Professional Lead - Mental Health Nursing

FTE: 1.0 FTE (working 37 hours a week)

Duration of Contract: Permanent

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: Hatfield

Main duties and responsibilities

The Professional Lead will drive the School and University strategy within their specialist area, ensuring effective operational delivery, academic quality and professional practice. You will champion effective teaching and assessment, lead curriculum development, and support continuing professional development to enhance the student learning experience.

You will contribute to shaping the School’s academic direction by supporting research, commercial and international activity, and by developing strategic partnerships that strengthen experiential learning. The role includes working with professional advisory groups, ensuring staff maintain required professional registrations, and liaising with PSRBs, visiting academics and clinical partners to enhance the academic environment.

As part of the Senior Management Team, you will contribute to departmental strategy and policy development and deputise for the Head of Department when needed. You will chair profession/subject meetings and serve as a full member of the relevant Programme and Module Boards of Examiners.

Skills and experience required

Candidates must bring significant experience contributing to academic or professional leadership within a higher education or relevant professional setting, with a demonstrated track record of collaborating effectively with academic and professional colleagues across multiple disciplines to deliver teaching, research, or enterprise outcomes. You will have evidence of establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders such as regulators, NHS organisations, or professional advisory bodies. Previous experience of line management, including performance review, workload planning, and staff development and experience in chairing formal meetings related to education and quality assurance is also essential.

You will demonstrate knowledge of and expertise in developing and delivering teaching and assessment of the profession, at undergraduate or postgraduate level and have knowledge and understanding of academic/professional quality assurance processes. Excellent communication skills, and proven experience of producing and presenting high-quality written reports, proposals, and presentations tailored to academic and external audiences is essential.

Qualifications required

You will be educated with a minimum of a Masters Degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline. You will also hold current membership of a relevant professional body, or equivalent. A recognised Teaching Qualification and Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly the HEA) is also essential.

Disclosure and Barring Service

Our commitment to the University’s Safeguarding Policy requires that the recruitment of staff in this area, will require the minimum of a Basic DBS Check. In the course of our work and University-led activities, there may be external contractual obligations where a further Enhanced Check is required. DBS checks may require renewal in line with policy.

Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad

Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total), in the last 10 years, will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct’ from each of those countries.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria, click the 'Apply' button above. 

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Xabi Cathala x.cathala@herts.ac.uk

Closing Date: 17 June 2026

Interview Date: TBC 

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