Vice-Chancellor, University of Essex

Whilst we value being ranked in the top 30 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025 and Guardian University Guide 2024), 25th in the UK for research quality (Times Good University Guide 2022), and in the world’s top 20 for international outlook according to the THE World University Rankings, we know that what we do next is even more important than what we have achieved in the past. As a growing University, we plan to expand our student population and the critical mass of our research base so that, by 2028, we will be a community of around 20,000 students and 1,000 researchers ready to be submitted to the next REF. Our next Vice-Chancellor will have the skills and experience to match the scale and breadth of our ambition. Join us at the University of Essex: home to the curious, brave and bold.

Thank you for taking the time to find out about the University of Essex and the opportunities that being appointed as our next Vice-Chancellor might offer you. The University of Essex has a clear purpose and mission with equal commitment to excellence in education and research. We offer a transformational education to our students so that they can make the world a better place and through our groundbreaking research, we seek to benefit the lives of individuals and communities. I hope this inspires you to ask yourself what you might be able to offer to the University and to our diverse community of staff and students.

As the University approaches its seventh decade, we remain as ambitious and impatient for change as ever. Our founding vision was for “a new kind of university” and we have continued to chart a distinctive and innovative course ever since, whilst remaining true to our enduring Essex roots, identity and values. We have always had the confidence to stand out from the crowd, taking a stand on issues that matter and that help the University seize opportunities to be better and to have greater impact. As our Vice-Chancellor, you will shape the next phase in our development, building on a track record of consistent achievement so that we can face the challenges of the future with creativity, courage and conviction.

Over the last decade, the University has grown consistently. We now have around 17,000 students based on our three campuses and partnerships with many overseas universities. The University comprises a global community of students eager to learn and to benefit from the uniquely life-changing experiences that a mainly campus-based education can offer. Our talented staff now include 822 researchers, and our ambition is to grow our community of researchers to 1,000 by 2028. This will further enhance our research excellence, impact and power and the vibrancy of the research environment within and across our academic Departments.

With a turnover of £334m and consistently generating cash surpluses, we have been able to invest in our staff, our campuses and in our student, staff and research facilities so that the University is in a position to continue to thrive. These all represent firm foundations on which our next Vice-Chancellor can build the future successes of the University of Essex.

Our next Vice-Chancellor will provide the academic and executive leadership needed to realise these opportunities: establishing a clear and compelling vision for the future; leading a committed and capable team; and creating and delivering a plan that is ambitious and achievable. We are seeking outstanding applicants with the skills and attributes to lead a complex and demanding academic institution and who can represent our values and commitments to social justice, academic freedom, equality diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and partnership and collaboration.

There is an abundance of information in the pages that follow that will help you learn about the University, our students and staff and our achievements. If what you discover excites you about becoming Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex and joining us in shaping the future of this wonderful community, then please do get in touch with our advisers Alumni Global.

Melanie Leech, Chair of Council

We like making history

And we’ve been challenging convention from the start

‘A new kind of university… where students could live and learn… and research really mattered’ – this was the founding vision of Essex’s first Vice-Chancellor, Sir Albert Sloman. His commitment to research and education remains at the heart of our mission.

Essex Spirit

In 1964, 122 students arrived at our University for the very first academic year, attracted by its bold vision. Over the next six decades over 120,000 students from more than 140 countries have graduated and, inspired by the inquisitive and ambitious Essex Spirit, they have gone on to make a real difference in the world.

We have a proud tradition of encouraging students to challenge convention and think differently, such as our graduate, Nobel Prize winner and economist Professor Sir Chris Pissarides.

Today, the University has some 17,000 students at our three campuses in Colchester, Southend and Loughton, with a further 5,000 students studying at our strategic partners, and an academic staff base in excess of 1,200. In our University Strategy we have set out our ambition to be acknowledged nationally and internationally as a leading research-intensive university. By 2028 we aim to have around 20,000 students across our campuses and 1,000 academic researchers.

Our academics have produced work which has inspired entire generations and helped establish Essex’s reputation for research in the UK. This ranges from the work of Professor Jean Franco, Essex’s first female professor who spearheaded the study of Latin American literature, the pioneering work on poverty and inequality by Professor Peter Townsend, the development of the world’s first publicly available computer language by Professor Tony Brooker, the work of Professor Richard Lipsey which revolutionised the study of economics, and the work of philosopher Professor Onora O’Neill on ethics, international justice and bioethics.

We continue to push the boundaries – from promoting human rights around the world, to improving lives with authoritative social and economic research, to pioneering the use of big data in developing countries.

Quoting the relevant role reference number: A039715

A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and the University of Essex that particularly attract you to the post (Microsoft Word document)

Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)

A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *

Monitoring

One of Alumni Global’s and the the University of Essex’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.

For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:

If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.

Key Milestones:

Final Interviews: 14th and 15th November 2024

Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.

Please take note of the reference number found under section “How to apply”. This is needed for us to process any application.