We’re renowned for our collaborative industry partnerships and our reputation for applied business research, entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge exchange. As a major local employer and education provider, we play a pivotal role in addressing productivity, skills and wealth gaps in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Local growth and regeneration are at the heart of our Strategic Plan. We’re the number one choice for apprenticeships and professional development., offering a wide range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, and a comprehensive range of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for individuals and organisations, as accredited courses or standalone programmes.

By accessing our extensive industry and research expertise through our collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), businesses gain a competitive edge, improve productivity and performance.

As a civic university we’re dedicated to supporting the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector. Our award-winning Centre for SME and Enterprise Development, which currently has 2,000 active members, enables local businesses to connect, learn and grow together.

We have an IP and Commercialisation service, and we support both student enterprise and new business development. Our £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) is a catalyst for collaboration and knowledge transfer between the University and our industry partners, helping to position Lancashire at the forefront of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, cementing the region as a national centre of excellence for aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing.

The results of the Knowledge Excellence Framework (KEF), published in September 2023, saw the university ranked in the top 20% of English higher education institutions in the areas of local growth and regeneration, working with the public and third sector, and continuous professional development (CPD) and graduate start-ups.

• 2,000 members in our Centre for SME and Enterprise Development
• 2,000+ apprentices and 35 Degree Apprenticeship programmes
• 7,500+ organisations nationally engaged with our business support
• 25+ different offers of business support

On the global stage, our research continues to transform lives – from improving business productivity locally to enhancing standards of maternity care worldwide.

Through our partnerships with more than 123 international institutions, we’re bringing the life-changing benefits of a University of Central Lancashire education to thousands of students in every corner of the world – from China to Malaysia to Sri Lanka. In 2012 we became the first British university to establish an overseas campus in Cyprus. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of its opening, our campus continues to go from strength to strength, with more than 1,000 students enrolled.

The city of Preston is a vibrant, cultural and friendly city with a very long history. It obtained city status in 2002, becoming England’s 50th city in the 50th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

As a civic anchor institution with a multi-campus presence, we support the economic development of our local areas, regions and the wider North West.

The city is well served by the M6 motorway both north (J32) and south (J31), and the University is half a mile from Preston railway station – a major hub on the West Coast Mainline and just under an hour away from Manchester Airport.

Professor – School of Business – Management Contract

Purpose
To undertake internationally recognised research, and to provide academic leadership for the School of Business. To contribute actively to the creation of a vibrant research environment and to the development of research strategy underpinning the sustainability of world-class research at the university. To work closely with colleagues, partner organisations and professional organisations and others as deemed appropriate.

Duties

1. To make a significant leadership contribution to enhancing research capacity and capability, knowledge transfer and scholarly activity within the school, fostering a research culture and research informed teaching amongst academic staff and research students.
2. To lead and conduct research of international significance in a business school discipline.
3. To prepare and disseminate research findings in high impact journals, and in internal and external symposia and conferences.
4. To seek and obtain external funding for personal and team research, securing research grants from a range of sources that include a contribution to research full economic costs.
5. To pursue actively knowledge transfer opportunities arising from own research and scholarship.
6. To network widely nationally and internationally for the purposes of building the reputation of the research within the University, and the wider academic and research community, as well as building and maintaining relationships externally.
7. To make a teaching and supervisory contribution to students in the School of Business, promoting their learning opportunities through specialist teaching, sharing of research findings and postgraduate project supervision.
8. In collaboration with other professors, contribute actively to the research strategy of the School and the wider University.
9. To engage in personal and professional development to remain contemporary and up to date on changes in the relevant subject area.
10. To engage in other appropriate duties, as determined by the Dean of School, Associate Deans and/or Office of the Vice Chancellor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (Essential)

