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Internal vacancy: Associate Vice-President for Research (two positions)

31 Jul 2009

Expressions of interest invited by 7 September

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Expressions of Interest invited for
Associate Vice-President for Research (Two positions)

(Exact responsibilities to be determined in consultation with the Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor)

  1. The University invites expressions of interest from existing members of staff for the role of Associate Vice-President (Research).  Two positions are available, with exact responsibilities to be determined in consultation with the Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
  2. The appointment will be offered for an initial period up to 31 July 2011.
  3. An honorarium of £10,000 per annum will be payable.
  4. It is expected that the post-holder(s) will retain his/her position within his/her Faculty/School and that any revised arrangements to reflect the assumption of the position would be negotiated with the relevant Head of School/Vice-President & Dean.
  5. Any informal enquiries should be made to the Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
  6. Expressions of interest (curriculum vitae and supporting letter) should be returned by 7 September 2009 to:
     
    The Director of Human Resources
    Human Resources
    John Owens Building
     
  7. Interviews are likely to be held in September. 

Job and Person Specification for the role of  Associate Vice-President for Research

Overall purpose:  Following Professor Simon Gaskell’s departure from the University, the Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor will assume overall strategic leadership for the research agenda within the University.

The Associate Vice-President(s) for Research will, with the other Senior Officers of the University who lead on research, be responsible for assisting in the leadership and management of all aspects of the University’s research and graduate education agenda (in practice, the latter will be dealt with in detail by the Associate Vice-President who has special responsibility for Graduate Education).

The Associate Vice-President(s) for Research will report to the  Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell). The holder of the position will be expected to contribute to the achievement of all of the goals in the Advancing the Manchester 2015 Agenda relating to research and graduate education. An indicative set of responsibilities is given below, though the precise allocation of responsibilities will be determined in consultation with the Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. In addition, there will need to be a high level of collaboration between research management and the portfolio of responsibilities exercised by the Vice-President for Economic Development and Innovation in relation to the engagement of University researchers in innovation, economic development and the transfer of knowledge and technology.

Responsible to:  Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DP&DV-C)

Key internal relationships:  The Associate Vice-President for Research will work closely with all appropriate members of the President’s Senior Executive Team and will sit on a number of the University’s key committees. In addition, s/he will work closely with other senior staff within the University, notably the Associate Vice-President who has special responsibility for Graduate Education and Associate Deans for Research and Graduate Education and Heads of School. Given the leadership role for research and graduate education, there will be a close working relationship with the staff in the Research Office, though the formal reporting line for these staff will be through the Registrar and Secretary or his designate.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

General Duties for the Associate Vice-President for Research

  1. To support the DP&DV-C in developing the University’s strategy and policy for research and graduate education in line with the goals set out in the Advancing the Manchester 2015 Agenda. In particular, to prepare the University for the move from the RAE to the REF.
  2. Provision of strategic guidance to support optimal performance in research of international significance.
  3. To advise the DP&DV-C on issues relating to the management and direction of University Research Institutes.
  4. To support the DP&DV-C in the leadership and encouragement of cross and interdisciplinary research within the University, including oversight of Research Networks.
  5. To support the DP&DV-C in the leadership and encouragement of research activities of the University’s cultural assets.
  6. To support the DP&DV-C in the assessment of wider impact of all of our activities, particularly research (as driven by REF) which will require close alignment to the many aspects of the University’s public and community engagement.
  7. Representation of the University to major external stakeholders, as necessary.
  8. Representation, or co-ordination of representation, on external bodies relevant to the University’s research goals.
  9. Co-ordination of major research bids from the University.
  10. Co-ordination of responses to external enquiries.
  11. Interaction with external funding bodies (national and international).
  12. Fostering and facilitating an outward orientation to major external research partners.
  13. Together with the Vice-President for Economic Development and Innovation, encouraging, where appropriate, the commercial exploitation of knowledge.
  14. Liaison with the Office of Student Recruitment, Admissions and International Development to ensure effective promotion and development of key overseas research partnerships.

Specific Duties for the Associate Vice-President for Research

The specific duties are to be determined in consultation with the Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor but may include:

  1. Chairing/deputising for the Chair of University Research Group and University Research and Graduate Education Group.
  2. Taking a leading role in co-ordination of interactions between key internal staff involved in the research and graduate education to ensure the effective and energetic promotion of these agendas within the University.

Person Specification

The individual who is awarded the position will possess the following skills, knowledge and qualities:

  • A clear vision for the research and graduate education goals of the University. Since this is an internal appointment, a broad knowledge of the University and its research activities and management structures is expected.
  • An established and demonstrably significant research profile at Chair level, which has been recognised internationally.
  • An understanding of research and graduate education issues across the full range of the University’s academic disciplines.
  • A successful record of undertaking several major academic administrative roles.
  • Demonstrable evidence of research leadership and management, both internally and externally (eg membership and ideally chairmanship of funding bodies, advisory board etc.).
  • Skills in communication and engagement of the highest order.

July 2009