Subject Lead for Built Environment

About the College/Department

Here at the University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home of STEM: the skills that are essential to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too.

The College brings together a powerful combination of scientific expertise, technological innovation, and creative practice. With disciplines spanning computing, AI, data science, engineering, environmental sciences, built environments and psychology - we are uniquely positioned to solve real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Our courses are designed with employability and future industry needs in mind, supported by cutting-edge facilities, strong employer partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability. Through applied research and hands-on learning, we equip students and staff to drive progress in areas that matter most; from smart technology to clean energy, advanced manufacturing to immersive design.

School of Engineering and Built Environment

The School of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Derby is a dynamic and future-focused academic community that blends technical excellence with creative innovation. It offers a wide range of programmes across engineering, architecture, construction, and design, preparing students to tackle global challenges in sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment.

The School is home to research-active academics with backgrounds in engineering, architecture, interior design, and construction. Our staff bring real-world experience and academic rigour to the classroom, supporting students in developing both creative portfolios and technical competencies.

The discipline area is located in the University’s STEM annex in Markeaton Street, where staff offices and lab facilities are co-located. Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing. The discipline area is actively engaged in knowledge exchange projects and has an active applied research agenda.

About the Role

The University is seeking an outstanding and visionary academic leader to serve as Subject Lead for Built Environment within our dynamic new School Senior Management Team. This is a pivotal and highly influential leadership position - one that shapes the academic direction, culture, and performance of the Subject while contributing to the strategic leadership of the wider College and University.

As Subject Lead, you will play a critical role in delivering our corporate ambitions through strong academic stewardship, people-centred leadership, and a clear focus on excellence across teaching, research, and industry engagement. You will work collaboratively and strategically with the Head of School, fellow Subject Leads, and central University functions to inspire staff, support students, and cultivate impactful external partnerships - all underpinned by the University’s values and behaviours.

Derby’s proud heritage in construction, infrastructure, and rail provides an exceptional foundation for innovation in the Built Environment. The city’s forward-looking investment in zero-carbon research and partnerships with globally recognised industry leaders reflect the University’s position at the forefront of regional and national transformation.

In this role, you will exercise delegated leadership responsibility from the Head of School, including line management of academic staff and leadership of the Subject’s performance and culture. You will provide clear, supportive, and constructive leadership that enables individuals and teams to thrive. Through active engagement in teaching, research, and scholarly activity, you will model excellence and maintain the highest standards of academic practice, ensuring outstanding student experience and graduate outcomes.

Beyond the core academic remit, you will drive strategic growth by identifying opportunities for industry collaboration, external income generation, curriculum innovation, and research development. You will lead horizon scanning, performance benchmarking, and external engagement initiatives that reinforce the Subject’s relevance, agility, and long-term impact.

This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious and strategically minded leader to make a significant contribution to a College that delivers STEM solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges through education, research, and knowledge exchange.

Interviews will take place on: Tuesday 18th and/or Wednesday 19th August 2026

Conferment of an Associate Professor/Professorial title can be considered along with this role.

About You

We are seeking a strategically astute, forward‑thinking, and inspiring academic leader with a proven record of shaping high-performing teams and driving excellence across teaching, research, and applied industry engagement. You will bring a deep understanding of the Built Environment and its evolving alignment with societal needs, sustainability priorities, and industry demand.

You will demonstrate the ability to translate institutional ambitions into meaningful academic direction - creating clarity, championing innovation, and ensuring delivery through effective leadership and collaboration. Skilled at building trusted relationships internally and externally, you will recognise opportunities for industry partnership, applied research, and knowledge exchange that deliver impactful solutions and enhance the University’s regional and national contribution.

With significant experience in higher education teaching and academic leadership, you will also bring strong commercial acumen, including sound judgment in budget management, resource planning, and performance oversight.

Committed to advancing personal research and scholarship, ideally with contributions aligned to REF, you will embody our values of inclusivity, ambition, and social mobility, championing a supportive environment where every learner can succeed.

Your leadership style will be collaborative, motivating, and people-focused - capable of cultivating high engagement, a strong sense of identity, and a positive, high‑performing team culture.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Teacher’s Pension Scheme
• 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
• Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact

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

Important Information

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).

If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

For more information, visit our website.

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