Head of Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences

The Role

Head of Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences

School: Health Sciences Schools and Divisions
Responsible to: Dean, School of Health Sciences

Contract Basis: Open Ended/Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week (1FTE)
Location: Edinburgh (Musselburgh Campus)

Salary/Grade: Grade 10, starting at £66,857
Closing Date:  Wednesday 21st August 2024 at 23:59.
Interviews: Interviews to be held on Friday 13th September.

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About the Role

The Head of Division (HoD) role leads and manages the advancement of our portfolio in interdisciplinary healthcare education and collaborative partnerships, by further developing the Speech and Hearing Sciences, strategic foci at QMU. The role of the Head of Division in this structure demonstrates leadership and management skills maintaining responsibility for specific functions as required by the School/University.  

The Head of Division along with the other Heads of Divisions and Directors of the School Research Centres form the Leadership Team for the School of Health and together work to maintain the shared values across the Divisions to enhance interdisciplinary learning, research, innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurial activity in order to meet the objectives of the University strategy and the School of Health operational plan.

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Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership, insight, in-depth knowledge and vision for the Division that will support the University to deliver its strategic goals in regard to academic development, student learning and research.
  
  
• Effective line management of divisional academic and research staff.
  
  
• Enhance the profile of the Division in international fora and relevant local and national networks through academic leadership.
  
  
• Lead and develop a team of staff to effectively manage and co-ordinate all aspects of the implementation of the School operational plan in relation to Speech and Hearing Sciences.
  
  
• Working with professional service staff, and the Dean manage the Divisional budget, ensuring that future developments are included with appropriate planning and costing.
  
  
• Lead innovative curriculum development, management, marketing and research at pre, post-registration and postgraduate levels.
  
  
• With the Research Director of the Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language Research Centre, promote the building of research and development capacity, and capability across all subject areas. The head of Division and Centre Director will collaborate with existing research and researchers in the Division and the School of Health Sciences, to enhance the University’s research capability and credibility. 
  
  
• Actively promote Speech and Hearing Sciences and engage with statutory and voluntary services, service users and other members of the interdisciplinary team to enhance subject development.
  
  
• Undertake administrative, management and other duties as agreed with the Dean of School of Health Sciences and any other duties appropriate to the grade and nature of the post.
  
  
• Participate in the corporate activities of the staff group within and outwith the University.

About You

Person Specification - Essential

• Registered Speech & Language Therapist or Audiologist
• Relevant post registration/post graduate qualification
• Proven track- record of facilitative leadership and management in Higher Education   
• Demonstrable experience of programme leadership, quality assurance or curriculum development as a senior lecturer or above      
• Demonstrable relevant experience in supporting digital and online learning   
• Demonstrable knowledge of Higher education and health service landscape in Scotland    
• Resource/budget management experience in Higher Education or through grant/project management    
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making abilities     
• Excellent team working, facilitation, communication, negotiation and organizational skills.    
• Well-established networks locally, nationally and internationally   

Person Specification - Desirable

• PhD or Professional Doctorate in a relevant health-related subject
• Advance HE Fellowship status 
• Experience of Transnational Education Partnerships
• Substantial experience of supervision to completion at doctoral and master’s levels in relevant fields
• Publication record likely to meet the threshold criteria for REF 

What we Offer

We pride ourselves on providing a working environment where staff can flourish and thrive as part of our QMU community. Alongside an attractive salary, there are a number of benefits that we provide to our people.

We know that work/life balance is important so we are open to considering Flexible Working options.

Where you’ll work:

Your contractual place of work will be our QMU Campus in Musselburgh.  The University is currently adopting hybrid working. We anticipate that a substantial element of the role will require a presence on campus. However, there will be scope for an element of remote working, finding a balance that works for the University and for you.

We invest in your professional development, including through access to AdvanceHE Strategic Leadership programmes and HE sector mentoring through access to TRAMS.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

One of the values at the heart of our strategic plan is our commitment to social justice and equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, we can all be ourselves and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of sex, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, pregnancy/maternity or age.

As set out in our Equality and Diversity statements, all staff and students have rights and responsibilities in relation to the promotion of equality, which is central to our staff development activities.

We are fully committed to both meeting and exceeding our obligations under current equalities legislation. Specialist staff networks, regular communications and events are just some of the ways in which we keep our community connected and engaged with diversity issues. We are proud of our Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Calendar.

We have a genuine commitment to equality of opportunity for our staff and students, and we strive to employ a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

We particularly encourage applications from people from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.  Our staffing profile is 70% female and we strive to reflect this in our senior management roles. We would therefore also particularly encourage applications from female applicants.

"We are proud to hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award which recognises the advancement of gender equality at QMU"

How to Apply

For an informal discussion about the role or for any queries about the post please contact Dr Sara Smith, Dean of the School of Health Sciences.

Should you wish to apply for this vacancy please visit  our Vacancy Page and download the job description and complete an application form.

The closing date for this position is Wednesday 21st August 2024 at 23:59.

Interviews to be held on Friday 13th September.

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This role does meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of migrant workers. 

As a university, we are committed to the Researcher Development Concordat and were, in fact, the first Scottish Higher Education Institute (and part of the first UK cohort of institutes) to publicly declare our commitment to its principles.

Queen Margaret University is committed to equality of opportunity for all by providing a supportive, flexible and inclusive working environment, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Please have a look at our Diversity, Wellbeing and Inclusion Calendar.

We are proud to hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award which recognises the advancement of gender equality at QMU. Find out more about Athena SWAN.  We have a number of family friendly policies and are happy to consider job share applications.