Professional Lead for Optometry

SBU/Department:  School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences / Department of Medicine, Applied and Clinical Sciences

FTE: 1 fte (working 37 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: Permanent

Salary: UH9 £58,225 pa to £69,488 pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 35 days annual leave entitlement per year plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 holidays including the closure of the institution between Christmas and New Year.

Location: College Lane Campus, Hatfield 

Main duties and responsibilities

The Professional Lead for Optometry will provide strategic academic and professional leadership for the discipline, driving the development and delivery of a future-focused, innovative portfolio of optometry programmes that respond to the evolving needs of the profession, healthcare systems, and society. 

The postholder will lead the design, enhancement, and continuous evolution of programmes to ensure they are future-fit, clinically relevant, and aligned with the requirements of the General Optical Council, embedding innovation in curriculum design, assessment, and delivery. 

Skills and experience required

You will bring substantial leadership experience within higher education or a relevant professional or clinical setting, with a proven ability to apply and translate that experience to the design, delivery, and enhancement of contemporary higher education provision. 

You will have a demonstrable track record of leading and delivering high-quality outcomes across teaching, research, or enterprise, and the ability to shape direction, influence practice, and drive change within a complex organisational environment.

You will work effectively across disciplinary boundaries, building strong, collaborative relationships with academic and professional colleagues to deliver shared strategic objectives. 

You will have a strong track record of developing and leading impactful partnerships with external stakeholders, including healthcare providers, professional bodies, and regulators such as the General Optical Council, translating these relationships into tangible outcomes. 

You will bring proven line management experience, including performance review, workload planning, and staff development, with the ability to support and develop colleagues to achieve excellence. Experience of leading or chairing formal committees related to education, quality assurance, or governance is essential. 

Qualifications required

You will have a Masters degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. You will have a current membership of a relevant professional body and Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly the HEA). 

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification. 

An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. 

Please note, this post cannot be visa sponsored unless you can evidence a good honours first degree plus a PhD / Doctorate. A criminal record check may also be required. 

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Prof Zoe Aslanpour, Head of Department of Medicine, Applied and Clinical Sciences, z.aslanpour@herts.ac.uk 

Closing Date: 22 June 2026

Interview Date: 28^th July 2026

Reference Number: REQ000766

Apply online via the 'Apply' button above.

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