The University of Brighton is seeking an exceptional academic leader to become the next Head of Department for Brighton Business School, one of six academic departments within our newly formed College of Creativity, Technology and Society.

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the university's most strategically important departments at a transformational moment in our history. Guided by our Distinctively Brighton 2035 strategy, we are building a university that is both "radically transformed and radically relevant". The University of Brighton's Distinctively Brighton 2035 strategy sets out an ambitious vision to become a university recognised for enterprise and equity, delivering meaningful impact for students, employers, communities and society. We are committed to widening opportunity, championing innovation and ensuring our graduates are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

As Head of Department, you will lead a thriving and diverse community of staff and students, providing strategic direction across education, research, knowledge exchange and external engagement, which includes our collaboration with NatWest Accelerator programme for business founders and Help to Grow courses for maturing businesses. You will inspire excellence in teaching and student success, drive growth across our portfolio, strengthen our research and business partnerships, and enhance the School's reputation locally, nationally and internationally, for example by ensuring our ongoing AACSB accreditation.

We are looking for a collaborative and forward-thinking leader with the credibility, energy and ambition to deliver transformational change. You will be committed to developing people, fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture, and building strong relationships with employers, professional bodies and community partners. Above all, you will share our belief that higher education should be a powerful force for opportunity, social mobility and sustainable economic growth.

This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of Brighton Business School and play a pivotal role in delivering the University's ambitions for 2035. If you have the vision to lead, the drive to innovate and the passion to make a lasting difference, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Closing Date: 03 Nov 2026

Team/Division: Academic

Salary: £75,919 to £80,530 per annum

RESCu-M² aims to advance circular manufacturing through robotics, artificial intelligence and intelligent automation, enabling more effective reuse, repair, repurposing, remanufacturing and recycling. Led by the University of Birmingham, the hub brings together the universities of Brighton, Strathclyde, Leeds, Sheffield and Loughborough, industry partners, standard agency, city councils to deliver cutting-edg research and impacts

About the role

At Research Fellow level (AC2), staff are expected to be involved in the developing, planning and managing of research projects in consultation with a Principal Investigator, developing a publication record and learning to generate funding and supervise less experienced researchers. The role will normally require a level of research knowledge, skill, and experience equivalent to PhD. Research Fellows may also be expected to contribute to the teaching and/or consultancy activities to ensure continuous development of knowledge in the subject area.

Working with Professor Yan Wang and colleagues across the hub, you will undertake research to improve the assessment, recovery and continued use of products, components and materials. You will contribute to Brighton’s research in inspection, sensing and analysis; testing, validation and certification, robotics; and circular business models.

The role offers opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the partner universities and work with industry to develop and validate practical solutions. You will also support Brighton’s role as the hub’s south-east regional spoke, helping manufacturers access research expertise and develop circular manufacturing capabilities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and conducting research into circular manufacturing and value retention processes.

• Developing and evaluating methods to assess product or component condition, performance and suitability for further use.

• Working with academic and industrial partners to identify challenges, collect and analyse data, and validate research outcomes.

• Publishing findings and contributing to project reports, conferences and knowledge exchange activities.

• Supporting the wider research team and contributing to student research where appropriate.

The successful candidate will have:

• A PhD in design, manufacturing, circular economy or life extension, or equivalent experience
• Sufficient, up-to-date breadth or depth of specialist knowledge and research experience in one or more relevant areas.
• Experience in applying appropriate research methods to engineering or quantitative problems, which may include engineering design and analysis, circular manufacturing, intelligent systems, data analysis.
• Ability to conduct high-quality independent and collaborative research, analyse and interpret results, and communicate research findings effectively.

This role is a fixed term position for 24 months and is not available on a job share arrangement due to it being 0.5 full-time equivalent.

Closing Date: 05 Nov 2026

Team/Division: Academic

Salary: £41,064 to £48,822 pro rata