What We Are Looking For?

Below are the essential criteria for the role.

We are looking for an exceptional leader with high professional standing and credibility to lead in a world-class education environment. They are a bold, forward-thinking leader with:

  • Visible and Visionary Leadership: A proven track record of leading and embedding transformations in complex organisations successfully and with empathy. They can inspire, empower and build highly effective and high-performing teams and work in partnership with the board and chair.
  • A Passion for Student Success and Well-being: Evident passion for ensuring student needs and perspectives are at the fore-front of decision-making and institutional priorities.
  • Business and Financial Acumen: Strong experience in spotting and following-up on potential opportunities in driving financial sustainability and income raising, with an entrepreneurial approach to funding diversification.
  • Experience of Meaningful and Impactful Engagement : The ability to inspire confidence and collaboration among diverse stakeholders beyond the immediate education sector, including central and local government, the NHS, business and industry.
  • Sector Knowledge: A clear understanding of the educational landscape, particularly the Scottish tertiary education sector, its challenges, and its opportunities for innovation.
  • Pioneering drive: A talent for identifying and realising new opportunities, particularly in emerging markets and future-focused skills development.
  • Authentic Leadership: A track-record of integrity, resilience, openness and transparency; and strong and demonstrable commitment to equality, inclusivity, social mobility, connectedness, learner success, and organisational excellence.
  • Commitment to continuous learning and development: A demonstrable proactive learning mindset, a commitment to leadership development, continuously refining expertise and leadership practice and encouraging staff to do the same; and bringing best practice to the development of the organisation and its people.
  • Understanding of and commitment to engage with the communities we serve: Demonstrable strong commitment to the region and its diverse geography. Ability to maintaining a regular and visible presence across a multi-site and/or multi-campus organisation, fostering strong connections with colleagues and the wider community.