Head of the School of Social Policy

The University of Birmingham is seeking a new Head of the School of Social Policy, to build on major investment in the School in the past five years, and develop the School’s strategy and vision over the coming decade.  The School comprises three departments:  the Health Services Management Centre, which is one of the UK’s foremost centres for research, evaluation, teaching and professional development for health and social care organisations; the Department of Social Work and Social Care, which delivers the UK’s longest-running social work course, dating back to 1908; and the Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, which is delivering an innovative set of new academic programmes and research initiatives.  Together, they deliver world-leading research and education that makes a practical difference both to public services and to peoples’ lives.

The new Head of School will work with a strong and collegial team to:

• Build on our research strengths in areas such as social harm, health and social care, and integration and cohesion, maximising synergies between research and teaching;
• Develop new academic programmes, including implementation of our new BA in Criminology, and programmes in health and social care leadership;
• Increase our international networks and our expertise in global and comparative social policy;
• Explore new ways to work together across health care, social policy, social work, criminology and sociology.  

The successful candidate will have an exceptional academic record with an internationally recognised research and/or public policy profile in a relevant discipline.  They will possess a collegiate and positive leadership style alongside a track record of successful delivery, and have the personal presence and expertise to provide strategic leadership for an engaged and outward-looking School. They will also work collaboratively, as part of the broader leadership team of the College of Social Sciences. 

For an informal discussion, to request further information, or to make an application, please visit www.minervasearch.com/bham    

Applications, in the form of a CV and a covering letter, should be sent to bham@minervasearch.com by 20 February 2020.   

Interviews will be held in April 2020.