long-term strategic view of the direction of travel of the Faculty. This will require excellent problem-solving skills and the identification of potentially hidden issues; To monitor Faculty and departmental performance, advising the Executive Dean, liaising with, and giving direction to, departments/schools and relevant Professional Services and Faculty staff; To co-ordinate the approval process for the business case for proposed new courses, liaising with Heads of Department/School or the programme lead, as appropriate; To be a member of the Faculty Steering Group, chaired by the Executive Dean; To lead the planning and organisation of Faculty Support Team Away Days; To provide day-to-day operational management support for the Executive Dean, including maintaining oversight of the Faculty’s financial position, working closely with the Faculty Accountant; To report to the University Steering Group on strategic and operational issues within the Faculty, for example, co-authoring with the Executive Dean reports on departments that are under review and business cases for new activity, as appropriate.
Faculty Administration
To provide leadership for Faculty-level administration including co-ordinating the work of the Faculty Support Team. This includes line-management responsibility for some members of the team (including their recruitment, induction, management, development and appraisal); To provide leadership for the administrative and professional services teams within the Faculty’s departments/schools; To set standards for the service expected from the Faculty Support Team; To identify, design, implement, manage and monitor administrative policies and systems that support the activities of the Faculty, coordinating with colleagues in Professional Services who are located centrally, as appropriate; To keep Faculty administrative processes and support structures and requirements under review, and to make recommendations to the Executive Dean for improving their effectiveness; To maintain and develop strong networks with colleagues across Professional Services to contribute to Faculty planning and to support Faculty agendas; To ensure the effective implementation within the Faculty of all the University’s policies.
Departmental Support
To provide leadership for professional services teams within the Faculty, including those within departments/schools; To support and advise Heads of Department/School and Department Managers on matters relating to all aspects of the operation and strategic direction of the departments, and their relationship with the Faculty and the wider University, based on a clear understanding of administration within the Faculty; To support Heads of Department/School with the development of business plans, working with the Faculty Accountant, and liaising with other Professional Services staff as appropriate; To support Heads of Department/School in preparing any departmental performance plans that may be required as a result of the University’s strategic academic planning process; To support Heads of Department/School in preparing cases for new/replacement academic staff for consideration by the Executive Dean, working with the Faculty Accountant and HR Manager as appropriate.
To review all Professional Services staff vacancies as appropriate, and liaise with the Registrar regarding replacements; To provide senior, strategic and operational ad hoc support for Heads of Department/School in dealing with operational issues that cannot be resolved at departmental level; To ensure effective induction for new Heads of Department/School and Department Managers. To set overall standards of service expected from Department Managers and to monitor levels of performance to maintain quality; To provide senior strategic support to Department Managers with the review and planning of local administrative processes and structures, identifying opportunities for efficiencies and improved effectiveness, and advising on cases for new/replacement administrative staff; To provide senior, strategic support for Department Managers in dealing with operational issues that cannot be resolved at departmental level; To support Heads of Department/School in promoting the effective professional development of Department Managers, and to support Department Managers in responding to the development needs of their staff.
Communication
To communicate Faculty and University priorities and activities across the Faculty and to listen to and represent the Faculty and its Departments within the University and externally; To ensure good internal communication and flow of information with Heads of Department/School, Departmental Managers and other support staff, convening and leading meetings with relevant staff groups as appropriate; To ensure effective consultation across the Faculty on University- and Faculty-wide issues.
Other Duties
To represent the Faculty’s interests within the University and externally as requested by the Executive Dean, in particular in relation to Professional Services; To work effectively with the other Faculty Managers, with the Executive Dean, the Deputy Dean (Research), the Deputy Dean (Education), and the Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Research Education) to take forward cross-Faculty activities; To identify and promote good and best practice across the Faculty; To represent the Faculty and its interests on the Professional Services Group; Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Executive Dean or, in consultation with the Executive Dean, by the Registrar and Secretary.
These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake. They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances and do not form part of the contract of employment.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate evidence of the following skills, capabilities and experience: Qualifications/Training A good honours degree or equivalent.
Essential X
A postgraduate degree or professional qualification. Experience/Knowledge A broad understanding of Higher Education. Broad range of knowledge in areas of academic administration, finance, human resource management and IT. Demonstrable relevant administrative experience and senior responsibilities. Staff management experience, with a demonstrable ability to lead, motivate and manage a team of multi-disciplinary, professional staff. Experience of successful strategic planning and implementation. Proven ability to be proactive, to solve practical and logistical problems, to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and work independently. Experience of the development and implementation of policies and procedures. Demonstrable experience of leading a successful change management process. Experience of leading cross-disciplinary and complex projects, services or workflows. Demonstrable experience in engaging credibly across diverse areas of professional expertise. Proven ability to assimilate large amounts of information from a wide variety of sources and use it to write high quality papers to inform decision making and make clear recommendations for action
Desirable
X Essential
Desirable
X X X X X X X X X X
X
Skills/Abilities
Essential
Strong leadership and people management skills, including the ability to negotiate, influence and persuade others in order to drive forward change.
X
Financial management skills.
X
Highly developed ability to problem solve creatively and innovatively.
X
Desirable
Ability to develop, plan and implement projects.
X
Capacity to synthesise complex ideas, analyse procedures and requirements and solve problems.
X
Ability to translate complex ideas into language that is appropriate for many different audiences, and to communicate these effectively at all levels
X
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
X
Ability to work effectively as a member of the team and to develop close and effective working relationships with academic and support staff colleagues and with other Faculty Managers.
X
Ability to multi-task, manage competing demands and work effectively and flexibly under pressure to achieve tasks in hand and to deadline.
X
Self-motivation and the ability to work alone and without supervision.
X
Good IT skills.
X
A strong commitment to the University Values that underpin Essex’s mission and Strategic Plan.
X
APPOINTMENT DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY
The University of Essex is being assisted in this appointment process by the executive search firm Society. Applications should consist of a CV, accompanied by a covering letter addressing the criteria in the Person Specification. These documents can be uploaded via Society’s website: www.societysearch.com. For an informal conversation about the position, please contact Professor Sasha Roseneil, Executive Dean (Social Sciences) on 01206 872 129, or via email at s.roseneil@essex.ac.uk. The deadline for receipt of applications is midday on 5pm (BST) on Monday 1st May 2017. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview following this. An appointment will be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references. The appointed candidate will be offered a salary that is commensurate with their experience and the seniority of their new role.