Senior Executive Advisor
University of Sussex
£45,585 to £54,395 per annum, pro rata if part time
Full Time, Permanent
Brighton, United Kingdom
Ref: 21339
This newly created role will be based in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office (VCO). You will support the senior leaders in the VCO, in particular the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (and Provost), the four Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Chief Operating Officer, though, you will not be expected to support all the senior leaders at the same time, with the focus of your work shifting in line with changing priorities and capacity. You will support the senior leaders in delivering their key strategic aims and objectives and enabling them to operate more efficiently and strategically.
It is expected that, in the first instance, you will spend most of your time supporting the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (and Provost), who has an extensive portfolio which includes leading the annual planning process and establishing a new Faculty structure at Sussex. One other particular area of work will be to help successfully embed recent changes to the University’s executive governance structures. As the VCO is a busy and small office there is also an expectation of flexibility, for example, by occasionally contributing to the general office function.
The VCO has experienced considerable change over the past 14 months, including the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (and Provost), two new Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and a Chief of Staff. The senior leaders are ambitious for the University of Sussex and are aware that the University needs to address some key challenges. As a result, the VCO will be leading some major strategic transformation work over the coming years. The VCO moves at a fast-pace, and there is an expectation of high-quality work, sometimes produced to tight timescales.
In order to support the senior leaders of the University you will need to build good relationships right across the University, but in particular with members of the University Executive Team and the wider University Leadership Forum.
About You
This role will suit someone who has a keen interest in higher education, and a good understanding of the current policy environment and pressures on universities, as well as a personal commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to academic freedom and freedom of speech.
You will have high standards, enjoy being involved in a range of different kinds of projects, and able to work effectively with people of different seniority and who have ways of working. You will be proactive, self-motivated, and comfortable working independently. You will have the ability to present complex messages to a wide range of audiences and will have highly developed analytical, oral and written communication skills. You will be able to quickly master complex briefs, paying close attention to detail whilst also retaining a focus on the bigger picture. You will enjoy providing high-quality advice, as well as effectively influencing, senior leaders, and often working on problems that, in the first instance, might not be clearly defined.
About our Vice-Chancellor’s Office (VCO)
The VCO consists of the Vice-Chancellor, the University’s other senior leaders (the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (and Provost), four Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and the Chief Operating Officer), the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Head of Governance, the Office Manager and VC’s Executive Assistant, as well as five other Executive Assistants. The Pro-Vice-Chancellors’ portfolios cover Education and Students, Research and Enterprise, Culture, Equality and Inclusion, and Global and Civic Engagement.
The University has three strands of governance: our overall and corporate governance is the role of Council; our academic governance is the role of Senate; and our executive governance is role of the Vice-Chancellor and is provided by the VCO. The executive governance leadership is the University Executive Team.
Why Work Here…
Our University is situated just off of the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are easily accessible by public transport; a 5-minute walk from the train station and bus stops within the campus. We have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to cycle to work with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.
Sussex is a renowned, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are Faculty, Student, or a member of a Professional Services Team, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.
The Benefits That You Will Receive From Day One:
• Generous pension scheme.
• Life insurance of up to 3 times your annual salary for any pension-enrolled employees.
• Purchase additional Annual Leave though our Scheme for a great home and work life balance.
• Discounts of public transport, Cycle to work Scheme, and special rates in hotels in Brighton and the Sussex region.
• Discounts on high-street shops through our Rewards partner, along with a Cash back Health Plan.
• Considerable discount on our on-site Gym Facilities because we care about our employees’ Health and Wellbeing.
Please contact Dean J. Machin d.j.machin@sussex.ac.uk for informal enquiries.
If you are interested in this role, click here to apply now: https://jobs.sussex.ac.uk/job/882150ec-ea89-43b9-85cc-02826b2e236c
Closing date: Friday 24th November 2023
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Please note: The University requires that all work undertaken for the University is performed from the UK.
Application URL:
https://jobs.sussex.ac.uk/job/882150ec-ea89-43b9-85cc-02826b2e236c