Head of School Law, Politics and Sociology (UK Sponsorship)

Job Description

The Role

This is a senior academic leadership opportunity to guide the strategic direction of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology during a significant period of development and growth.

Reporting to the Executive Dean and serving on the Faculty Executive Team, the Head of School will play a central role in shaping academic priorities, strengthening research impact, and enhancing the student experience. The role involves close collaboration with academic and professional services colleagues across the School and wider University to ensure alignment with institutional strategy.

Key responsibilities include:

Providing academic leadership across Law, Politics, Sociology and Criminology
Overseeing the School’s teaching portfolio, research activity, and external engagement
Supporting innovation in programme development and delivery
Managing resources effectively within a complex organisational structure
Building strong internal and external partnerships
Promoting a positive, inclusive and high-performing academic culture

This is an opportunity to influence the future direction of a diverse and interdisciplinary School while contributing to the broader mission of the University.

About You

You will be a senior academic—typically at Professorial level—with a strong record of achievement in research, teaching, or scholarship.

You will demonstrate:

Proven leadership experience within higher education
The ability to inspire, support and develop colleagues
Strong strategic awareness and decision-making capability
Experience managing teams, budgets, and academic operations
A collaborative and inclusive leadership style

An understanding of the evolving higher education landscape, including regulatory and funding pressures, will be essential, along with the ability to respond proactively to change.

About the School

The School of Law, Politics and Sociology brings together three dynamic and research-active departments:

Law

A well-established department recognised for its interdisciplinary and globally engaged research, with strengths in areas such as human rights, environmental law, trade law, and criminology. It supports a large and diverse student body across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.

Politics

A leading centre for political research and teaching, home to specialist institutes and recognised for excellence in areas such as governance, corruption, political behaviour, and European studies.

Sociology and Criminology

A vibrant academic community with strong research expertise in social theory, inequality, migration, health, and criminology. The department is committed to impactful research and research-led teaching.

Together, the School fosters an environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and real-world engagement.

Working at Sussex

The University offers a supportive and inspiring working environment, located near the South Downs National Park. Staff benefit from:

Strong transport links (including Falmer station)
Cycle-friendly campus infrastructure
Flexible working arrangements (where appropriate)
A collaborative and inclusive culture

Employment and Eligibility

All work must be carried out within the UK. For guidance on employment eligibility and working requirements, please refer to:

Right to work in the UK
Types of UK work visas
Skilled Worker visa information
Public sector leadership and governance overview
Equality and workplace rights

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Sussex is committed to fostering an inclusive academic community. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of our work.