Job Purpose

To be responsible to the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) Board for the overall vision of a sustainable SGSAH, with a view to delivering a world-leading and innovative national Graduate School, targeted to the particular needs of doctoral students in the Arts and Humanities across Scotland and providing them with a world-class experience.

To direct SGSAH in the period 2025-29 as the remaining and final AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP2) cohorts complete their PhDs.

To lead the SGSAH Board, team, member institutions and partner organisations in shaping  the new direction of doctoral provision in Scotland from 2026 through AHRC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA) and potentially Doctoral Focal Awards (DFA).

To establish and direct the new regional 'Hub' to oversee the delivery of the DLA.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To provide overall leadership for the SGSAH, including the development of strategies and associated action plans, ensuring that its activities are directed appropriately to the needs of multiple stakeholders and maximising value from member HEIs’ financial contributions, SFC funding and AHRC DTP and DLA funding.

2. Through advocacy and demonstrable excellence of activity, to engage national participation in the SGSAH, working with HEI members and external partners, and providing effective and dynamic leadership in relation to SGSAH provision, processes and policy.

3. To undertake ongoing review of doctoral training provision of Arts and Humanities students in Scotland and with the SGSAH Executive and other committees, plan and implement innovative student-centred skills development training for doctoral researchers, targeted to the different stages and needs of students and including international and non-HEI experience.

4. To raise the quality and standard of doctoral training provision for Arts and Humanities students across Scotland, ensuring activities fit for current purpose and future needs.

5. To undertake horizon-scanning in order to inform the overall direction of the SGSAH and to advise and be advised by SGSAH’s committees on the academic agenda of the SGSAH’s programmes and activities.

6. To review the activities and progress of the SGSAH annually, against agreed KPIs relating to the quality of the student experience and other indicators of success (e.g. post-doctoral career destinations, completion rates, national PRES scores).

7. To manage the successful delivery of the SGSAH AHRC DTP and DLA and, where appropriate, to coordinate with Scotland-based DFAs.

8. To maintain and manage a risk register.

9. To champion the role of the SGSAH in national and international contexts and to contribute to and lead national and international discussions and debates concerning doctoral research in the Arts and Humanities.

10. To influence HEI senior management, governments and its agencies ad funders in relation to PGR provision in the Arts and Humanities within and beyond Scotland and contribute to the debate on and shape of doctoral training provision.

11. To liaise regularly and at a sophisticated level with stakeholders, including the HEI partners, funding bodies, including the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), on matters relating to governance, outcomes and key performance indicators.

12. To identify and secure ongoing and additional funding for SGSAH activities (e.g. AHRC DTP and related schemes). 13. To network and collaborate with other national and international Graduate Schools/DTPs.

14. To undertake other duties as assigned by the SGSAH Board and VP and Head of the College of Arts & Humanities at the University of Glasgow (line manager).

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 Undergraduate degree.

A2 PhD in an Arts and Humanities subject.

A3 Currently holding a Professorial appointment (Grade 10) at one of the 17 SGSAH HEIs.

Skills 

Essential 

C1 Excellent leadership and senior management abilities (for example, in the context of a senior role in a College/Faculty or within a Research Council).

C2 Ability to influence at a senior level.

C3 Ability to lead, persuade and motivate others.

C4 Ability to identify and respond creatively to opportunities.

C5 Excellent oral and written communication skills.

C6 Excellent analytical skills.

C7 Decision making skills through pursuit of consensus agreement where possible and capable of unilateral decision making when necessary / appropriate.

C8 Imaginative problem-solving.

C9 Ability to act as a champion and advocate for the wide-ranging value of Arts and Humanities. C10 Project initiation, leadership management and delivery.

C11 Highly effective interpersonal skills with the ability to build and sustain strong working relationships at every level across several organisations.

C12 Understanding of the political framework governing Higher Education and its funding.

C13 Understanding of current issues facing the sector on equalities, inclusion and diversity.

C13 Experience of significant successful external grant capture.

C14 Experience of managing budgets.

Desirable

D1 Well-developed networks in relevant areas (e.g. subject associations, creative industries).

Experience

Essential

E1 Senior management experience.

E2 Experience of line management and performance management.

E2 Significant experience of PGR supervision, provision, and examination.

E3 Development and implementation of doctoral training, support and policies.

E4 Demonstrable experience of leading change/innovating.

E5 Evidence of strategic thinking and creativity in a role which requires critical appraisal, analytical and well-developed problem-solving skills.

E6 Experience of working effectively to tight timescales and managing complex and competing demands in an often-fast-moving environment.

E7 Experience of supporting staff and annual review processes.

E8 Demonstrable experience of managing a range of external relationships.

E9 Demonstrable understanding of the PGR landscape in the UK.

E10 Significant portfolio of academic research and an international profile as a researcher.

E11 Experience of successful cross-HEI or HEI and non-HEI project collaboration.

E12 Experience of competitive funding review processes (e.g. AHRC Peer Review College).

Desirable 

F1 Experience of leading a Graduate School or similar delivery of significant PGR development.

F2 Experience of working in partnership with PG students to co-create training, skills development, etc.

F3 Engagement with SGSAH activity.

Terms and Conditions

Please note this is a secondment opportunity on a 0.5FTE basis. The Director must be a seconded senior member of staff (Professorial) from one of the 17 institutions currently forming the membership of SGSAH: University of Aberdeen, Abertay University,  University of Dundee, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow School of Art Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret University, Robert Gordon University, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland University of St Andrews, University of Stirling, University of Strathclyde, University of the Highland and Islands, and University of the West of Scotland.

Backfill costs will be reimbursed to the home institution up to a maximum fixed fee of £45,000 per annum. Reasonable travel costs from a home HEI to the SGSAH office will be covered by SGSAH in addition. The nature of the role requires that the 0.5fte is organised flexibly with respect to the pattern of work.

The secondment will be for up to 4 years, with an opportunity to serve a second term of 2 years. The post holder’s home institution and the post-holder will be required to enter in to a secondment agreement with the University of Glasgow. This will also set out the probationary arrangements

SGSAH is hosted by the University of Glasgow and the post holder will be provided with office space at the SGSAH offices, and be expected to attend on a regular basis in person, to lead and participate in SGSAH team meetings, planning and review processes, etc.

The post holder will be required to deliver and attend evening and weekend events which may also require some overnight stays.

Travel to HEI members and partner organisations across Scotland, and to AHRC and other associated meetings across the UK, will be required.

SGSAH planning and delivery is year-round.

Applicants should seek permission from their manager to undertake the secondment before applying.

Informal Enquiries should be directed to Professor Jo Gill, Vice Principal & Head of College Arts & Humanities, Jo.Gill@glasgow.ac.uk or Claire Squires, Director of SGSAH, Claire.squires@glasgow.ac.uk

Closing Date: 23 June 2025 at 23:45.