Job responsibilities
About the role
Imperial College London invites applications for the position of Head of the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, a leadership role at the forefront of internationally recognised translational research.
We are seeking an exceptional academic leader to guide and expand our distinctive portfolio in reproductive and developmental biology, digestive diseases, endocrinology, metabolism, and systems medicine. The department is renowned for its scientific excellence, innovation in patient care, and commitment to training the next generation of research leaders.
Our department hosts a high-profile programme of cutting-edge research, integrating strengths in cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, and pathology. This work is deeply embedded within the Imperial College Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), ensuring a truly translational approach to medicine.
What you would be doing
The Department is organised into four Divisions,
Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism,Digestive DiseasesReproductive & Developmental BiologySystem Medicine These divisions are split into several sections according to discipline with over 70 principal investigators in total. Each research group hosts a number of research staff and students bringing the total departmental headcount to 345.
You will lead the department and deliver the Department's scientific strategy and to lead on and promote inter-Departmental research opportunities, seeking links with colleagues in other Institutes and Departments in the Faculty of Medicine. In addition, the post holder will be expected to act on opportunities to collaborate with Imperial's non-medical Faculties, the AHSC partners (including the Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, and with other national and international institutions.
You will provide direction for, and contribute to, growth of the successful undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes of the Department and of the Faculty as well as to the Faculty's medical training programme and online educational developments.
What we are looking for
You will be an exceptional academic, able to demonstrate how your work will play a key role in the development of world-leading research programmes in a major area of research of relevance to the Department.
You will provide strategic vision, direction and leadership to the Department and will ensure that appropriate plans, management and governance structures and practices are in place.
You will have an inclusive leadership style and a high level of intellectual rigour, political awareness, tact and diplomacy. You will have the skills to enable effective working across boundaries and influencing without direct authority. You will be able to understand and tackle the challenges faced by both pre-clinical and clinical teams.
You will understand the importance of building and maintaining an open and supportive culture, acting as a role model and advocating for junior staff, and encouraging diversity across the Department.
Your collaborative approach will enable the strong connections between a multi-disciplinary team and with senior colleagues across Imperial College and with key clinical partners.
You will also ensure the operational sustainability of the Department through income generation and resource management as well as formulate and implement academic strategy and plans in conjunction with the Dean and Faculty management team.
You will therefore be able to demonstrate:
Evidence of having formulated and implemented academic strategy and plans;Substantial experience at managerial level for a department /institute of an academic institution;Evidence of experience ensuring sustainability of a department/institute through income generation and resource management. What we can offer you The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our interdisciplinary mission to use science for humanity.Grow in your career with tailored training programmes for clinical staff including dedicated support with navigating your career and managing research as well as a transparent promotion process. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing. Please see our Further Particulars for more information about Imperial and the benefits available to staff.
Further information
Potential Interview dates: 10th September, 23rd September and 2nd October
The job description is currently with the Royal College of Physicians for their review and approval
The role of Head of the Department will be, initially for five years, in line with the College's term of office for senior roles. The post holder will be employed as a Chair in a relevant subject on an open-ended basis within the Academic or Clinical Consultant Academic Job Family.
Informal inquiries about the role can be directed to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Deborah Ashby, Email: deborah.ashby@imperial.ac.uk.
For information on the recruitment process please contact: Maria Monteiro, Senior Appointments Manager, email: m.monteiro@imperial.ac.uk Telephone: +44 (0)207 594 5498.
Clinical Academic appointments require checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service or DBS, (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)). As this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, at the appropriate level, will be required for the successful candidate.
Further information about the DBS disclosure process can be found on the Home Office website or by telephoning 03000 200 190. You may also wish to view the College's DBS webpage for policy statements on the Recruitment and Employment of Ex-Offenders and the Secure Storage, Use, Retention & Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information.
The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/
The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College's care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research/
We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
