Head of Department of Aerospace & Aircraft Engineering

This is an important and exciting appointment for us. The Department has strong foundations, an established academic team and excellent specialist facilities at our dedicated engineering campus at Roehampton Vale. We are now looking for a leader who can build on this platform and shape the next phase of our development.

Kingston University’s Town House Strategy sets a clear direction for growth, impact and innovation. As part of the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment, the Department of Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering has a central role to play in achieving our student recruitment ambitions while continuing to enhance quality, student experience and research and enterprise activity. We are committed to ensuring that our graduates are sought after for their knowledge, skills and ability to innovate.

The Head of Department will provide strategic and operational leadership, championing excellence in learning and teaching, supporting research and knowledge exchange and fostering a collegiate and inclusive culture. You will work closely with the Head of School of Engineering and with colleagues across the School and Faculty to strengthen our portfolio, maintain and develop PSRB relationships and deepen our engagement with industry partners. Interdisciplinary collaboration is an important feature of our School and we expect the successful candidate to embrace and extend this approach.

The Person

We are seeking a leader with credibility in the discipline, experience of managing and developing colleagues and a clear understanding of the evolving landscape of aerospace education and research. An appreciation of the expectations of students, employers and professional bodies will be essential, as will the ability to balance strategic vision with effective day to day management.

Candidates should have strong management experience and an academic profile that is relevant to the discipline of Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering. This means understanding the trends and expectations of students and employers alike. You will have an appetite for innovation and the ability to stimulate and challenge staff in productive ways. You will have the ability to contribute to the Faculty’s business and innovation agenda both through your own activities and those instigated by you across the Department. You will have a real-world appreciation of the issues at play in Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering to ensure there is a relevant and meaningful portfolio that can be delivered to a high academic standard. The post sits within the School of Engineering thus offering opportunities for inter-disciplinary work, and it is expected that the appointee will embrace this.

For full details of the role and person specification, please click on the 'apply for this job' button below.

The Faculty

There are few faculties across the UK university landscape as varied in their scope as the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment (ECE). We teach and research across a wide range of subjects, allowing for real cross-discipline innovation and creativity.  Our lecturers are experts – working at the forefront of their fields and actively engaged in research so they can bring advanced knowledge to their teaching. 

The School of Engineering

The School of Engineering brings together Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Robotics, and Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering within a collaborative and ambitious community. We are proud of our applied focus and our close engagement with industry. Our students benefit from specialist laboratories, advanced flight simulators including our Airbus A320 simulator, wind tunnels, fabrication and composite facilities, robotics and electronics labs and a strong technical support team. These resources create a genuinely hands on and professionally relevant learning environment.

Further information

This is a full time, permanent position with a starting salary from £60,996 - £70,239 per annum.

The Head of Department aspect of the role is a 4-year term, reverting to Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer substantive as appropriate.

This campaign is being managed on behalf of Kingston University by our recruitment partner Anderson Quigley. If you have any queries or would like further information on the role, please contact Ed Pritchard on ed.pritchard@andersonquigley.com.

Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart. Every one of our staff and students’ identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences makes us who we are - so harness and embrace yours by applying today. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities.

We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required, this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. 

To apply click on ‘Apply Now’. If, for accessibility reasons, you need to apply in an alternative format, please email jobs@kingston.ac.uk or call the HR Shared Services team on 020 8417 3118.