Deputy Director

Join us and be part of a vibrant community at Loughborough University. 

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for:

Thank you for your interest in this pivotal role at Loughborough University. If successful, you will join us at a time of significant transformation and growing ambition in our research and innovation (R&I) portfolio.

We are now recruiting a Deputy Director of the Research and Innovation Office, with in-depth knowledge of the research and innovation landscape, to help drive this agenda forward. Working closely with both of us, you will be a skilled and experienced leader, able to shape services, motivate teams, and influence stakeholders to maximise opportunities for Loughborough.

The Deputy Director will be expected to support delivery of a high-performing service which can work across functions and across the institution to support new and exciting opportunities. You will help develop an agile service that is well-connected across academic schools and professional services but also across a suite of external stakeholders and partners to ensure that the University is able to plan strategically and be well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities. You will build on the existing structure to create an office which is best in class, valued by academic colleagues and senior staff internally as well as our external partners, for its expertise, guidance and support.

The University is looking for an outstanding professional to lead and manage a number of RIO teams across a range of responsibilities and who can gain the respect and trust of the community and of our external partners, collaborators, funders and customers. You will be an inspirational leader with expertise across the research and innovation landscape.

You will have demonstrated the ability to lead large teams and deliver significant, institutional-level activity successfully. You will also have a proven track-record of delivering change and service improvement against key deliverables whilst motivating colleagues in a culture of continuous improvement.

These are exciting times for R&I at Loughborough, and we look forward to receiving your application

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 17th August 2025

For more information including the job description and person specification refer to the candidate pack.

Application Process: the selection process will include an initial longlist call in early September, followed by psychometric testing (OPQ), and a final in-person interview scheduled for mid to late September.