Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Essex

Whilst we value being ranked in the top 30 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025 and Guardian University Guide 2024), 25th in the UK for research quality (Times Good University Guide 2022), and in the world’s top 20 for international outlook according to the THE World University Rankings, we know that what we do next is even more important than what we have achieved in the past. As a growing University, we plan to expand our student population and the critical mass of our research base so that, by 2028, we will be a community of around 20,000 students and 1,000 researchers ready to be submitted to the next REF. Our next Deputy Vice-Chancellor will have the skills and experience to match the scale and breadth of our ambition. Join us at the University of Essex: home to the curious, brave and bold.

Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in joining the University of Essex as our next Deputy Vice-Chancellor – I am delighted that you are considering joining our brilliant community of students, educators, researchers, academics, and professional services colleagues. Essex is a university with bold ambitions, a deep-rooted commitment to social justice, and an unwavering dedication to both education and research excellence. As we continue our journey of transformation and resilience, this role presents a truly exciting opportunity to help shape our future.
From our foundation, Essex has stood for being different. We are a university that questions convention, champions inclusion, and challenges students and staff to drive positive change. We thrive on pushing boundaries – whether through pioneering research that benefits communities and society or by ensuring that every student has an empowering educational experience. As we enter the next chapter in our history, we remain as ambitious as ever, seeking to further our global reputation, deepen our regional mission, and enhance the impact of our work.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor will play a crucial role in delivering these aspirations. Working closely with myself and the senior executive leadership team, you will help refresh and align the strategic direction of the University, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation, inclusion, and academic excellence. This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, values-driven institution where creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to social change shape everything we do.
I will be commencing work at the University of Essex in June 2025, taking up the role of Vice-Chancellor from 1 August 2025. Joining the university’s leadership team at this time presents a unique opportunity for our future DVC to shape and lead the university’s renewed impact both now and in the coming years ahead. The Higher Education sector continues to present a significant period of change and challenge; the opportunities for creating and delivering transformative change, innovation, efficiencies and vision are ample. I hope you find this opportunity as inspiring as I do, and if you believe you can contribute to our mission and lead with passion, integrity, and vision, I encourage you to explore this role further. I look forward to welcoming an exceptional leader to our community—one who will help us continue to make a difference in the world.
Professor Frances Bowen
Incoming Vice-Chancellor
University of Essex
We like making history
And we’ve been challenging convention from the start
‘A new kind of university… where students could live and learn… and research really mattered’ – this was the founding vision of Essex’s first Vice-Chancellor, Sir Albert Sloman. His commitment to research and education remains at the heart of our mission.
Essex Spirit
In 1964, 122 students arrived at our University for the very first academic year, attracted by its bold vision. Over the next six decades over 120,000 students from more than 140 countries have graduated and, inspired by the inquisitive and ambitious Essex Spirit, they have gone on to make a real difference in the world.
We have a proud tradition of encouraging students to challenge convention and think differently, such as our graduate, Nobel Prize winner and economist Professor Sir Chris Pissarides.
Today, the University has some 17,000 students at our three campuses in Colchester, Southend and Loughton, with a further 5,000 students studying at our strategic partners, and an academic staff base in excess of 1,200. In our University Strategy we have set out our ambition to be acknowledged nationally and internationally as a leading research-intensive university. By 2028 we aim to have around 20,000 students across our campuses and 1,000 academic researchers.
Research pioneers
Our academics have produced work which has
inspired entire generations and helped establish Essex’s reputation for research in the UK. This ranges from the work of Professor Jean Franco, Essex’s first female professor who spearheaded the study of Latin American literature, the pioneering work on poverty and inequality by Professor Peter Townsend, the development of the world’s first publicly available computer language by Professor Tony Brooker, the work of Professor Richard Lipsey which revolutionised the study of economics, and the work of philosopher Professor Onora O’Neill on ethics, international justice and bioethics.
We continue to push the boundaries – from promoting human rights around the world, to improving lives with authoritative social and economic research, to pioneering the use of big data in developing countries.
Click here to read the Job Pack
All applications must include:
- A full curriculum vitae/resume
- Quoting the relevant role reference number: A040487
- A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and the University of Essex that particularly attract you to the post (Microsoft Word document)
- Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)
- A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application)
Right to work checks
If you are successfully shortlisted, our partner, Yoti, will contact you to complete an online right to work check. This is a quick and secure process, ensuring that all necessary legal requirements are met before proceeding further in the recruitment process.
Monitoring
One of Alumni Global’s and the the University of Essex’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.
For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:
Owen Francis, Director on +44 73 8702 2263
Candidate adjustment
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.
Closing date: 28th April 2025
Final Interviews: 17th June 2025
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.