Associate Dean External Engagement

FTE: 1.0fte (37 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: Permanent on a 5 year renewable tenure

Annual Leave: 35 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield 

The School of Law and Education offers a rich portfolio of disciplinary areas across both fields. We pride ourselves on delivering a truly innovative learning and teaching experience, coupled with practice-led, hands-on education. Our students—both international and home—consistently provide excellent feedback, reflected in strong good honours outcomes and high employability rates. 

Main duties and responsibilities 

This senior leadership role offers an exciting opportunity to shape and enhance the school’s engagement with external stakeholders, including prospective students, alumni, international partners, and the wider community. A key focus of the role is driving undergraduate student recruitment in Law, and we are seeking a candidate with demonstrable experience in law recruitment who can lead strategic initiatives to strengthen our market position. 

You will work closely with the Dean, Deputy Dean, Heads of Department, Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Communications, and the International Office to maintain oversight of the external environment, develop a strong brand profile, and support student recruitment and partnership development. 

You will also contribute to the development of business plans and course portfolios across UG, PG, DA and CPD, identifying opportunities for income diversification. 

Skills and experience required 

You will be an experienced academic with a background in Law or Education, and a strong track record of driving undergraduate Law student recruitment and partnership growth activity. You will bring strategic insight and leadership to the role, with a particular focus on undergraduate law recruitment, and a deep understanding of the legal education landscape and student recruitment trends. 

Your experience will include successful collaboration with external partners—locally, nationally, and internationally—and you will be confident in building sustainable relationships that support the School’s strategic ambitions. You will be commercially and politically astute, with the ability to identify opportunities for growth, income diversification, and brand development. 

Your leadership style will be inclusive, collegial, and values-driven, with the ability to inspire and motivate others while navigating complex challenges with professionalism and diplomacy. You will understand financial and project management and be confident in identifying opportunities for income generation and performance optimisation. Your ability to influence and build networks across diverse communities will be key to your success in this role. 

Above all, you will demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and act as a role model for the University’s core values—Friendliness, Ambition, Collaboration, Enterprise and Student success (FACES). 

Qualifications required 

You will have an honours degree or equivalent and a postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience. 

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries

Professor Penny Carey (Dean) p.carey@herts.ac.uk or Elizabeth Kirkbride (Deputy Dean) e.kirkbride@herts.ac.uk 

Please apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may close before the advertised deadline. 

Interview Date: Presentations 18 December 2025 and formal interview 19 December 2025

Reference Number: REQ000374

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