Subject Lead for Built Environment

The School of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Derby is a dynamic and future-focused academic community that blends technical excellence with creative innovation. It offers a wide range of programmes across engineering, architecture, construction, and design, preparing students to tackle global challenges in sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment.

About the Role

The University is seeking an outstanding and visionary academic leader to serve as Subject Lead for Built Environment within our dynamic new School Senior Management Team.

As Subject Lead, you will play a critical role in delivering our corporate ambitions through strong academic stewardship, people-centred leadership, and a clear focus on excellence across teaching, research, and industry engagement

Through active engagement in teaching, research, and scholarly activity, you will model excellence and maintain the highest standards of academic practice, ensuring outstanding student experience and graduate outcomes.

You will lead horizon scanning, performance benchmarking, and external engagement initiatives that reinforce the Subject’s relevance, agility, and long-term impact.

Interviews will take place on: Tuesday 18^th and/or Wednesday 19^th August 2026

Conferment of an Associate Professor/Professorial title can be considered along with this role.

About You

We are seeking a strategically astute, forward‑thinking, and inspiring academic leader with a proven record of shaping high-performing teams and driving excellence across teaching, research, and applied industry engagement. You will bring a deep understanding of the Built Environment and its evolving alignment with societal needs, sustainability priorities, and industry demand.

You will demonstrate the ability to translate institutional ambitions into meaningful academic direction - creating clarity, championing innovation, and ensuring delivery through effective leadership and collaboration. Skilled at building trusted relationships internally and externally, you will recognise opportunities for industry partnership, applied research, and knowledge exchange that deliver impactful solutions and enhance the University’s regional and national contribution.

With significant experience in higher education teaching and academic leadership, you will also bring strong commercial acumen, including sound judgment in budget management, resource planning, and performance oversight.

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Professor Nasser Sherkat, Head of School of Engineering and Built Environment via n.sherkat@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

Important Information

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22^nd July 2025).

If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

For more information, visit our website.

For more information and to apply on-line, please click the “Apply” button above.

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