Vice-Chancellor

The Role

The Vice-Chancellor is the academic and administrative head of the University responsible for strategic leadership, governance, academic excellence and financial sustainability, whilst maintaining and promoting the University’s distinct mission and core values.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and deliver the University’s vision, positioning the Institution for the future whilst safeguarding the inclusive and supportive culture.
• Ensure the ongoing academic development of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] as an institution of excellence in teaching, learning, research and knowledge exchange.
• Provide visible, inspirational and effective strategic leadership across the University, fostering an inclusive culture of high performance, empowerment, accountability and openness.
• Lead, by word and example, in managing the University in accordance with its Catholic mission and ethos.
• Define the strategic direction, priorities and targets in collaboration with the Board of Governors and senior leadership.
• Forge and develop relationships with local, regional, national and international partners.
• Ensure the University operates in a financially sustainable manner and maximises income generation.
• Act as Accountable Officer for the University, maintaining high standards of corporate governance.
• Influence and advocate for the University and its stakeholders through engagement with the sector, church, civic bodies, and government.
• Provide visible leadership in cultivating philanthropic and commercial income streams.
• Act as an ambassador for the University, representing it regionally, nationally and internationally.

Person Specification

• A practising Catholic, involved in the life of the church, who embraces and lives in conformity with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• A belief in and commitment to the mission and values of the University.
• A visible and engaging leader with outstanding people leadership skills and proven track record of developing high performing teams.
• The ability to develop and execute strategy for teaching and research excellence in a changing environment.
• The ability to prioritise between competing strategic opportunities using a risk based approach.
• A national and international reputation for leadership in their own field.
• An understanding of creating a world-class learning experience for students.
• An understanding of the conditions necessary to support research and scholarship.
• Experience of leading transformational change, including culture change.
• Experience of diversifying income streams, fundraising and securing income from commercial and charitable sources.
• Experience of financial management, including developing corporate plans with budgets.
• A reputation for personal integrity, fairness and sound judgement.

Terms

Salary dependent on experience and negotiated with the preferred candidate. Holiday entitlement is 35 days annual leave, plus public holidays and University closure days between Christmas and New Year. Eligible for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Relocation assistance may be available. Additional benefits include Cycle2Work scheme, season ticket loan, and on-site gym at discounted rates. More information: www.stmarys.ac.uk/jobs/benefits.htm.

How to Apply

The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 8th May, 2026. Applications should consist of a full CV and a covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining how you meet the essential experience criteria, including the occupational requirement. Please include details of two referees. Apply via the link: https://andersonquigley.com/job/aq3533/. For confidential discussion, contact Elliott Rae at [contact hidden] or Aino Betts at [contact hidden].