Deputy Director - Fine Art, Crafts & Photography

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is seeking an experienced and highly skilled manager to fill the role of Deputy Director of the School of Fine Art, Crafts, and Photography. This is a unique opportunity for someone with creativity, skill, enthusiasm, and experience to join the UK's top creative specialist institution as we build on our research successes and enhance our professional networks both in the region and globally.

As the Deputy Director, you will be an inspirational manager who can motivate and direct a team of practicing artists and academics, inspiring and engaging them and their students to achieve excellence. In this role you will be responsible for supporting the Director of the School, creating opportunities for the community to thrive and grow, and contributing to UCA's mission to be recognized as a global authority in creative arts, creative technology, and business for the creative industries. You will be responsible for supporting the Director with resource allocation, managing and mentoring the Programme Directors within the School, and acting as Chair of Committees as required. You will assist in driving the school's management agenda, implementing industry-recognized standards, meeting key performance indicators, and delivering on student recruitment objectives. This role will play a critical role in ensuring excellence in graduate outcomes and facilitating an outstanding student experience for all students, including those within collaborative partnerships.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A profile that includes research, professional experience, and keen knowledge of current issues in higher education
• Excellent administrative skills and experience with virtual learning environments, digital systems and processes
• A passion for the development and enhancement of fine art education, and enthusiasm for tradition, innovation, interdisciplinary, and collaborative practices
• A critical understanding of the social, cultural, economic and environmental factors for artists, art and art education, including decolonizing practices, mental health and wellbeing, diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQIA+
• High awareness of the professional environment for emerging creatives, connections in the art world across a range of sectors, and the ability to strategize and develop opportunities for our graduates

The role will be based primarily at the Farnham campus, but will also involve overseeing operations at the Canterbury campus. The role may include some international travel as required.

If you require any additional information or would like an informal discussion about the post, please email Professor Hedley Roberts, Head of School of Fine Art, Crafts, and Photography at hedley.roberts@uca.ac.uk.

Please note that the CV shouldn't exceed three pages.

At UCA, creativity and innovation are at the heart of what we do. Our legacy of educating eager and passionate artists, makers and thinkers runs back almost 160 years, and today we’re helping shape a global future that supports and nourishes talent worldwide.

Our campuses across Surrey and Kent are vibrant communities, each specialising in different areas of the creative industries. We are also home to a thriving research hub, with academic experts and fellows leading the way in research on sustainability, design, textiles, animation, history and culture, and more.

Are you ready to share your passion for creativity with the next generation of innovators? If so, we want to hear from you.