Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

5 year term (renewable), with substantive permanent professorial role

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art (RCA) is the world’s largest community of postgraduate-only art and design students. As the oldest art and design university in continuous operation, RCA has been ranked #1 in the world for art and design for an extraordinary eleven consecutive years (QS World Subject Rankings 2015–25).

Under the leadership of Professor Christoph Lindner, President & Vice-Chancellor, RCA is shaping its vision for the College’s 200th anniversary in 2037: to be the world’s most influential art and design community. RCA will remain at the forefront of exploring new technologies in the creative industries, addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality, and fostering collaboration with artists, educators, designers, researchers, and innovators through national and international partnerships.

About the Role

RCA seeks an experienced and visionary leader for the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). Reporting directly to the President & Vice-Chancellor and serving on the RCA Executive Board, this senior academic role will provide strategic leadership across research, knowledge exchange, innovation, and consultancy. The successful candidate will ensure RCA retains its position as the most research-intensive art and design specialist institution in the UK, with a world-leading track record of partnerships with business, industry, governments, and communities.

The role encompasses leadership of a forward-looking, cross-disciplinary research and innovation ecosystem, including:

• Research Centres and doctoral programmes
• InnovationRCA, one of the UK’s most successful university incubators
• Executive education and consultancy functions

The Pro Vice-Chancellor will drive growth in research funding, diversify income streams, and enhance cost recovery while fostering a culture of impact, innovation, and research integrity.

Key Priorities

• Launching a new Research and Innovation Strategy (2026–30)
• Creating two new College-wide initiatives focused on sustainability and future technologies
• Enhancing research quality, aiming to increase outputs scoring 3 and 4 stars in REF2029 by at least 10%

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A proven track record in research leadership and strategic partnership development
• Experience securing significant research funding
• A deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative research culture that supports excellence across all career stages

This is a unique opportunity to join one of the world’s leading institutions in arts, design, and communication education and to position creative research at the forefront of global innovation.

Application Details

• Executive search support: Perrett Laver
• Job reference number: 8129
• Informal inquiries: Harvir Bains, Harvir.Bains@perrettlaver.com
• Application deadline: 9:00am GMT, Monday 1st December 2025
• Apply here: 
  • https://plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetail/67dd3db2-b301-1d98-6cd0-3a1d37e423d2

Further details: Information Pack

RCA Benefits available here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/work-at-the-rca/staff-benefits/

The Royal College of Art (RCA)  aims to foster an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students and stakeholders are respected. 

We recognise the broad range of experiences that a diverse staff and student body brings and how this  strengthens our research and enhances our teaching. In order for RCA to remain a world-leading institution we are committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles throughout all of our processes, from application through to appointment.

Please tell us if you need any assistance in applying or if you need the information in a different format.

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