Head of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Overview

You will lead the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Liverpool, guiding strategy, research growth, and educational excellence. In this role you will report to the Dean and serve on the School Leadership Team, shaping the department’s development and external partnerships. You will drive high-impact research, secure external funding, and foster an inclusive, high-performance environment for a diverse academic community. This is a landmark opportunity to influence engineering education and research at scale, aligning with the university’s mission and strategic priorities. The appointment starts in June 2027 with a four-year Headship alongside a substantive,

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the department and contribute to School-level governance
• Develop and implement plans to enhance research quality, education portfolio, and international profile
• Strengthen external partnerships and drive innovation in research and education
• Create an inclusive, collaborative culture and set high performance standards
• Lead the department through a period of development and scale, working with cross-functional teams
• Advise and align with the Dean and School Leadership Team on strategic direction

Key requirements

• Established international reputation and sustained record of academic excellence in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field
• Significant academic leadership experience
• Proven success in securing external research funding
• Ability to articulate and deliver a clear, strategic vision in a complex academic environment
• Proven capability to lead and inspire a large, diverse academic community

• Vision and strategic thinking
• Collaborative leadership and teamwork
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement
• Academic leadership
• Research strategy and funding acquisition
• Interdisciplinary collaboration

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