In accordance with Section 8.1 of the Statutes of the University, the Senior Academic Appointments Committee is responsible for considering and recommending to Council persons for appointment as Dean/Head of School. The Committee is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.

Procedure

The Vice-Chancellor will invite the views of all staff in the Faculty/School on the vacancy for Dean/Head of School. This is the opportunity for the staff to comment on the proposed remit of the post and identify any internal candidate(s). The consultation will be by e-mail and/or meeting(s) as necessary.

A job description, person specification, notice of vacancy and candidate brief will be prepared by the Vice-Chancellor and the Director of Human Resources.

The Vice-Chancellor, in consultation with the Director of Human Resources, will determine whether the vacancy is to be subject to external or internal recruitment.

External Recruitment

The Vice-Chancellor will establish a Search Committee with the following remit:

• To oversee the initial recruitment process from advertisement to selection of long list;
  
• To consider and approve the job description, person specification, advertisement and candidate brief;
  
• To determine which executive search agency (if any) will be employed to assist the University with the identification of candidates for the vacancy;
  
• To select the long list of candidates;
  
• To establish the Interview Panel.
  

The Search Committee will normally consist of:

• Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Deputy Chair)
• One member of the Faculty/ One member of the School
• One Dean of Faculty/Head of School
• One member of the Senior Academic Appointments Committee (normally a lay member of Council)
• Director of Human Resources
  

The Search Committee will select the long list of interview candidates and then stand down.

An Interview Panel will be established by the Search Committee with the following remit:

• To shortlist candidates for interview;
  
• To conduct the interview process and make a recommendation for appointment to the Senior Academic Appointments Committee.
  

The Interview Panel will normally consist of:

• Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor
• Two Deans/Heads of School
• One Head of a Professional Services Department
• Director of Human Resources
  

The Interview Panel will shortlist the candidates for interview.

There will normally be two stages of selection. The first stage will include initial interviews with key stakeholders. Selected candidates will proceed to the second stage which will include an interview by the Panel.

The successful candidate will be offered the post subject to confirmation by Council as set out below.

The recommendation of the Panel will be reported to the Search Committee by correspondence and considered by the Senior Academic Appointments Committee. The formal recommendation for appointment will be made to Council.

Internal Recruitment

The Vice-Chancellor will:

• be responsible for the recruitment process;
• approve the job description, person specification, notification of vacancy and candidate brief;
• select the short list of candidates.
  

Following notification of the vacancy on the University's Website and receipt of expressions of interest in the vacancy, the Vice-Chancellor will meet with prospective candidates for the vacancy. The Vice-Chancellor will consult further within the Faculty/School before making his/her recommendation.

The Vice-Chancellor will recommend the candidate(s) for consideration by the Senior Academic Appointments Committee. The Committee will then recommend the selected candidate for appointment by Council.

Confirmation of Appointment

The offer of the post will be confirmed to the candidate by the Director of Human Resources following the appointment by Council.

Notes

Internal candidates are eligible to apply for vacancies subject to external recruitment. The advertisement for any such vacancy will be placed on the University's Website.

The Vice-Chancellor will determine whether to recommend to the Senior Academic Appointments Committee that the existing postholder continue for a further term by reviewing their performance and following appropriate consultation within the University. If the existing postholder is recommended by the Committee to continue for a further term, this will be subject to appointment by Council and then announced on the University's Website.

The above internal recruitment procedure will apply to the appointment of a Deputy Dean/Deputy Head of School.