Job Title: Head of Department Department of Chemical & Process ngineering (Professorial Level) Responsible to: xecutive Dean of Faculty Responsible for: Departmental staff (along with research staff employed on programmes and awards directed by the post holder) Job Summary and Purpose This is a senior leadership position within the Faculty, responsible for strategic development of the Department, Faculty and University. The role holder s main responsibility lies in providing effective leadership and management of teaching and research. Success in this role is heavily dependent on building successful and strong relationships within and outside the Department, requiring strong leadership and relationship management skills. The role holder will work closely with the xecutive Dean to deploy resources effectively within the Department, to ensure the teaching portfolio is maintained and updated according to the Faculty s academic development strategy, and that the Department has a progressive research and enterprise strategy. The post-holder will have a record of ongoing academic achievement consistent with the post of Professor. (Note: Upon completion of the term of duty as Head of Department, the responsibilities/activities will revert to the generic professorial role profile; also included below.) Background Information/Relationships Faculty: The University of Surrey is organised into four Faculties. The Faculty of ngineering and Physical Sciences (FPS) is built on the core engineering disciplines of civil engineering, chemical engineering, electronic engineering and mechanical engineering (including aeronautical, automotive & biomedical), together with the scientific disciplines of chemistry, computing, mathematics and physics. Within all these fields we enjoy a reputation for excellence in research and teaching, allied to a strong enterprise culture and an unrivalled record of graduate employment. Our members of academic staff are well respected, both nationally and internationally, among the many academic departments and industrial companies with which we interact. We believe strongly in the principle that a university should contribute to the cultural wealth of society by developing the basic sciences, whilst also developing the technology which will improve our overall quality of life. Department of Chemical and Process ngineering (CP): The Department currently has 14 academic staff (with an ambitious growth plan to 1
add to this number) and more than 350 students who are studying on a range of programmes from Bng/Mng through to MSc and PhD (and ngd, through one of the FPS Industrial Doctoral Centres). Our undergraduate programmes are professionally accredited by the IChem, and undergraduate students benefit from being able to take Surrey s Professional Placement Training Year. Our score in the NSS annual survey is consistently high, with our courses achieving top ten rankings in all major university league tables. We offer a suite of highly successful MSc programmes which cover Process, Information and Business Systems ngineering, Petroleum Refining and Renewable nergy Systems. Our teaching and research activities are supported by a range of well-equipped laboratories and computing facilities. Research is carried out in a number of inter-related areas, many of which extend across traditional discipline boundaries. CP serves as the home for the Centre for Osmosis Research and Applications (CORA) and the Centre for Process and Information Systems ngineering (PRIS). CP academics also contribute to the Fluids Research Centre including nflo, a NRC National Centre for Atmospheric Sciences research, and to the broader Faculty thematic areas of Materials, Water, nergy, Infrastructure, the Life Sciences Interface & Process Systems. In RA 2008, our submission to General ngineering, a combination of Civil, Chemical and nvironmental ngineering with Mechanical, Medical and Aerospace ngineering, was rated 8th in the country according to the Times Higher ducation league table. Relationships and Contacts: The appointee will report to the xecutive Dean of the Faculty. S/he will establish working relationships with staff (including other academics, researchers, technicians and support staff) and students in the Department in addition to staff in the wider Faculty and University, as appropriate. S/he will liaise with sponsors and external bodies informally and formally, as necessary. Main Responsibilities/Activities for Head of Department: To develop the activities of the Faculty and the University through: Academic Leadership 1. Taking overall responsibility for delivering the Faculty academic and strategic plan as it relates to their Department. 2. Motivating academic staff to achieve the highest standards in research, teaching and professional conduct. 3. Generating new ideas, and encouraging all other staff to contribute to new thinking and its implementation. 4. nsuring that the Department has a high profile with appropriate Research Councils and other research funders, professional and governmental bodies, alumni and donors and industrial and commercial organisations, to the benefit of the Department, the Faculty and the University more widely. 5. nsuring that all staff are kept informed about University, Faculty and Department affairs and plans, and promoting and encouraging collegiate behaviour. 2
6. Being responsible for the internal organisational structure of the Department and implementing changes in it as appropriate. 7. nsuring that their own research and publication career is maintained during the period of tenure. Operational Management 1. Managing devolved budgets in accordance with University financial regulations according to a plan agreed with the Dean in such a way as to ensure the financial health of their Department and the Faculty. 2. Supporting and implementing the University Health & Safety Policy and local implementations relevant to their Department. 3. Supporting and implementing the University quality & Diversity policy and leadership, and all University HR policies. Management of staff 1. Taking responsibility for the selection, mentoring and career development of academic staff in the Department, and of support staff where they are linemanaged within the Department. 2. Managing the performance of academic staff, and of support staff where they are line-managed within the Department, by the setting of objectives and regular review of performance in all aspects of academic and professional work. 3. Allocating workload (including teaching, research, external activities and academic administration) to academic staff fairly, equitably and transparently through a model agreed with the Dean which is consistent with the University academic workload framework. 4. nsuring the Department has processes in place for two way communication for both Institutional/Faculty matters to staff and for matters from staff to Senior University Management. Teaching and learning 1. nsuring, in conjunction with the Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) and Directors of Studies, that the Department s contribution to the teaching portfolio is developed, maintained and refreshed according to the Faculty s academic development strategy. 2. nsuring that the delivery of teaching by the Department meets University standards of quality, and appropriate external requirements, such as subject benchmarks and professional accreditation. 3. nsuring that assessment processes for which the Department is responsible are conducted effectively and in accordance with University regulations. 4. nsuring that the academic progress and pastoral care of students of the Department is regularly monitored and reported in accordance with agreed University procedures. 5. nsuring that feedback from students is received and acted upon. Research and nterprise 1. nsuring, in conjunction with the Associate Dean (Research & nterprise), that the Department has a progressive research and innovation strategy fully 3
articulated with the Faculty s research and innovation strategy. 2. Monitoring, and where necessary improving, the research performance of all members of the Department. International 1. nsuring, in conjunction with the Associate Dean (International), that the Department s activities are appropriately articulated with the Faculty s international strategy. Planning 1. With the xecutive Dean, Associate Deans and Faculty Manager, developing the strategic and financial plans for the Department, within the context of the Faculty s forward planning process. 4
Person Specification for Head of Department This section describes the knowledge, experience & competence required by the post holder that is necessary for standard acceptable performance in carrying out this role. Doctoral degree or equivalent professional recognition in a relevant area/field. Chartered ngineer status and/or memberships of appropriate professional institutions xperience of working in industry Track record of excellence in teaching and research appropriate for a professorial post and sufficient credibility to lead a Department in teaching and research activities. International reputation in a relevant area. Track record of publications in international/world-leading journals. Track record of sustained research bidding and awards. Financial and commercial awareness or the ability to develop this to the required level. Ability to think strategically and develop, communicate and implement a Department strategy in the medium and long term, aligned with the overall Faculty strategy. Ability to motivate staff and support academic development within the Department. Proven track record of administrative, leadership and management qualities. ssential/ Desirable D D Ability to recognise and deal with people management issues, demonstrating sufficient emotional intelligence - with the experience, presence and political sense to convince colleagues of what is possible and to lead change. xcellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills. Key Responsibilities for Head of Department: This document is not designed to be a list of all tasks undertaken but an outline record of any faculty/post specific responsibilities (5 to 8 maximum). This should be read in conjunction with the responsibilities/activities contained within this profile. 1. Manage the strategic development of the Department. 2. Develop and maintain a thriving and rigorous academic teaching programme which is relevant to employer needs. 3. Develop and maintain a successful research programme, including postgraduate research student education. 4. Maintain financial sustainability of the Department. 5. Develop the Human Resources of the Department by appraisal, recruitment, promotion, reward and other mechanisms available. 5
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Main Responsibilities/Activities for Professor: To develop the research activities of the Faculty and the University by: Leading a significant programme of research, sustaining an extensive track record of published research findings in appropriate, peer reviewed research journals and/or monographs to maintain and enhance expert reputation in own subject area. Planning, co-ordinating and leading a significant programme of research in accordance with a specific project plan through a research team or a group of staff involved in research. Managing the financial and physical resources associated with the research activities. Supervising and guiding the work of staff and research and doctoral students on own specialist area. Leading innovative research proposals and submitting funding bids, winning support for them and planning the research to be taken, as a self-contained item or as part of a broader programme. Obtaining and sustaining research, consultancy and other additional funding. Seeking collaborative research opportunities with other members of Faculty staff and developing multidisciplinary research links with other parts of the University where appropriate. Developing research activities which extend current thinking in the subject area, thereby enhancing the reputation of the Faculty and the University. Maintaining an expert reputation in the post-holder s own subject area and providing appropriate guidance to staff and students. ngaging in external activities in accordance with the Faculty s research strategy at a national and international level. Such activities will include membership of committees of academic and professional bodies, external examining, editing journals and contribution to professional networks, national and international meetings, societies and bodies (including governmental ones). ngaging in external activities in accordance with the Faculty s research strategy at a national and international level. Such activities will include contribution to professional networks, national and international meetings, societies and bodies (including governmental ones). Attending appropriate national and international conferences for the purpose of disseminating research results. Leading major funding bids which develop and sustain research support for the specialist area and advance the reputation of the Faculty and the University. Sustaining and developing professional expertise and maintaining the requirements for registration with the appropriate body (for academics with clinical links only). Contributing to the wider national and international academic community general life and work of the University through, for example, editing journals and refereeing papers. To develop the teaching activities of the Faculty by: Providing academic leadership at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level, as appropriate, by leading the development of new teaching methods and 7
designing programme units and taking responsibility for the quality of programme units. Taking an active role in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level; planning, delivering and critically reviewing a range of teaching and assessment activities including lectures. Setting/marking programme work, practical sessions, supervisions, fieldwork and examinations according to own area of subject specialism, and providing appropriate feedback to students. Taking part in activities such as validating and examining in relation to the University s associated institutions. To engage in scholarship by: Continually updating knowledge and understanding in the field or specialism. xtending, transforming and applying knowledge acquired from scholarship to teaching, research and appropriate external activities. To undertake pastoral care of students by: Using listening, interpersonal and pastoral care skills to deal with sensitive issues concerning students and provide support. Appreciating the needs of individual students and their circumstances. Acting as personal tutor and giving first line support. Taking responsibility for the initial resolution of all student issues within and outside standard procedures, and ensuring that an appropriate framework is developed and used for pastoral care issues. To contribute to the efficient management and administration of the Faculty, the University and the wider academic community by: Performing personal administrative duties throughout the Faculty and the University as are recognised by the University as properly within the remit of the role of professor, such as research group head and roles associate with teaching programmes, as allocated by the Head and contributing to the general life and work of the University. Advising, supervising and giving guidance to other staff. Taking overall responsibility for the welfare of staff drawing on specialist advice and support. Person Specification for a Professor: This section describes the knowledge, experience & competence required by the post holder that is necessary for standard acceptable performance in carrying out this role. Doctoral degree or equivalent professional recognition in a relevant area/field. Outstanding qualities and achievements in scholarship and research at a national and international level which have made a significant contribution to the advancement of their subject. Significant academic publication record. vidence of securing a significant amount of sustained research funding. ssential/ Desirable 8
vidence of leadership in research, including postgraduate research supervision. vidence of contributions to conferences, professional meetings and societies at an international level and evidence of achievements in other external activities at an international level. vidence of high quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Proven management and leadership qualities at a senior level. Proven administrative ability at a senior level. 9
Key Responsibilities for a Professor. This document is not designed to be a list of all tasks undertaken but an outline record of any faculty/post specific responsibilities (5 to 8 maximum). This should be read in conjunction with the responsibilities/activities contained within this profile. 1. Lead a significant programme of research by managing associated financial/physical resources, and recruiting/ supervising/guiding/mentoring the work of staff and postgraduate students in own specialist subject area. 2. Sustain an extensive track record of journal publications in appropriate peer-reviewed journals and/or monographs. 3. Maintain a sustained level of significant research funding; take the lead planning and coordinating large multi-disciplinary or multi-faculty bids involving collaborative groups. 4. nhance expert reputation in own subject area by engaging in external activities at national and international levels such as contributions to professional networks, meetings, conferences, societies, professional and/or government bodies, editing/refereeing journals and papers. 5. Provide academic leadership at UG and PG level, as appropriate, by leading the development of new teaching methods, designing programmes and/or modules, and taking responsibility for the quality of said units. 6. Take an active role in teaching at UG and PG level, as appropriate, by planning, delivering, setting/marking coursework/examinations, supervising/training project and professional training students, providing feedback to students, and critically reviewing a range of teaching and assessment activities. 7. Perform administrative duties throughout the Department/Division/Faculty/University as are recognised by the University in roles commensurate with the remit of an academic (ie, research group leader) and which contribute to the general life and work of the University. Special Requirements The post holder is expected to work outside normal working hours as necessary All staff are expected to: Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students in accordance with the University of Surrey qual Opportunities policy. Help maintain a safe working environment by: - Attending training in Health and Safety requirements as necessary, both on appointment and as changes in duties and techniques demand - Following local codes of safe working practices and the University of Surrey Health and Safety Policy Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager. 10