About The University Of Bristol
The University of Bristol’s Mumbai campus is an innovative extension of its prestigious UK counterpart, established to promote academic excellence, global collaboration, and impactful industry engagement in one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs. The campus offers a truly international and cross-cultural academic environment, combining the University’s rigorous academic traditions with the fast-evolving Indian and South Asian business landscape.As part of a growing global network, the Mumbai campus serves as a hub for interdisciplinary learning, applied research, and thought leadership. Faculty members enjoy access to global partnerships, collaborative research opportunities, and the ability to contribute to high-impact academic programmes that prepare students to meet the challenges of an interconnected world.
About The Role
This role is a key foundational role to support the delivery of the University’s Mumbai Enterprise Campus (MEC), a flagship transnational education initiative of the University of Bristol set to open its doors in 2026, coinciding with the University’s 150th anniversary.The role will provide leadership to develop and structure the MEC’s research and innovation offer and its two-way link with the University’s main campus in Bristol, reporting to and working closely with the MEC Executive Dean and Director, throughout the first three foundational years of the Campus establishment – with possibility of a contract renewal for an additional term thereafter. The role will be instrumental in providing research, innovation and partnership leadership, along with operational and strategic capacity, to deliver effective change and embed new structures and ways of working both in Mumbai and between Bristol and Mumbai. They will also work as principal lead in bridging the coordination of the MEC across the three Faculties in Bristol. To do so, the role will have dotted lines reporting and collaboration to University's Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and relevant Associate PVCs (Faculty based and thematic), The will do so alongside an expected close collaboration with the Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor in either Arts, Law and Social Sciences (ALSS) or Science and Engineering (S&E), to steward the development of a specific faculty-based MEC coordination function from year 2, depending on disciplinary background of the appointee.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Dean. The key responsibilities will be as follows:
- Provide leadership, operational and developmental capacity to the Executive Dean during a period of transformation within the MEC and the University, with an emphasis on Research and Innovation portfolio.
- Drive growth and consolidation of MEC partnership with industry, enterprise, or public sector partners that shape the MEC’s offer.
- Work in consultation with the Dean and senior leaders at MEC, as well as across the University's Faculties to support the development and delivery of the MEC.
- Lead and participate in significant MEC development, campus development, industry engagement growth projects, including chairing working groups, management committees that champion and further the University’s strategic ambition.
- Line manage MEC leadership roles tasked with the delivery of MEC programmes, or other roles in the MEC as delegated by the Executive Dean.
- Developing and promoting a Bristol-aligned research culture at MEC
- Deputise for the Executive Dean as required.
Teaching and Research
- Deliver a select teaching contribution to the MEC Postgraduate/Undergraduate offer in the area of relevant expertise.
- Provide support for academic disciplines and interdisciplinary opportunities within the MEC in terms of developing the MEC’s research and innovation portfolio.
- Take leadership for the development and delivery of a quality Postgraduate Research that aligns clearly to the aspiration for MEC and the global engagement strategy of the University.
- Create a nurturing environment for excellence across the whole MEC research base and support implementation of forward-thinking research and innovation strategies and innovative engagement approaches.
- Ensure research strengths are matched and leveraged to develop teaching excellence and integrated in MEC UG/PG programme offerings.
- Identify potential areas of strength in research and innovation that align with the skills agenda for business.
- Work with the University’s Thematic PVCs and APVCs to develop partnerships that enable strategic and cross cutting University developments to be realized within the MEC.
- Work closely with relevant Faculty PVCs and APVCs to drive close engagement between MEC Research, Innovation and Partnership activity and faculty strategies
Resource Management
- Understand the nature of the disciplines within the MEC and support delivery of operational plans.
- Deliver the leadership and managerial duties associated with the role of the Associate Dean working with and delegating to MEC leadership (e.g. programme directors, professors) and Academic Officers in an efficient manner including maintaining and developing robust staff review, mentoring, wellbeing and development processes.
- Work collaboratively with Professional Services partners to deliver delegated administrative and governance duties.
- Support the Executive Dean through the University Planning cycle identifying high level needs and opportunities for MEC efficient delivery as well as integration into the overall University Planning.
- Provide budget and resource management support to the Executive Dean.
- Actively support colleagues to identify areas for income generation, including through research grants, that support financial sustainability for the MEC, as well as that drive clear joint research activities between Bristol and Mumbai.
- Work closely with a relevant Faculty PVC (and Faculty based APVCs) to set up by year 2 a dedicated faculty lead role for the MEC, and interim provide this themselves in year 1.
Key Competencies/ Attributes
- Leadership and Culture: supports the setting of direction and has the courage to give purpose to help take the MEC forward. Is able to help inspire people with the vision of the future. Manages others and their performance with honesty and integrity.
- Managing Change: leads and embraces change. Is able to balance University need for change with MEC needs. Understands the concerns of colleagues and communicates the reasons for change.
- Results Focus: takes action to make sure things happen. Is decisive and able to balance competing needs.
- Managing Finance and Resources: ensures the effective use of resources allocating time and people time appropriately in line with objectives and financial constraints.
- Collaborative Working: encourages a cohesive, trust-based team approach across the Faculties and University.
- Collaborative internationalization: open to working across international boundaries to connect closely with Bristol colleagues and embracing Bristol’s ethos and culture of internationalisation
- Continual Professional Development: engages in self-development
