Head of Arts and Humanities - Job Description
Job Title |
Head of Arts and Humanities |
Salary band: |
Academy Grade H |
Location: |
The post is based in York. However, UK-wide travel and direct working with higher education institutions will be a key feature of this role. |
Job purpose |
The Head will lead an academic team involved in influencing the national agenda for enhancing teaching, learning and the student learning experience within the cognate subjects/disciplines and thematic areas relating to Arts and Humanities. The Head will lead the team to provide, sector-wide, the key academic interface between the HEA and the discipline-based lecturers, learning and teaching practitioners and management and support staff working in Higher Education. |
Principal Responsibilities |
To lead, with creativity and commitment, the development of sector-wide support for the cognate disciplinary areas within Arts and Humanities and the application of relevant key themes (e.g. internationalisation, employability etc) within these disciplines. To promote collaboration and partnerships with academics at all levels in institutions delivering HE with a particular emphasis on supporting teaching and learning development in subject and disciplinary communities. To work with other Heads in leading the development of high quality subject-focused provision, including interdisciplinary developments, across the sector and in line with agreed HEA plans. To work closely with institutional managers of Arts and Humanities learning and teaching to generate innovative ideas and strategies focused on enhancing the student learning experience within the disciplines. To ensure that specific aspects of HEA subject-focused provision are directly tailored to the identified needs of relevant disciplinary communities. To lead and manage the Arts and Humanities team’s implementation of provision, with a strong emphasis on collaborative working with other Heads and Academic teams in order to maximise effectiveness and minimise duplication of effort. To actively contribute to HEA strategic, operational and resource planning processes and collective decision-making, ensuring that agreed plans are implemented in efficient and imaginative ways To manage human, physical and financial resources with an emphasis on maximising impact and reach across the HE sector whilst demonstrating value for money To provide feedback to the responsible Director in particular and the Executive team in general in relation to developing trends and issues associated with the work of the Arts and Humanities team. To contribute to entrepreneurial developments and income-generation activity in support of the diversification of HEA income streams. To deputise and provide support to the responsible Director as required Any other duties commensurate with the grade |
Responsible to: |
Director (tbc) |
Responsible for: |
Staff in the Arts and Humanities team including Discipline Leads, Academic Associates, Academic Development Officers, Administrators and Consultants. Line management of a number of Discipline Leads in the team and the Academic Development Officer (Management) |
Working Relationships |
Externally, with Relevant staff including, for example, academics, disciplinary communities and subject specialists, course/programme leaders, accreditors and members of professional bodies/subject associations etc., in order to promote and provide high quality HEA support Relevant staff in HE-related agencies and funding bodies in order to promote the efficient and effective exchange of information/advice and to influence public and national agendas Internally, with: |
Person Specification
NB. This Academic Head person specification should be considered in the context of the Arts and Humanities Team’s remit.
|
Essential |
Desirable |
Experience |
An established academic record as an HE teacher and researcher in at least one of the subject/disciplinary areas of Arts and Humanities Team A record of publication in areas relating to teaching, learning and/or the student learning experience relevant to the Arts and Humanities Team A record of securing funding in relation to teaching/learning developments Experience of working as an academic manager in higher education with responsibility for, e.g. specific subject areas, programmes, and/or specific aspects of learning and teaching Evidence of introducing innovative and creative learning and teaching practices within one or more Arts and Humanities disciplines Recent experience of leading and/or managing teaching and learning in ways which enhance students’ learning experiences Experience of quality enhancement/assurance practices which support excellent student learning experiences Evidence of contributing effectively to strategic and operational planning and management processes in higher education settings Experience of budgeting and general financial management Evidence of a results-oriented approach to professional and academic responsibilities Demonstrable experience of successfully contributing to building and leading teams Demonstrable experience of managing innovation, change and development within academic environment(s) Evidence of effective engagement(s) in national/regional agendas which support Arts and Humanities related subject and curriculum development Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, or clear potential to gain Fellowship. |
Experience of working in and/or with a range of higher education institutions and/or relevant organisations Experience of interacting with/effective contributions to the work of relevant HEA Subject Centre(s) Experience of managing or making significant contribution(s) to externally-funded projects Experience of having led or contributed to the development of academic journals through e.g. membership of editorial team(s) Experience of working in enterprise and income generation tasks or teams |
Knowledge and understanding |
Knowledge of UK higher education and wider (e.g. international) policy context Knowledge of the key challenges and academic development issues affecting the cognate disciplinary areas for which the Arts and Humanities Team is responsible Excellent knowledge of effective teaching and learning practices, particularly in relation to the Arts and Humanities Team’s cognate disciplinary and thematic responsibilities A higher degree or equivalent Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, or clear potential to gain Fellowship. |
PhD in a discipline of Arts and Humanities or equivalent. Knowledge of key trends and developments in the enhancement of the student learning experience in HE PG Certificate in Higher Education (or equivalent) |
Skills |
Effective strategic and creative thinking about disciplinary and thematic developments and the ability to apply such thinking in innovative and flexible ways Proven ability to develop and promote high quality academically-focused provision which supports Arts and Humanities-specific disciplinary and thematic areas High level team-building and leadership skills High level interpersonal, communication, networking and representational skills, including effective influencing and negotiating skills. High level organisational and time management skills, including the capacity to work under pressure The ability to deliver results through extensive partnership working An enterprising approach, able to identify and help exploit academic enterprise opportunities that align with the Academy’s mission |
Research skills Project management skills Proven ability to initiate, develop and support income generating activity |