• A strong track record of research leadership such as the management of research teams (Application/Interview).
• Experience of research management and administration in a university department or similar educational or research unit (Application/Interview).
• A significant contribution by scholarship, research, consultancy, practice or performance in a business school discipline (Application/Interview).
• A sustained output of world-class research and publications in a business school discipline (Application/Interview).
• A proven track record of successful supervisory experience of research students at doctoral level (Application/Interview).
• Experience of teaching in HE and a strong knowledge of key issues in the sector (Application/Interview).
• A track record of securing research funding from a variety of grant awarding bodies and sponsors (Application/Interview).
• A track record of effective research networks, consortia and collaborations. (Application/Interview).
• A PhD (or equivalent) in a specific topic relevant to the post (Application).
• Excellent communication skills across a wide range of media (Application/Interview).
• Excellent research skills demonstrable or extensive history of consultancy / knowledge transfer within the discipline (Application/Interview).
• Negotiation and influencing skills and a flexible approach which responds to the challenges of change (Application/Interview).
• The ability to engage with groups across disciplines at all levels of the university.
• Strategic thinking and project management skills including excellent time management (Application/Interview).
• Ability to deal with complex situations (Application/Interview).
• Commitment to the University’s Mission Statement (Application/Interview).
• An understanding of and demonstrable commitment to the University’s Values of Achieving Together, Being Proud, Creating Opportunity and Supporting All, as a framework for decisions, actions and behaviours (Application/Interview).

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (Desirable)

• Experience of working with other disciplines to build interdisciplinary teams (Application/Interview).
• Knowledge transfer consultancy activity (Application/Interview).
• Experience of teaching and course design at undergraduate and postgraduate level (Application/Interview).
• Recognition in a professional or industry setting by peers at national and international levels (Application/Interview).
• HEA fellow or senior fellow (Application).
• Professional qualification as appropriate (Application).
• Full membership of relevant accredited bodies (Application).
• Information Technology skills appropriate to the coordination and delivery of research and teaching (Application/Interview).
• Ability to influence policy as appropriate (Application/Interview).

Reader – School of Business – Grade J

Purpose
To undertake internationally recognised research, and to provide academic support for the School’s programmatic research focussing on a business school discipline. To support the development of a research team and expand research and scientific support activity with colleagues and professional bodies to advance research across the School in keeping with the School Strategy. To contribute actively to the creation of a vibrant research environment and to the development of research strategy underpinning the sustainability of world-class research at the university. To work closely with colleagues, partner and professional organisations and others as deemed appropriate.

Duties

1. To make a leadership contribution to the development of the research, innovation and scholarship culture within the School.
2. To undertake individual and lead team-based research within the School and maintain currency of knowledge through active participation in research, scholarship and/or professional practice.
3. Promote the dissemination of research through conferences, publications, professional bodies etc.
4. To seek and obtain external grant funding and/or support from research councils, charities, industries etc.
5. To develop and extend the School’s network of contacts of researchers and practitioners within business school disciplines, maximising the benefits of this network for existing and proposed courses, research and consultancy activities.
6. To make an appropriate teaching and supervisory contribution to the work of the School.
7. To undertake administration in relation to specified teaching and research responsibilities.
8. To work to appropriate targets as set by the Dean of School and Associate Deans to secure a high-quality teaching and learning environment for students.
9. To undertake any other duties relevant to the School’s activities and commensurate with the level of the post, as directed by the Dean of the School and Associate Deans.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (Desirable)

• Demonstrable experience of research management and administration (Application/Interview).
• Evidence of strong publication record; success in obtaining competitive research funding as principal investigator; and making presentations at international conferences (Application/Interview).
• Ability to contribute to the REF or related exercise (Application/Interview).
• Research experience in a relevant topic and successful supervision of research students (Application/Interview).
• Evidence of national and international recognition in his/her speciality (Application/Interview).
• Track record of effective networks and consortia (Application/Interview).
• A PhD (or equivalent) in a specific topic relevant to business school disciplines (Application).
• Full membership of relevant accredited bodies in the area of specialist topic (Application).
• First Degree (Application/Interview).
• Ability to develop own research, contribute to the development of research strategies in the School, lead a team and focus consultancy in these areas (Application/Interview).
• Ability to produce successful research grant applications for significant projects (Application/Interview).
• Ability in team leadership and line management (Application/Interview).
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills (Application/Interview).
• Enthusiastic and able to work collaboratively (Application/Interview).
• An understanding of and demonstrable commitment to the University’s Values of Achieving Together, Being Proud, Creating Opportunity and Supporting All, as a framework for decisions, actions and behaviours (Application/Interview).

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (Desirable)

• Active member of a relevant Professional Body or Learned Society (Application/Interview).
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (or equivalent) or willingness to undertake on appointment (Application).
• Postgraduate Certificate of Postgraduate Research Student Supervision (or equivalent) (Application/Interview).