This role will provide an exciting opportunity to join the leadership team of a Russell Group University and to innovate in highly successful education and research programmes across the breadth of the Biological Sciences, also encompassing agriculture, food and sustainable development. The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (MHLS) has exceptional performance in external assessments of esteem and is responsible for significant new investment in infrastructure through the Belfast Regional City Deal which has a major focus on Health and Life Sciences.
The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) has over 220 staff and 1400 students. It was ranked Number 1 in REF 2021 for Agriculture, Food & Veterinary Sciences with 94% of research classified as world leading or internationally excellent. SBS is also ranked 1st in the UK for Agriculture and Forestry, 1st for Food Science, 10th for Animal Science and 15th for Biological Sciences in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2025. The School holds an Athena SWAN Gold award for its sustained commitment to gender equality.
In this role, you will report to the Pro-Vice Chancellor MHLS and will play a key role in providing effective academic leadership and management of the School of Biological Sciences. You will ensure that SBS continues to grow and drive forward from its current position of excellence as well as providing strategic direction to wider interdisciplinary opportunities across MHLS and the other University Faculties.
Supported by a Deputy Head of School and working alongside the Director of the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), you will lead the School Leadership Team which has responsibility for the development and implementation of the School’s strategic priorities in education, research, innovation and internationalisation, which are aligned to Faculty and University strategy. The School Manager and a professional services support team will provide comprehensive operational support. You will also represent SBS, the Faculty and QUB locally, nationally and internationally and carry significant accountability for providing a coherent academic vision and direction for SBS as well as responsibility for financial sustainability and for the School’s academic staff and student body.
Appointment will be to a permanent post as a Professor within the School. Appointment to the role of Head of School will be for an initial period of 5 years with the possibility of reappointment for a further five-year period
About the person:
The essential qualifications and experience requirements are shown below, however, please refer to the candidate information for the full essential and desirable criteria for the post.
To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.
Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/.
Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.
For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.
If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application - http://go.qub.ac.uk/internationalstaffsupport.
Candidate Information
About the School and Faculty