Published 21/04/2020

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) is seeking to second an academic colleague to the role of Deputy Director. 

Context 

SGSAH is the world’s first national graduate school for the Arts and Humanities, and it remains the only such graduate school in the world, a fact of which we are immensely proud. At the heart of our organisation is a commitment to collaboration across and beyond the HEI sector for the benefit of all of our doctoral researchers. We want our current PhD candidates to have an unsurpassed training experience and our unique partnership model to be attractive to potential, future doctoral researchers. Our partnership extends to our relationships with key funders, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). SGSAH manages the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Scotland. To date we have awarded more than 400 studentships across our 10 DTP HEI members, investing over £18M in PhD funding. Success in the AHRC DTP2 competition means we have a similar amount of funding to award from 2019-2023. National co-ordination enabled by SGSAH allows us to be visible and informed advocates for the value of arts and humanities research and of our doctoral researchers’ diverse skills and expertise. 

SGSAH entered its second cycle with the 2019 launch of DTP2, and its budget and activities are increasing: a welcome sign of success. The appointment of a Deputy Director (0.1 FTE) raises the academic leadership of SGSAH to 0.6FTE. The appointment of a Deputy Director is also part of the organisation’s review of risk and offers mitigating action in the event of staffing changes/staffing absences.

The Deputy Director will work closely with the Director across a range of activities, with academics and doctoral researchers across SGSAH’S 16 HEI members, across our AHRC DTP1 and DTP2 remit, and with stakeholders and funders while contributing to strategic planning and policy processes. It is envisaged that the Deputy Director will have a particular responsibility for overseeing the Discipline+ Catalysts, as well as at least one other area of SGSAH’s operations such as (but not limited to): internationalisation; equalities, diversity and inclusion; training and cohort development; interdisciplinarity.

Eligibility 

To be considered for the role of Deputy Director you must: 

• hold an appointment at Senior Lecturer, Reader/Associate Professor or Professorial level in an arts or humanities subject at any of our sixteen member HEIs (Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art, Heriot Watt, Queen Margaret, RCS, RGU, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde,  UHI, UWS) 
• be able to commit on average 0.1FTE to the role 

In addition, to avoid conflict of interest (the Deputy Director will be representing and acting on behalf of SGSAH, not an HEI), the Deputy Director should not be a member of SGSAH’s Executive or Board at the point of taking up the role. 

Role 

The Deputy Director will work closely with the Director to support the successful delivery of SGSAH activities. Duties are likely to include: 

• overseeing the Discipline+ Catalysts 
• deputising for the Director as required  
• planning, attending and hosting SGSAH training events 
• working with academics and doctoral researchers across SGSAH’s 16 HEI members (in addition to supporting the Discipline+ Catalysts this includes KE Hubs, DTP2 Leadership Programme etc.)  
• representing SGSAH to various stakeholders, including funders (SFC and AHRC) 
• attending meetings, including DTP Competition Panel review meetings 
• drafting, contributing to and reviewing policies, papers, funding applications, communications and reports 
• contributing to strategic planning and review processes 
• focused work on a particular area or areas of SGSAH’s operations, potentially drawn from internationalisation; equalities, diversity and inclusion; training and cohort development; interdisciplinarity. 

Experience 

Essential 

• Excellent knowledge of the PGR landscape through the strategic delivery of PGR support and provision 
• Active support of and engagement with SGSAH’s aims and activities, or a similar DTP elsewhere 
• Experience of PhD supervision 
• Track record of world-leading research, as appropriate to the applicant’s appointment level (Senior Lecturer, Reader/Associate Professor or Professor) 

Skills 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Excellent presentation skills 
• Excellent project and time management skills 
• Collaboration skills 
• Highly effective interpersonal skills 
• Ability to work as a team member, be self-motivated and think strategically  

Remuneration 

The Deputy Director’s employing HEI will receive £5000 p.a. towards backfill. Travel costs related to SGSAH activity will be met by SGSAH. 

Terms 

The Deputy Director will report to the Director. The appointment will be for two years in the first instance, with a probationary period of six months. Ideally, the appointed candidate will start immediately. 

Location 

The Deputy Director will initially work remotely, but following lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, it is anticipated that there will be access to a hot desk in SGSAH’s offices at the University of Glasgow. Formal meetings with the Director are likely to be held at least fortnightly (these could be via phone or video link). SGSAH events and meetings are held across Scotland and so travel will be required post COVID-19 restrictions. 

Application process 

If you are interested in the role of Deputy Director of SGSAH please submit to applications@sgsah.ac.uk by 11.45pm BST on Monday 25 May 2020: 

• A covering letter outlining your interest in the role, the experience you will bring to it and demonstrating how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. You should also note in the letter that you have confirmation from your line manager that they support your release on a secondment basis to this role (3 pages max.) 
• A CV, which should include academic leadership experience, PhD engagement, and research publications/outputs (10 pages max.) 
• Contact details for your line manager at your HEI, and one other senior colleague (from your own HEI or elsewhere) who is able to comment on your work in the PGR sphere. Please ensure that these referees are aware you are making this application. 

A committee comprised of the Director, members of SGSAH’s Executive and Board, and the University of Glasgow’s HR will review applications. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview on Tuesday 9 June 2020. 

The Director, Professor Claire Squires, is available to discuss the role with potential applicants (director@sgsah.ac.uk). 

First published: 21 April 2020