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Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Transfer Job Description

The University regards the Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Transfer as key to
the delivery of the mission and objectives of the University and central to the vision,
development and delivery of the Universitys Research and Knowledge Transfer Strategy.
Candidates for the Associate Dean will be fully research active Professors and will continue
being research active whilst holding the role.

As a member of the College Executive team the Associate Dean will provide clear and
effective leadership to the College, promoting a sense of collegiality and ambition,
encouraging productivity and ensuring the College delivers its agreed Business plan. (S)he
will deputise for the Dean when appropriate.

Specifically, the Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Transfer is accountable to the
College Dean for meeting University research-related targets at College and Unit of
Assessment level. (S)he will provide strong and inspirational leadership for the College to
enable it to achieve its research and knowledge transfer goals and to support the
Universitys strategy to become an internationally recognised research university. S(he) has
delegated managerial responsibility to deliver the Universitys and the Colleges research
and knowledge transfer strategy. (S)he will champion the creation, delivery and review of
the Colleges RKT strategies and policies; lead the design and maintenance of a high quality
research portfolio; take responsibility for the development of a vibrant and effective research
environment; and build strong capacity for Impact and knowledge exchange within the
College. (S)he will lead on research and knowledge transfer for the College, champion
research and knowledge transfer across the University and contribute to the development
and improvement of other University strategies to achieve the Universitys mission. (S)He
will work closely with the DVC Research and Knowledge Transfer and the Director of
Research and Knowledge Transfer to achieve these roles.

The Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Transfer will be a member of the
Universitys Senior Management Group and be expected to make an important contribution
the development and delivery of all key University strategies.

Main Responsibilities:

Setting the vision and leading teams

The Associate Dean will set out the academic vision for a vibrant Research and Knowledge
Transfer environment and an internationally recognised portfolio of research in the College
and will have the proven leadership skills to make it happen. In particular (s)he will:

Attract or develop high calibre research groups or themes that are able to deliver on
the University and College RKT strategies;

Encourage innovation, interdisciplinarity and collaboration in RKT across the College


and the University, and with other universities and partners both nationally and
internationally;
Champion excellence in research and knowledge transfer by establishing and
managing staff development programmes; creating innovative incentives and building
professional support teams using College and Professional services Staff;

Lead and motivate the team of research leaders, College and Professional Services
staff who contribute to the Colleges success in research and knowledge transfer and
who will be responsible for delivering organisational and cultural change within the
College

Developing and managing key strategies

The Associate Dean will manage the development and delivery of strategies to enhance the
quality of the Colleges research and knowledge transfer portfolio, environment, income,
impact and graduate student experience. In particular (s)he will:

Develop strategies, in consultation with the College Manager, for allocation of


resources, management and support structures to deliver the Colleges strategies
and policies for RKT;

Work with the College Dean, the College Manager, the Director of RKT and the
Universitys Professional Services to ensure that the Colleges RKT strategy is
effectively and efficiently implemented; that systems are fit for purpose especially for
winning funds from major competitive sources such as research councils, major
charities and industry both in the UK and across all international sources; and that
there is a clear and effective system operating between the College and the
Professional Services teams.

Direct the operation and enhancement of the Colleges project management


processes for pre and post award activities, ensuring compliance with internal and
external funders requirements and providing support for all internal and external
project audits;

Work with the DVC RKT and the Director RKT to promote and enhance the effective
delivery of the Universitys RKT Strategy;

Work with DVC (Internationalisation) and the Director of International Exeter to


promote and enhance the effective delivery of RKT elements of the University's
Internationalisation Strategy

Work with the Dean and the Director of DARO to secure philanthropic support for
research in the College;

Ensure that a strong and effective research environment is in place with excellent
processes to support staff including training and mentoring pre and post award
support, peer review, sharing best practice, mentoring, capturing the results of
research in University systems and repositories and publishing work in high impact
journals; and ensuring that academic staff are able to access services for the
commercial exploitation of research if appropriate;
Working with the Dean of the Faculty for Graduate Research to build a supportive
environment for research students ensuring that completions are managed effectively
and to time;

Promote innovation and interdisciplinarity in research and knowledge transfer in


collaboration with the Director of RKT and with the other Associate Deans for RKT
within other Colleges;

Ensure that ethical standards are met in all research programmes and projects by
managing the Colleges approach to handling ethical issues and its liaison with the
University Ethics Committee.

Promoting World Class achievement

The Associate Dean will be accountable for promoting a high achievement culture and
setting and meeting targets against all relevant research and knowledge transfer metrics
and performance indicators at College and at Unit of Assessment level including quality of
research; research income, PGR student numbers and completions and Impact measures;.
In particular s(he) will:

Take responsibility for delivery of the College (and its constituent UoAs) research
income targets set by the DVC for RKT at the annual Research Monitoring meeting
and the agreed College strategic RKT targets;

Agree minimum performance targets, at College and unit of assessment levels, for
research groups and individuals;

Undertake or effectively delegate the monitoring of research targets at College, UoA


and individual level;

Work with academic managers to develop plans to support or manage the


performance of individuals identified through the research monitoring process.

Manage the annual Research Monitoring process within the College in collaboration
with the DVC RKT;

Manage the REF process within the College including the new drive towards
assessing impact;

Collaborating & communicating

The Associate Dean will ensure effective communication and collaboration within the
College; across the University and with user groups and stakeholders. In particular, (s)he
will:
Represent the College on RKT matters at University, national and international
levels;

Develop professional working relationships with external organisations and alumni;

Work with the Dean and the Development and Alumni Relations to establish a
College Advisory Board

Work with the Development and Alumni Relations team to secure philanthropic
support for the Research theme of the University of Exeter Campaign;

Grow the capacity of the College to build and maintain relationships with users of
research and key stakeholders across the world including managing any College
international mobility programmes;

Communicate University and College strategies and policies for RKT to academic
and professional staff within the College;

Strengthen the reputation of the College by implementing communication strategies;


producing regular case studies of success; and ensuring that channels of
communication are available between academic units and key stakeholders;

Work in close and effective collaboration with colleagues in Professional Services to


improve and develop fit for purpose processes, systems and infrastructure that
delivers University and College strategies and policies

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