Academic Lead for Professional Practice and Innovation (MPA)

The Academic Lead for Professional Practice and Innovation leads the School’s engagement with industry, research communities, and the broader creative and civic ecosystem. This role ensures that the School of Music and Performing Arts operates as a dynamic engine of employment and enterprise, research, knowledge exchange and cultural impact.

About the Role

As our Academic Lead for Professional Practice and Innovation, you will drive our strategic ambitions across Music and Performing Arts. This is a unique opportunity to shape graduate outcomes, strengthen industry and cultural partnerships, and foster a vibrant research and knowledge exchange culture within a dynamic creative environment.

In this influential role, you will:

• Champion employability and professional practice, ensuring students develop the skills, experience and networks needed to thrive in the creative industries. 
• Build and strengthen partnerships with employers, professional bodies, cultural organisations and industry leaders, creating impactful opportunities for placements, live projects and graduate employment. 
• Lead the School’s research and knowledge exchange agenda, supporting innovative, practice-based and interdisciplinary activity with real-world impact. 
• Develop strategic networks that enhance teaching, research, enterprise and civic engagement. 
• Provide inspirational leadership and line management within a designated area of the School. 
• Contribute to the School Leadership Team, helping to shape and deliver the School’s strategic vision. 
• Maintain an active teaching and scholarly profile, bringing expertise and industry insight to the student experience. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader to influence the future of creative education, strengthen industry connections and create transformative opportunities for students, staff and partners alike.

About You

• A good first degree in a relevant discipline.
• Significant professional experience within the creative industries or higher education, with a strong network of industry connections.
• Understanding of the graduate employment landscape in the creative industries, including the impact of AI and digital transformation on professional practice.
• Demonstrable ability to lead, manage and develop a team effectively.
• Demonstrable experience of leading research, knowledge exchange or enterprise activity in a higher education or professional context.

For further information on the essential and desirable skills we’re looking for, please refer to the attached Job Description. 

Additional Information

Salary Grade Ac4S - Starting from £58,226 rising to £61,760

The salary range shows the potential maximum pay progression in addition to any annual inflationary increase to your pay. Please note that our default position is to appoint into the lower end of the range, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Interview Date -16th July

Staff Benefits

We offer a wide range of great benefits at BSU, including

• Generous pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme/Teacher's Pension Scheme). This is a defined benefit pension scheme which pays members a secure income for life, post-retirement
• Enhanced paid leave - 41 - 46 days depending on the role (Full Time) - more details here
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working, flexible work environment, on-site nursery, and a sector-leading enhanced maternity scheme 
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers access to on-demand GP appointments, wellbeing support and advice, and access to counselling
• Transport schemes including Electric Vehicle Scheme and Cycle to Work
• Wide range of discounts and financial benefits, accessed through and easy-to-use app

For further details about all our staff benefits, have a look at our rewards page

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

Advert information