Executive Dean

University of Essex, Faculty of Social Sciences

The University of Essex is in the UK top 10 for research quality in four subjects (Grade Point Average, REF2021) and in the UK top 10 for research power in five subjects (Times Higher Education 2022). We have achieved a top 50% position for all perspectives in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework and are ranked 3rd within our cluster and 12th in the sector as a whole. This includes being ranked in the top 20% for our work with the public and third sector, as well as our performance in terms of commercialisation. We are also the number one University in the UK for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, the flagship Innovate UK programme.

In the National Student Survey 2022 we are ranked 39th for overall satisfaction and our Students’ Union is ranked 7th. The University is ranked 32nd in the latest UK Complete University Guide, and 76th in the global Times Higher Education Global Impact Rankings 2022, which places Essex in the top 25 globally for three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals assessed. We are also 24th for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World University rankings thanks to the ratio of international students and staff alongside the proportion of research involving international collaboration.

We are seeking to appoint an Executive Dean (Social Sciences) at a very exciting time in our development. UK universities face unprecedented challenges, but we take encouragement from the University’s growing reputation and standing, making significant step-change investments in our education and research capacity, and we are confident about our future. In AY 202/23 we generated a cash surplus of 5.5%, vital to our ability to continue to invest in the academic mission of the University. 

The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University is Essex is globally renowned for its world class research and education. Our six vibrant departments – Essex Business School, Economics, Government, Languages and Linguistics, Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, and Sociology – have pioneered theoretical, methodological and empirical innovation for decades. The Faculty is also home to the Institute of Social and Economic Research and the UK Data Archive.

More information on our Faculty of Social Sciences can be found at the following link:

Duties of the Role

The Executive Dean (Social Sciences) is a senior academic leadership post within the University. They are a member of the University’s executive leadership team and report directly to the Vice-Chancellor. The Executive Dean (Social Sciences) plays a central role in the delivery of the University’s Strategic Plan. They provide academic leadership for the faculty, with responsibility for performance, staffing and the financial management of the faculty. They line manage a number of key academic roles, notably three Faculty Deans and the Heads of Department. They are directly supported in this by a faculty support team led by a Faculty Manager and by colleagues in professional support services.

You will be appointed to a substantive Chair (Professorship) in one of our academic departments, to which you will revert at the conclusion of your term of office. This role is open to internal applicants from all departments in the University. The normal term of appointment to the role of the Executive Dean (Social Sciences) is three years, with eligibility for re-appointment for a further three years. You may exceptionally be re-appointed for a further period of up to three years making a total of nine years. Upon return to your home department, you will undertake the full remit of academic duties including education, research, and leadership/citizenship. We recognise that in a research-intensive university research credibility is essential and a percentage of the post will be ring-fenced for research and we will provide research support as necessary.

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the job pack.

Qualifications and Skills required

Applicants should hold a PhD in a discipline relevant to the University, or have an equivalent level of experience, and have a distinguished academic record, including an internationally excellent research standing. A proven track record of successful academic leadership at a senior level in a higher education institution that includes a broad range of disciplines together with excellent planning skills, allied to well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills are also essential.

The successful candidate will be appointed to an ASER post (with education and research responsibilities) and will need to be publishing at a minimum of 3* level and also fit within one of our existing Units of Assessment.

At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.

To support this commitment we have our , a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based Faith Centre, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives. For more information see: