Director, School of Slavonic & East European Studies

About Us:

The School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), a key part of UCL is the world’s leading institution for research and teaching on Russia, the Baltics, and Central, Eastern and South-East Europe. The school’s mission is to foster cross-disciplinary approaches to area studies, using expertise in our primary geographical region to generate knowledge and understanding of the broader world. Our work is organized into four interrelated programmes: Economics and Business; History; Languages and Culture; Politics and Sociology. With our spectacular library and award-winning building in the heart of London, at the centre of a vibrant network of national and international connections, SSEES provides a unique and dynamic environment where students acquire the expertise and skills that employers want, including an unparalleled range of languages.

About The Role:

To continue our progression and add to the School’s standing we are excited to be recruiting for the position of Director of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) which represents an exciting opportunity to further the school’s vision as SSEES starts this new chapter in its unique history.

The position performs the role of a Head of Department at UCL. Currently the Director reports to the Vice-Provost (Faculties); it is proposed that from September 2023, the Director will report to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. In addition, the Director (in the capacity of Head of Department) is responsible to the Council of UCL, via the President and Provost, for the organisation and general conduct of the School.

The role’s focus will be to determine and implement the School’s strategic operating plan and contribute to the delivery of strategic objectives of the School, Faculty and UCL. The role will lead an internationally diverse staff community who have expertise across our humanities and social science disciplines. The school currently employs more than 80 academic staff members and enrols almost 1200 students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels across more than 25 programmes

About You:

The successful candidate will be an exceptional individual, educated to PhD level and of Professorial rank, with an outstanding portfolio of internationally recognised research in Slavonic and East European Studies. Alongside having an exceptional academic track record, the successful candidate will need to have demonstrable leadership and management qualities, with experience of strategic planning and the ability to articulate a clear vision for the future of SSEES.

Alongside the above we are looking to hear from candidates who possess the following:

• Wide ranging intellectual interest across the breadth of the area studies.
• Proven experience of research-led teaching and/or the use of innovative pedagogies.
• Demonstrable experience of managing resources and risk effectively, including budgets, staff and estates within the statutory and regulatory policies of the organisation.
• Knowledge of the higher education sector, and experience of operating with or within universities.

How to Apply and Benefits:

To be considered for the position please upload the following documents via the "Apply online" link below:

• A concise covering letter (ideally no longer than two pages), addressing the
• criteria in the Person Specification and outlining how you meet the requirements of the role;
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• a vision statement for the development of the School’s strategy (ideally no longer than three pages), covering research strategy and the future direction of Language-based Area Studies;
• The names and contact details of three referees who are leading figures in the relevant field (referees will only be approached at the final stage of the process, and only with your express permission);
• Details of your current position, in particular current salary and notice period.

You will have the opportunity to add additional information to support your application.

If you have any queries about the application process, please contact Alex Craven, School Manager (a.craven@ucl.ac.uk) in the first instance.

If you have queries about the requirements of the position or are looking to have an informal discussion ahead of applying, please contact Prof. Stella Bruzzi, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, via Executive Officer Dania Herrera (dean.a-h@ucl.ac.uk).

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 19^th February. Interviews are set to take place across 9th and 10th of March.

Alongside the exciting opportunity this role represents we also offer some excellent benefits, some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Hybrid Final Salary Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme
• Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance

Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits for more information.

Our Commitment to equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/.