Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is one of the UK’s most dynamic, purpose-driven universities, extending its influence  far beyond regional and national borders. We are a mission-driven institution dedicated to the Common Good. With a demonstrable track record of transforming lives. We now seek a Vice-Chancellor who embodies our values, leads with purpose, communicates with clarity, and inspires through action.

This role is for a visionary builder of trust, teams, and futures. You will lead a high-performing executive team and a deeply engaged university community. Our students are leaders and global changemakers, our academics push boundaries, and our industry and policy partners seek our thought leadership in health, engineering, business, and social justice.

We are local, national, and truly global, and our campuses in Glasgow and London are vibrant, collaborative, and international. We are ranked as the top performing modern university in Scotland, and were named UK's Modern University of the Year by the Daily Mail University Guide 2025. We are financially secure but aim higher, rank well but aim further, and are proud but never complacent.

We need a visible, values-based leader who is comfortable in diverse environments – from our city campus in Glasgow to the corridors of Westminster, Holyrood, or the United Nations. You will be a guardian of our financial sustainability and a bold strategist, capable of securing generational stability.

We are looking for an inspirational and experienced leader with strategic vision, generational thinking, and a deep understanding of the dynamics of higher education to help shape and realise the University’s ambitions. Collaborative, competitive, and courageous, you will be commercially tested and financially fluent, with a proven track record of delivery in senior academic leadership. Above all, you will champion our values and mission, lead with integrity and purpose, and foster a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive institutional culture that enables all of our staff and students to flourish and thrive.

Closing date: Closing date: Monday 1^st September 2025.

Advert information