Pro Vice-Chancellor: Business Engagement and Enterprise

The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s largest higher education institutions, and we are renowned globally for the quality of our teaching and research. We encourage enquiry, discovery, and achievement by bringing together academic excellence and an inspirational learning environment. Our ambitions are underpinned by an outstanding community of staff and students, a world-class campus and a strong financial position. The University also plays a key role at the heart of one of the UK’s most economically vibrant and compassionate cities, and takes its economic, social, environmental and cultural responsibilities very seriously.

Under the leadership of our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, we have launched our University Strategy 2020-2030: Universal Values, Global Change. A blueprint for a values-driven university, we will harness our expertise in research and education to help shape a better future for humanity, working through collaboration to tackle inequalities, achieve societal impact and drive change in genuinely distinctive and transformational ways.

To achieve this ambition, we must work in an open, collaborative manner, supporting the generation, translation, and adoption of disruptive solutions to real-world problems. To this end, we have created a brand-new Pro Vice-Chancellor portfolio centred on Business Engagement and Enterprise. Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, with accountability to the Corporate Partnerships and Business Engagement Board (CPBE) chaired by the VC, the new position will champion these drivers across the University. They will provide clear leadership which develops strategic business partnerships that provide mutual benefit and lead on the growth of an entrepreneurial culture across the University and the City.  The position will establish Leeds as a globally leading University in how it engages with businesses to deliver societal and economic impact for the region, country and, internationally.

The successful candidate will bring a proven track record of strategic leadership and transformational change gained at the intersection of, or within, business and academia. You will have substantial experience of working in a dispersed and complex organisational structure where authority is derived through influence and persuasion and possess the requisite communication and interpersonal skills to build social capital quickly across our academic and professional services communities. Experience of building an extensive regional, national and international network of sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships will be critical, as will a mind-set of innovation and entrepreneurship, excellent judgement and strong commercial acumen.

For further information, including details of how to apply, please visit www.odgers.com/87199  

Closing date: Friday 20th January at 5pm

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