Dean of M-School

The opportunity

Central Saint Martins has an international reputation as a world leading art school producing generations of extraordinary creative practitioners who have had significant impact in the creative industries and shaping how we see the world. The College has a legacy of engaging with the global debate about the arts, performance and design, and their role in societal transformation.

University of the Arts London is seeking a dynamic, strategic and highly experienced academic to join Central Saint Martins (CSM) as Dean of M-School. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of education at one of the world’s most influential creative arts institutions.

CSM has ambitious plans to regenerate and transform, building on the College’s core spirit of interdisciplinarity and thematic integrity as an art school, the proposal is to create three Schools of Thought: C-School, S-School, and M-School. Leadership of the Schools includes as a priority, the building of a vision along with academic colleagues, identifying the potential for creating an academic environment which promotes outstanding research, creative practice, and public-facing knowledge exchange. It is preferred that the Dean’s own practice and academic background are associated with one of the programme areas in the School.

About you

The Dean will play a vital role in the academic culture, organisation, and profile of CSM, overseeing a vibrant, inclusive, and high-quality student experience. The role is both internal facing in relation to academic programmes and courses, and external facing in developing collaboration and partnerships with external bodies, the full range of industries related to the College’s disciplines, and academic and professional networks.

The role provides dynamic and delivery-focused academic leadership and operational management for the School and contributes to the strategic development of the College and University. The Dean will be involved in the development of strategy, policy and operations at College and University level through membership of committees and working groups.

It is essential that the Dean can think dynamically and entrepreneurially about the future of arts and design education within the College and is able to align and motivate staff at all levels to achieve the University’s and College’s strategic ambitions.

The deadline for receipt of applications is midday (GMT) on Tuesday, 14 May 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Friday, 24 May 2024. 

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.

▪ equal parental leave offering up to 6 months full pay for maternity and paternity.

▪ 2 days of paid volunteering leave for a UK registered charity.

▪ generous defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS/TPS}.

▪ discounts including gyms, nursery and private healthcare insurance.

▪ learning and development opportunities including free Short Courses.

▪ season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, free counselling 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.