Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange

Leeds School of Arts is a significant creative community at the heart of one of the UK’s most dynamic cultural cities. Bringing together over 3,000 students and 200 staff across art, design, architecture, film, music, performance and creative technologies, the School plays a central role in Leeds Beckett University and in the wider Leeds City Region.

At its centre sits the £90m Leeds School of Arts building — the University’s largest ever capital investment — providing a distinctive environment for creative education and practice-led research. The School is deeply embedded in the city’s cultural and creative industries, with strong and established relationships across the regional ecosystem.

Leeds Beckett University is a modern, professional university with a clear civic mission: to make a positive and decisive difference to people, communities and organisations. The University is financially stable and has established a leading position in knowledge exchange, ranking within the top quintile nationally alongside research-intensive institutions.

This is a pivotal leadership role which will contribute to the University’s research and knowledge exchange strategy, whilst providing strategic and operational leadership for research and knowledge exchange within Leeds School of Arts. Reporting to the Dean, and working closely with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, and Director of Research colleagues across the University, the postholder will play a central role in shaping the direction and development of research and knowledge exchange within the School.

This is a leadership role within a collegiate and supportive academic environment. The School operates within a flat organisational structure, and the role requires a hands-on and engaged approach, working through influence and collaboration.

We are seeking a research leader with a strong international profile and experience of research and knowledge exchange leadership within a relevant setting. Candidates will bring a clear understanding of the UK research landscape, experience of supporting others to develop research activity, and the ability to provide clear and confident leadership within a diverse and practice-led community.

The successful candidate will combine academic credibility with a pragmatic and inclusive approach, strong ambassadorial skills, and the appetite to articulate a clear and coherent narrative for research and knowledge exchange at Leeds School of Art — internally and externally.

Candidates should apply for this role through our retained advisors Networked at - www.networkedpeople.com/lsa-research-director

The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on Tuesday 5^th May 2026.

Informal questions regarding the post should be directed to Hamish Laing at Networked via - hamish.laing@networkedpeople.com or +44 (0)7861 329463.

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