Deputy Dean - Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Job description

Deputy Dean - Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

The University of Portsmouth is a global employer of choice where exceptional people create, share and apply knowledge that makes a difference.

Ambition, Responsibility and Openness drive our every endeavour. Join our esteemed institution with a proven track record of success – one of only four universities in the south-east of England to achieve a prestigious Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and ranked third of all modern universities in the UK for research power, with 77 per cent of research ranked world-leading and internationally excellent. We proudly rank among the top 140 universities globally in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

The Role:

We are seeking an exceptional academic leader to join the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in our new Deputy Dean role. Supporting the Executive Dean, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across education, research, and innovation, ensuring excellence, efficiency, and a thriving, inclusive academic community.

As principal deputy, you will lead faculty operations, drive academic strategy, and ensure strong performance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. You will play a key role in shaping a future focused portfolio aligned to student, employer, and societal needs, while leading major transformational initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the faculty’s academic vision, portfolio, and new programme development.
• Lead cross faculty transformation and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee operations, including planning, performance, and KPI delivery.
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory requirements (e.g. OfS, QAA, UKVI).
• Support financial planning, budgeting, and resource management.
• Lead and develop Heads of School and senior colleagues, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.
• Contribute to institutional leadership and deputise for the Executive Dean as required.

You will bring significant academic leadership experience, with a proven ability to deliver strategy, lead change, manage complexity, build and inspire high-performing teams.

Location:

Whilst there is a need to be in Portsmouth a few days a week, hybrid working is available for this role.

Interview date:

First stage interview (phone call): 15 May 2026

Interview & assessment (In person): 8 June 2026

Contact:

If you have any queries regarding this position, please contact Ruth Paterson at ruth.paterson@port.ac.uk

Employer, External Only:

University of Portsmouth Academic Services Ltd (UASL)

Discover the advantages of joining our university. We offer a range of attractive benefits and opportunities to enhance your work experience:

• Competitive salary, including incremental progression within your scale.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Generous leave entitlement of 32–35 days a year, plus bank holidays, and an additional Christmas closure.
• Family-friendly policies supporting flexible working.
• Staff discounts and loyalty schemes.
• Staff car parking and discounted public travel.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• Staff wellbeing programmes.
• Recreation facilities, including discounted gym membership, food on campus schemes, use of the Library and staff social activities.
• Discounted learning.
• Start-up business mentoring from expert entrepreneurs via our Entrepreneurs in Residence programme.
• The perks don’t stop there - click ‘apply’ for further information on My Reward and Benefits