Dean JOB DESCRIPTION

ABOUT CSVPA

Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts (CSVPA) is one of the UK’s leading providers of Art & Design, Drama and Music pathway and degree programmes. Since 1985, CSVPA has been a specialist arts foundation school, and over time has grown its portfolio to include undergraduate degrees and a Master’s preparation programme. Our unique and personalised approach to creative learning has given students the opportunity to develop their skills, build their confidence and progress onto some of the most prestigious Art & Design schools, music conservatoires and world-renowned drama schools.

OVERVIEW OF THE JOB

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic Dean to provide strategic, academic and operational leadership to the School. The Dean is responsible for driving enhancements that build our national and international reputation in education, research, enterprise and innovation. Developing the School’s ability to work in creative partnerships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally. Working with other members of the senior leadership team to deliver the University’s corporate strategy and to achieve the School’s KPIs is central to this role.

The Dean will work with university colleagues and their Senior Management Team to create and deliver a vision that engages staff, students and partners and meets the School’s ambitions. The successful candidate will report to the Rector, and work closely with colleagues across the group to ensure successful delivery of all KPIs.

The Dean and the School’s management team will articulate a clear academic vision for the programmes focused on the School’s core values and create an excellent student experience across all disciplines in these programmes. Ensuring a strong focus on student attainment for all students in recognising our diverse student population.

As academic lead, the Dean is responsible for the quality and standards of the HE or FE teaching, research and knowledge exchange, and will be expected to contribute to strategic policy-making and decision-making in the wider School. By forging strong partnerships with industry both within the UK and internationally to identify, optimise and realise opportunities for growth. The successful candidate will champion the transformational impact that education and knowledge can have on individuals, communities and society, and ensure that the School’s mission ‘lies at the heart of School activities.

REPORTS TO

You will be directly responsible to the Rector.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB

 To translate the mission and long-term strategy of the University into student-centred activities, research-led initiatives, and business development opportunities that achieve sustainable success for the School.

 To ensure that strategies for the diversification of income through channels such as student recruitment, research activities and commercial activities deliver financial targets.

 Build and maintain an innovative high quality academic portfolio that, aligns with the School’s strategic plan, is responsive to the needs of students and is where appropriate industry relevant that embrace the use of new technologies, ensuring the portfolio is responsive to external drivers and is financially viable.

 To undertake regular and effective horizon scanning of the sector to identify opportunities and challenges in developing the School’s portfolio of consultancy services.  To allocate resources within the School to foster an environment and culture that delivers excellence in all activities, motivating and developing staff, with a significant emphasis on succession and workforce planning.  To develop and maintain key strategic regional, national and international partnerships and to represent the School, as and when required, with a wide range of external stakeholders and organisations.  To be responsible for working with the Finance Business Partner to ensure effective and efficient management of the School’s finances and to deploy resources effectively in the pursuit of School’s strategic aims.  To oversee the strategic management of the school’s teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities.  To oversee academic staff recruitment and academic staff professional development activities, undertaking Professional Development and review processes for the academic programmes management team.  To lead the academic programmes management team to support the leadership of academic disciplines and cross disciplinary working within the School.  To drive the improvement of service delivery and support through the innovative use of learning and information technologies, whilst maintaining quality and academic standards.  To foster strong working relationships with the other Deans and School senior leaders to develop and enhance cross collaborations in teaching and partnership opportunities.  Articulate the School vision consistently at individual, team and School level to ensure clarity throughout the programmes while ensuring that the School’s values are upheld.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The role holder will be educated to Doctorate degree in a relevant field or have extensive relevant educational experience. The role holder will have the ability to inspire and motivate others and will be an excellent communicator with the ability to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds. With an outcome- driven approach, and a steadfast ability to make brave and difficult decisions, the role holder will be impact-focused, and will demonstrate drive, commitment, stamina and integrity in line with the values of the School. Finally, the role holder will use leadership in coaching, empowering and managing the performance of people in order to realise potential, and will be capable of forging positive relationships with senior members of academia, government and industry.

Experience, Knowledge and Competencies: • Strategic leadership experience. • Experience of providing academic leadership and the ability to command the respect of a diverse academic community. • Experience of managing within academic governance and quality assurance frameworks. • A proven track record of successfully and effectively managing, physical, information and financial resources.

• Credible within their academic discipline. • Excellent leadership, motivational and people management skills with a track record of building high performing teams. • Experience of developing and managing relationships with a wide range of external partners including professional bodies, government, funders, business, other education providers, third sector organisations and local authorities. • Evidence of strong intellectual capability; able to operate within a complex, structured yet challenging environment and motivate highly skilled and qualified individuals. • Outstanding vision, with the ability to translate this into tangible strategy; able to take tough decisions and can demonstrate the resilience necessary to overcome setbacks. • Proven people development capability; strong orientation towards the pursuit of continuous professional self-development. • Highly motivated and driven personality; an entrepreneurial self-starter who can proactively identify new opportunities; able to develop creative solutions. • Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiating and influencing skills; high level of professional credibility and gravitas with ability to build rapport and develop strong relationships at all levels, both internally and externally. • Energetic with genuine enthusiasm for the role; ambitious and driven in his/her approach.

About CEG Cambridge Education Group (CEG). CEG is a leading provider of pre-university academic courses and English language courses in the UK. We provide programmes including A Level, IB and University Foundation, as well as English Language Study, to a growing number of international students seeking to win places at UK universities.

We operate a number of different educational brands: CATS Colleges in Cambridge, Canterbury and London; CATS Academy in Boston; CSVPA; ONCAMPUS programmes at universities in the UK, USA and Europe; Stafford House International English language schools in the UK, USA and Canada; Stafford House Summer study holidays and CEG Digital, benefiting from being part of a global team focused on online teaching and learning.

And finally CEG is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect everyone connected with the College/s to share this commitment.