Head of School

Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.

*QS World University Rankings 2024 ** Research Excellence Framework 2021.

About the Role

As Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick, you will be responsible for academic leadership and delivery of all departmental activities to enable the school to develop and maintain a globally leading reputation.

The role is critical to the University’s success, offering an opportunity to exercise academic leadership with a considerable degree of autonomy within broad parameters set and agreed by the University’s Academic Resourcing Committee (ARC), including line management, compliance, and risk management responsibilities. This will involve working collaboratively with the Vice Provost/Chair of Faculty and other members of the faculty senior management team.

The Head of School role is anticipated to take up approximately 60% of the role holder’s time.

About you

The successful candidate will be appointed as a professor on an indefinite basis with a strong scholarship and leadership profile and a proven ability to effect change.  You will be a skilled and experienced individual capable of providing academic and executive leadership, able to deliver established and evolving strategic plans which further the excellence of the School’s research environment and build on the School’s reputation for educational excellence.

You will be respected for the breadth of your academic credentials and for your ability to inspire, support, nurture and enable people at every level to be the best that they can.

About the Department 

The School of Engineering is a multidisciplinary general engineering department, which covers the major Engineering disciplines and forms part of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine (FoSEM).  The school conducts both research and teaching to internationally leading standards. Continuously aiming to generate world-leading scientific and technical contributions that have globally significant socio-economic impact, alongside development of the next generation of multidisciplinary engineers.

The school has a rising ranking in the top quartile of UK Engineering institutions in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2014 and REF2021).

The School’s ethos and working environment are reflected in its recent Athena Swan GOLD Award, awarded to only three other engineering departments in the UK.

Benefits

• 30 days of paid annual leave, 4 shut-down days at Christmas, and 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme
• Staff training
• Free eye care vouchers
• Discounted private healthcare and cash plans to keep you and your family happy and healthy
• Discounts at Warwick Arts Centre and Warwick Sport Membership
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, a complete support network that offers expert advice and guidance 24/7

For further information and Person Specification please click here

Closing Date: Friday 2^nd January 2026

Interview Date: Wednesday 4^th February 2026

How to apply

The University of Warwick has appointed SearchHigher as their recruitment partner for this campaign; apply by submitting a cover letter and CV in Word Document format or via email to enquiries@searchhigher.com

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, please submit your application as early as possible.

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