FTTI Associate Director Of Academic Partnerships

The opportunity

The University of the Arts London’s (UAL), Fashion, Textiles & Technology Institute (FTTI), builds on the delivery of a £5.8m AHRC Creative Research & Development Partnership (CRDP) funding award (2018-24), the Business of Fashion, Textiles and Technology (BFTT), as part of the successful UKRI Creative Industry Cluster Programme (CICP). 

FTTI is hosted at the new UAL estate for London College of Fashion at East Bank. East Bank is a new powerhouse for creativity and learning in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, providing unprecedented opportunity for UAL to develop state-of-the-art provision for research and innovation.

FTTI has established strong partnerships with East Bank neighbours including University College London; University of Loughborough; Queen Mary University London; the V&A; and the British Council, each in support of cross-disciplinary working, and collaborative R&D aligned to specialist research provision from across UAL and industry partnerships.

We are now seeking to appoint a senior member of the FTTI team to support the strategic development of academic partnerships (across FE and HEI), cross-sector HEI partnerships along with the development of key skills pipeline. The Associate Director of Academic Partnerships will support the growth of FTTIs income from external funding opportunities via UKRI and Innovate UK along with developing partnership led specialist executive education provision (CPD) as an additional FTTI income stream, in association with UAL Short Courses Ltd. 

About you

The ideal candidate will have experience of the creative industries, and have knowledge and experience of national and regional economic policies and strategies. They will be a strong relationship builder, with a track record of identifying and nurturing partnerships and collaborations with HEIs, both nationally and internationally.

Significant experience of high level industry/ HEI R&D or related projects, planning and management is essential, along with a proven track record of identifying and writing high value bids. 

Application is by submission of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application, addressing the job description and person specification.

If you have any queries about this role or need any reasonable adjustments for your application, please contact Twinkle Brahmbhatt, Senior Resourcing Adviser via email at RKEEstaffrecruitment@arts.ac.uk

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ at least 31 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.
▪ generous defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS/TPS).
▪ flexible working and family-friendly policies for improved work-life balance.
▪ 2 days of paid volunteering leave for a UK registered charity.
▪ discounts including TOTUM, gyms, nursery and private healthcare insurance.
▪ continuous learning and development opportunities including free UAL Short Courses.
▪ season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, free counselling via EAP and more! 

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. We are a collegiate University spread across London with six Colleges, four Institutes and five Research Centres. UAL also has two subsidiary companies, delivering specialist activities – UAL Short Courses Ltd, and UAL Arts Temps Ltd.

We’re made up of all types of people, coming together in London, the world’s creative capital. We are designers, artists, performers, thinkers, researchers and makers. Our students, staff and graduates form a global network of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. Together, our ideas change the world. Because the world needs creativity.

We are ranked highly across the board. We are ranked first for specialist art and design, second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Rankings (for the fifth year in a row), ranked fifth in sustainability and two of our colleges were rated in the top three fashion schools in the world. 

Our culture

We have become one of the world’s most international Universities, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. And, as a global university, staff and students learn from different cultures and perspectives, which leads to new conversations and innovative work. At our very core, everything we do seeks to challenge the status quo by driving social purpose and standing up for what matters.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds including those who may feel underrepresented in the workforce due to their socioeconomic circumstances such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.) backgrounds. We aim to be a university where everyone can be themselves and are supported to reach their full potential.

With our commitment to inclusion and diversity, we are proud to be a Race Equality Charter (REC) member to help us reduce barriers that negatively impacts B.A.M.E. staff, a Stonewall Diversity Champion to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are valued at work, a Disability Confident Scheme Committed employer and member of the Business Disability Forum which help us to improve the lives of disabled people in the workplace.