Head of School of Engineering and Built Environment
£70,774 to £88,467 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £101,738 per annum)
Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.
School of Engineering and Built Environment
Join us in shaping the future of Nuclear Engineering
The UK nuclear sector is entering a period of transformational growth, with national strategies highlighting a substantial and urgent skills gap in nuclear engineering. At the University of Derby, we are committed to being part of the solution.
The University of Derby has a clear ambition to build a distinctive, high‑impact nuclear engineering research agenda that delivers national and international benefit. Significant investment in senior academic research appointments will strengthen research leadership, build critical mass, and shape future capability across nuclear power generation, product and systems engineering. The emphasis is on applied, industry‑aligned research that addresses industry‑focussed challenges, attracts external funding, and delivers tangible impact for the nuclear sector.
This research agenda is closely integrated with advanced research training and innovation. It builds on established success with Rolls‑Royce through the Nuclear Skills Academy, degree apprenticeships, and specialist MSc provision. Research excellence will underpin education, skills development, and workforce innovation, positioning the institution as a trusted leader in nuclear research and innovation. Growing our partnership with BAE Systems, the role will support industry‑embedded PhD programmes, collaboration with in‑house nuclear training teams, and accredited programmes.
Areas of Specialism
- Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Prototyping
- Thermal Hydraulics
Your Impact
- Provide strategic leadership of research across the School and with key industry partners.
- Strengthen and expand external partnerships, securing funding through collaborative research and development initiatives.
- Supervise PhD students funded through University and industry partnerships.
- Contribute to postgraduate teaching, including expert seminars and dissertation supervision on the MSc in Nuclear Product Engineering for Power Generation.
This role is employed by University of Derby but works in partnership with Rolls‑Royce Submarines Ltd, therefore in order to undertake this position an individual must hold Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats to that clearance. Rolls‑Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if the individual does not currently already have this in place.
We are seeking established leaders with a recognised track record of excellence. You will demonstrate:
- A strong portfolio of high‑quality peer‑reviewed publications.
- Sustained success in securing external research funding.
- The ability to inspire academic teams, influence industry partners, and drive impactful innovation.
Help us power the UK’s Net Zero future - this is a rare opportunity to shape the direction of nuclear engineering education and research at a critical moment for the UK energy sector. Join us and be part of a mission with national significance and global reach.
- Develop and lead on research programmes of significant impact and quality in own subject area.
- Secure external funding which develops research capacity in the College and advances its reputation.
- Publish research outcomes in high quality publications or other recognised forms of output (e.g., software, patents, creative works, externally recognised professional practice) consistent with a very strong return in the Research Excellence Frameworks.
- Actively pursue research and collaborative partnerships across the University and with other institutions and relevant bodies.
- Provide intellectual leadership and mentoring to other academic staff in the College and provide development and support to fulfil research objectives.
- Lead a research focused team, supervise postgraduate students and postdoctoral staff as appropriate and actively contribute to and support staff development programmes.
- Lead major funding bids which contribute to the reputation and income generation of the University.
- Contribute to the strategic direction of the College/University’s innovation and research strategy, both within the area of expertise and more generally.
- Provide strategic leadership which contributes to achieving the Department and wider College/University targets.
- Through your research, demonstrate a strong contribution to the quality and continuous improvement of learning and teaching within the relevant discipline, recognised at both national and international levels.
Learning and Teaching
- Design, develop and lead on learning and teaching provision in own subject area commensurate with the role, including the strategic development of new programmes or areas of activity.
- Be responsible for the quality assurance of learning and teaching, for the setting of standards expected within the University and the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and monitor delivery.
- Contribute to learning and teaching strategies within the College/University, and their ongoing development.
- Be responsible for championing new and different pedagogies necessary for excellent learning and teaching and ensure these are disseminated to academic staff.
- Teach at all levels, including level 8 as appropriate and actively contribute to and support staff development programmes.
- Publish pedagogic research outcomes in high quality publications or other recognised forms of output, consistent with a very strong return in Research Excellence Frameworks.
- Lead a learning and teaching focused team, supervise postgraduate students and postdoctoral staff as appropriate and actively contribute to and support staff development programmes.
- Lead on the process of quality, audit and other external assessments for areas of expertise, and contribute to the wider audit processes for the College.
- Contribute to the strategic direction of the College’s learning and teaching strategy, both within the area of expertise and more generally.
- Demonstrate a contribution to learning and teaching within the relevant discipline recognised at a national/international level.
Professional Practice
- Significant sustained record of engagement and collaboration with national and international groups and decision makers in your professional area.
- Significant evidence of leading within practice or industry in a professional field with national and international impact.
- Successfully lead major funding bids which contribute to the reputation and income of the University and area of professional practice.
- Lead a professional practice focused team, supervise postgraduate students and postdoctoral staff as appropriate and actively contribute to and support staff development programmes.
- Through your professional practice, demonstrate leadership in ensuring the quality and continuous improvement of learning and teaching within the relevant discipline, recognised at a national/international level.
- Provide strategic leadership which contributes to achieving the Department and wider College/University targets.
- Contribute to the strategic direction of the College/University innovation and research strategies.
- Lead major funding bids which contribute to the reputation and income generation of the University.
- Develop and lead on research programmes of significant impact and quality in own subject area.
- Good degree and PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline
Experience
- Experience of leading, winning and managing major research grants
- Experience of supervising the successful completion of doctoral students
- Experience of successful supervision of post‑doctoral researchers
Skills, knowledge & abilities
- Relevant depth and breadth of knowledge in own academic discipline to enable the furthering of new knowledge and understanding in their field
- External evidence of research excellence, as demonstrated by a track record of outputs in top international journals and conferences
- Ability to evidence a strong track record of international recognition and esteem, such as international reviewing, journal editorships and keynote lectures
- Ability to lead and motivate academics, acting as a mentor to relevant staff
- An appropriate level of digital capability with practical experience of applications
Business requirements
- Experience of negotiating and managing Intellectual Property Rights
- Experience of developing and managing contracts
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
- Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
- Discounted onsite gym
- Holiday purchase
- Cycle to Work scheme
- A flexible working environment
- A commitment to personal and professional development
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.
We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.
Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.
When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.
The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.
However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University’s strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University’s objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Professor Nasser Sherkat, Head of School of Engineering and Built Environment via n.sherkat@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.
To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.
