University of Sussex
Dean of the School of Lifelong Education and Future Skills (LEaFS) Ref: 43853 (Part Time, Internal Only)
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
This role is only open to Academics already employed by the University of Sussex. Please use your Sussex email when applying.
About The Role
The role of the Dean of the School of Lifelong Education and Future Skills (LEaFS) is to provide academic leadership and management of the School, in support of the University’s vision, mission and strategic aims, in particular in relation to identifying and exploiting opportunities for net revenue growth through innovation in our portfolio, and in relation to widening access to Higher Education.
The Dean is expected to take responsibility for the strategic development of all activities within the School (i.e. cross-University academic programmes), including where those activities are delivered in partnership with another institution or partner. This includes fostering productive connections between the activities in the School and driving innovation in the School in terms of new educational activities, ways of delivering activities and partnerships to meet the aims of the School.
The main activity areas of the School will include Foundation Year, Summer School, Apprenticeship, Sussex Online (ODL), English language pre-sessional and academic study, modern languages, CPD and other areas of cross university academic delivery.
The Dean will work closely with all Faculties, Divisions and the University Executive, to deliver the School’s aims in line with the University’s strategy, Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures – flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world, and the Recovery and Rebuilding Strategic Plan.
The Dean is expected to lead the University’s engagement with the regional and national skills and lifelong learning agenda, ensuring that the activities delivered by the School align with demands and priorities from these and working with Faculties to inform the University’s wider educational offer.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The Dean is expected to foster an environment in which staff across the University are encouraged to identify, collaborate on, and deliver strategic opportunities, especially for net revenue growth, through the School.
About You
You will be able to:
- Contribute to the strategic planning of the University.
- Develop and ensure the delivery of strategic and operational plans for the School, setting its aim in line with University strategy, key performance indicators and operational targets (e.g. net revenue growth, widening access, learner recruitment, learner experience). Proactively identify new opportunities for the School that will support meeting its aims and plan
- Oversee the development of systems, structures and processes for the activities within the School that enable agility, efficiency and responsiveness, with a rigorous focus on prioritising activities that deliver the University’s aims.
- Foster cross-functional collaboration and ensure effective working relationships with all Faculties and central Professional Service Divisions. Avoid duplication of function and maximise efficient working across teams, liaising with other Faculty teams and senior management colleagues as necessary.
- Ensure the identification and management of key strategic and operational risks.
- Plan and ensure the highest quality delivery of teaching, learning, assessment and feedback within the School, in line with academic standards, quality assurance and other enhancement measures (e.g. e-learning), in accordance with the University strategy.
- Ensure the delivery of a high-quality learner experience for activities within the School, seeking and achieving enhancement on a continuous basis in line with University strategies.
- Line management of the School Leadership Team and matrix leadership of all staffing within the School.
- Ensure the appropriate planning for and deployment of staff across the School, and in support of the Faculties in their planning for activities delivered within the School, in accordance with strategic and operational plans.
- Ensure the effective, consistent, and fair management and development of individual staff and teams within the School in order to achieve high levels of School and University performance, implementing relevant University policies and procedures for induction, probation, performance and development review, career development, reward and capability management.
- Plan, manage and control the Schools’s finances, within allocated budgetary resource, ensuring the effective and efficient allocation of resource and that funds are assigned and used for the purpose for which they are intended.
- Foster positive working relationships for the School across the University.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Ensure the School’s compliance with, and promotion of, good practice in relation to University policy, procedure and guidance on equality, diversity & inclusion, health & safety, academic freedom & freedom of speech, and data protection in respect of students, staff and other relevant parties and any other legislative or regulatory obligation.
About Our Faculty
The School of Lifelong Learning and Future Skills (LEaFS) is a new School, which will be phased in during the coming academic year. LEaFS will play a pivotal role in leading the University’s approach to addressing regional skills priorities and response to opportunities through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (e.g. short course and modularised CPD).
Further Key Information
Please contact Kate O'Riordan (K.ORiordan@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills