The role

Job description

As Vice Chancellor, you will be the principal academic and executive leader of University of the Built Environment. You will hold overall accountability and responsibility for delivering on our Core Purpose through effective strategic leadership, strong operational performance, regulatory compliance and academic excellence – where students are always at the heart of the whole University community.

Working with and through both your executive team and the wider staff community, you will ensure the University remains relevant, future-fit, and financially sustainable in the long term.

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Provide clear and visionary leadership aligned with the University’s vision, values, and both the existing and future strategy.
Lead the design, development and delivery of the University’s strategic plan for long-term success.
Navigate the complex and changing external landscape in which the University operates, seeking to maximise opportunities and adapt to create value for the University in the short, medium and long term.
Be prepared to think differently and innovate, to ensure the University’s academic offer remains relevant for students and the wider stakeholder community, particularly the built environment sector. This includes making sure the academic offer is future fit for the University’s long-term financial sustainability.

Safeguard and enhance academic standards, quality and student outcomes at all times.
Promote excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, research and knowledge exchange, within the built environment disciplines.
Support curriculum innovation aligned with student and employer needs, and professional body accreditation requirements.
Continually emphasise the requirement to deliver a positive and impactful student experience, which moves with changing students’ wants and needs.
Champion widening participation, access and inclusive education, both internally and externally.

Through your executive team, ensure the effective management of University resources to deliver on the University strategy. Resources include but are not limited to finances, people, technology and estates.
Line manage your executive team for success, fulfilling all people management responsibilities including performance management and target setting.
With the Board, regularly oversee institutional performance against clearly defined key metrics, which must at all times be underpinned by a productive and healthy institutional culture, where high performance is the norm.
Be a visible and accessible leader to the whole staff community.

Serve as the University’s Office for Students (OfS) Accountable Officer.
Ensure the University complies with the OfS Conditions of Registration, and can react to new and emerging requirements, including as a result of policy changes.
Promote a culture of high accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement across the University. This includes statutory compliance as well as regulatory compliance.
Provide assurance to the OfS that the University:
- makes proper use of public funds
- has robust governance in place with effective internal controls
- delivers high-quality academic provision and positive student outcomes
- submits accurate, reliable and transparent data returns
- is financially sustainable and viable in the future.

Represent, promote and advocate for the University in all relevant national and, where relevant, international settings. Settings include but are not limited to the higher education and built environment sectors, as well as other educational, policy, or regulatory settings.
Build and sustain strong relationships with University stakeholders including students, employers, professional and industry bodies, and academic partners.
Working with the University Secretary, support and nurture the honorary community as supporters and advocates for the University.
Maintain and enhance the University’s brand, reputation, profile and market position. Seek opportunities for growth and collaboration in pursuit of the University’s vision and strategy.

Working collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, ensure effective governance and strategic oversight of the University.
Maintain a strong, open and transparent relationship with the Board, including all sub-committees. Provide timely advice on institutional performance, risk, and regulatory compliance.
Uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership – respecting the Nolan principles of public life.

Board of Trustees; executive team; leadership; staff; students; honorary community; professional, statutory and regulatory bodies; sector bodies; Government and policy forums

Person specification

All of the following criteria are considered essential and will be assessed via application and interview unless otherwise noted.

Candidates will be assessed via Application (A), Interview (I) and Test or other assessment (T)

Please be aware that as part of safer recruitment and onboarding processes, we will seek original documentary evidence of the relevant academic and/or professional qualifications which you include within your job application. This is all part of our comprehensive pre-employment screening which also includes checking your identity, right to work, criminal record history (basic disclosure unless specified otherwise), and three years’ employment history. This is all part of our commitment to safeguarding our students. Keeping our students safe is a responsibility shared by everyone within the University.

Higher degree level qualification (Assessed by Application only)
Relevant professional accreditation (Desirable; Assessed by Application only)

Executive-level strategic leadership and accountability within a complex, regulated organisation.
Demonstrable experience of delivering on organisation strategy and improved business performance.
Working with Boards in a high-level strategic position.
Leadership within the education sector. (Desirable)
Leadership credibility and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively within the institution and across external stakeholders. (Desirable)
Leading an organisation where digital solutions or technology underpin product/service delivery. (Desirable)
Acted as an accountable officer to a regulatory body. (Desirable)
Connections to or affiliations with the built environment sector. (Desirable)
Working with industry and/or professional bodies.
Leading change and transformation as part of strategy review, definition and development.
Financial management and driving sustainable growth.
Public speaking and high-profile engagement speaking.

Alignment to the University’s core values and growth mindset approach, which reflect our culture. You can refer to the specific behaviours within the Competency Framework here. (Assessed by Interview only)

Inspiring, human-centred inclusive leadership working with and through all people, to deliver organisation success.
The ability to think differently, beyond sector norms, to realise an organisation’s vision/mission and strategic ambitions.
Strong all-round communication skills with the ability to influence relationships critical to organisation success.

Understanding of the UK higher education policy and regulatory framework. (Desirable; assessed by Interview only)
Commitment to Sustainability as an organisational and/or sector imperative. (Desirable; assessed by Interview only)

Commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our students.
Champions new approaches and continual improvement.
Business travel to University sites as well as to external engagements both within the UK and occasionally overseas. (Assessed by Interview only)
Undertake mandatory online training to meet regulatory requirements (Not assessed by a particular method).