Pro Vice-Chancellor – Research and Innovation

The University of Bristol is a world-leading research-intensive institution with a clear mission to address society’s greatest challenges and make a positive impact both locally and globally. We are a top ten UK university and 55th in the world (QS Rankings 2024), and achieved a Silver rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. Our people – our researchers, alumni and partners – are passionate, committed and inventive, and bring these qualities to tackle issues that are complex and multi-dimensional in a rapidly evolving world.

Our University Vision and Strategy was launched in 2022, with the mission to be a world-leading research-intensive university making impactful contributions to global societal challenges. We have had huge success in this area over the last few years, and there is much more to come: Isambard-AI, expected to be the most powerful supercomputer in the UK, will open at the National Composites Centre in the summer of 2024, for example, and The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, part of the largest urban regeneration programme in Europe, will open in 2026.

In this exciting time of development, we are looking to appoint an inspiring Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation to drive Bristol’s disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and innovation excellence. Reporting to the DVC and working closely with the rest of the University Executive Board, they will lead the University Research and Innovation Strategy and have responsibility for shaping research and innovation activities across the institution. They will oversee the University Research Institutes and REF2029 preparations, lead on our spin-out and enterprise activities, and play a key role in the development of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. This is a critical role for the University and the new PVC Research and Innovation will be able to build on a real position of strength and collaboration.

We are looking for a future minded, inspiring, and strategic individual to make an impact on and develop Bristol’s research and innovation portfolio. Ideal candidates will bring a demonstrable track-record of leading change, building consensus, and driving research innovation and entrepreneurial activities. They will have significant experience of developing and leading world class research and innovation capability, and the vision to bring together and enthuse others across the institution. They must be effective internal and external relationship-builders, with the ability to set and implement coherent and comprehensive strategies to support the University in maintaining and enhancing its reputation for distinctive, innovative, high-quality research. This is an exciting opportunity to drive a key element of the University’s future vision.

Bristol is committed to diversity and inclusion at all levels and in all forms. The University wishes to encourage applications that will continue to strengthen the diversity in its executive team. The University is happy to discuss flexible working opportunities with applicants including whether a role can be considered as a job-share arrangement.

For further details on the role, please visit

https://www.minervasearch.com/current-opportunities/pvcbristol/ .

To apply, please send a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter outlining how you meet the job description and person specification to [email protected] by Thursday 11th April 2024.

Contract type: Open Ended

Work pattern: Monday – Friday, 35 hours per week.

Grade: M Range 4

Salary: Competitive salary plus benefits

School/Unit: Senior Team

This advert will close at 23:59 GMT on 11th April 2024.

We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people – because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Available documents

The University of Bristol is a world-leading research-intensive institution with a clear mission to address society’s greatest challenges and make a positive impact both locally and globally. We are a top ten UK university and 55th in the world (QS Rankings 2024), and achieved a Silver rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. Our people – our researchers, alumni and partners – are passionate, committed and inventive, and bring these qualities to tackle issues that are complex and multi-dimensional in a rapidly evolving world.

Our University Vision and Strategy was launched in 2022, with the mission to be a world-leading research-intensive university making impactful contributions to global societal challenges. We have had huge success in this area over the last few years, and there is much more to come: Isambard-AI, expected to be the most powerful supercomputer in the UK, will open at the National Composites Centre in the summer of 2024, for example, and The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, part of the largest urban regeneration programme in Europe, will open in 2026.

In this exciting time of development, we are looking to appoint an inspiring Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation to drive Bristol’s disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and innovation excellence. Reporting to the DVC and working closely with the rest of the University Executive Board, they will lead the University Research and Innovation Strategy and have responsibility for shaping research and innovation activities across the institution. They will oversee the University Research Institutes and REF2029 preparations, lead on our spin-out and enterprise activities, and play a key role in the development of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. This is a critical role for the University and the new PVC Research and Innovation will be able to build on a real position of strength and collaboration.

We are looking for a future minded, inspiring, and strategic individual to make an impact on and develop Bristol’s research and innovation portfolio. Ideal candidates will bring a demonstrable track-record of leading change, building consensus, and driving research innovation and entrepreneurial activities. They will have significant experience of developing and leading world class research and innovation capability, and the vision to bring together and enthuse others across the institution. They must be effective internal and external relationship-builders, with the ability to set and implement coherent and comprehensive strategies to support the University in maintaining and enhancing its reputation for distinctive, innovative, high-quality research. This is an exciting opportunity to drive a key element of the University’s future vision.

Bristol is committed to diversity and inclusion at all levels and in all forms. The University wishes to encourage applications that will continue to strengthen the diversity in its executive team. The University is happy to discuss flexible working opportunities with applicants including whether a role can be considered as a job-share arrangement.

For further details on the role, please visit

https://www.minervasearch.com/current-opportunities/pvcbristol/ .

To apply, please send a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter outlining how you meet the job description and person specification to [email protected] by Thursday 11th April 2024.

Contract type: Open Ended

Work pattern: Monday – Friday, 35 hours per week.

Grade: M Range 4

Salary: Competitive salary plus benefits

School/Unit: Senior Team

This advert will close at 23:59 GMT on 11th April 2024.

We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people – because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Available documents