Director, School of Slavonic and East European Studies

Job Description

About UCL

UCL is a globally recognised research‑intensive university, consistently ranked among the world’s leading institutions. With a community of over 50,000 students and 18,000 staff from more than 150 countries, UCL combines academic excellence with a strong commitment to public value, global engagement, and tackling complex societal challenges.

About the School (SSEES)

Founded in 1915, the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) is one of the world’s foremost centres for the interdisciplinary study of Central, Eastern and South‑Eastern Europe, the Baltics, Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

SSEES brings together more than 80 academic staff and over 1,000 students from across the globe. Its academic strengths span Economics & Business, Politics & Sociology, History, and Languages & Cultures, supported by the internationally renowned SSEES Library. Research and teaching address urgent global questions including geopolitics, security, migration, democratic change, economic transformation, and cultural memory, alongside a strong tradition of public engagement.

The Role

UCL is seeking an exceptional academic leader to serve as Director (Head of Department) of SSEES. Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, the Director will provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership for one of UCL’s most internationally engaged Schools.

This is a high‑profile role requiring intellectual authority, inclusive leadership, and the ability to guide a large, diverse academic community through a rapidly changing global and higher‑education landscape. The Director will shape SSEES’ future direction while upholding academic freedom, collegial governance, and a culture where staff and students can thrive.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic & Academic Leadership

• Set and deliver a clear, forward‑looking vision for SSEES aligned with UCL and Faculty strategy.
• Champion excellence in research, education, and knowledge exchange across disciplines.
• Strengthen SSEES’ international research profile and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Education & Student Experience

• Ensure an outstanding, inclusive, and research‑led student experience across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Oversee performance and enhancement in REF, TEF, KEF, and NSS frameworks.

People, Culture & Governance

• Lead, support, and inspire academic and professional services staff within a complex School environment.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high‑performing culture aligned with UCL’s equality, diversity, and inclusion commitments.
• Ensure robust governance, risk management, and compliance within a regulated higher‑education setting.

Resources & Operations

• Lead departmental planning, financial management, and resource allocation.
• Balance academic ambition with financial sustainability and operational resilience.

External Engagement & Representation

• Act as an ambassador for SSEES, the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, and UCL.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with international partners, funders, alumni, policymakers, and cultural institutions.
• Contribute actively to Faculty‑ and UCL‑wide leadership as part of the senior academic community.

About You

You will be an internationally recognised scholar with the credibility, experience, and vision to lead a major interdisciplinary School.

You will bring:

• A strong record of senior academic leadership and people management.
• An established international research profile with high‑quality publications and evidence of research income.
• Experience managing budgets, resources, and risk within a complex organisation.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style aligned with UCL’s values and EDI priorities.
• Strategic insight and the ability to lead change in a dynamic global context.

Why Join SSEES and UCL?

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the world’s most respected area‑studies institutions at a critical moment for both the region it studies and the global higher‑education sector. UCL offers a supportive, intellectually vibrant environment with strong professional services, enabling academic leaders to focus on impact, innovation, and long‑term institutional success.

Pay, Benefits & Flexibility

UCL offers a comprehensive reward package, including:

• 41 days’ leave (27 annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 6 closure days)
• Defined‑benefit CARE pension scheme
• Family‑friendly policies with enhanced parental leave
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme, season‑ticket loan, and relocation support (where applicable)
• On‑site nursery and gym facilities
• Employee assistance and wellbeing services
• Flexible working arrangements, including part‑time or job‑share, will be considered where operationally feasible.

Visa Sponsorship

This role meets the requirements for Skilled Worker or Global Talent visa sponsorship. Applications from international candidates are warmly welcomed.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

As London’s Global University, UCL is committed to creating an inclusive environment where difference is valued and everyone belongs. We particularly encourage applications from groups under‑represented within UCL’s workforce, including Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, disabled people, and women (for senior academic grades).

Useful External Guidance (UK Government & Public Bodies)

• Skilled Worker visa
• Global Talent visa
• Equality Act 2010
• Research Excellence Framework (REF)
• Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

Employer: University College London
Faculty: Arts & Humanities
Department: School of Slavonic and East European Studies