Head of School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries

About the role

Join Northumbria to lead the School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries at a pivotal moment in our institutional development. This exciting role gives you the opportunity to shape the future of a thriving academic community, with a strong national and international profile, as part of our newly established Faculty Society and Culture.

Northumbria is a research-intensive university with a clear social mission: to unlock potential for all, changing lives regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our vision is that through world-leading research and transformative education, we enable people from all backgrounds to succeed, and support businesses and communities across the North-East, London, and beyond to thrive. 

From August 2025, Northumbria will move to a new academic structure designed to further promote interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and real-world impact. The School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries will sit alongside the newly named Schools of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Business, creating a dynamic and purposeful environment for education, research and knowledge exchange across the new Faculty of Society and Culture.  

The School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries boasts outstanding research, a strong and diverse student community, and highly engaged academic professional and Industry staff. As Head of School, you will provide strategic and operational leadership, championing excellence across education, research and knowledge exchange, and ensuring a positive, inclusive and empowering culture for staff and students alike.

We are looking for an ambitious and values-led academic leader with a strong personal track record in research and knowledge exchange, a deep understanding of the higher education landscape, and a demonstrable commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience. You will bring strategic acumen, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build strong relationships across disciplines, and with external partners. You will be confident leading change, fostering collaboration and managing performance, and committed to the continuous development of others.

This is an opportunity to join a financially robust and forward-thinking university at a time of real momentum. If you share our ambition to do things differently, to lead with purpose and impact, and to help shape the future of Design, Arts and Creative Industries within a connected, inclusive and research-intensive university, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Further information is available in the job description.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact lisanne.gibson@northumbria.ac.uk.

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'.  Your application should include a covering letter and a CV.  

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