Queen’s University Belfast (Queen’s) is a leading centre of academic excellence with a distinguished heritage and a global outlook. Founded in 1845, it has grown into a world-class institution with over 25,000 students and 4,000 staff. A top 200 university globally (QS Rankings 2026), Queen’s combines tradition with innovation, and local impact with international reach.
We are now looking to appoint a new Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences following the appointment of the current incumbent, Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, to a portfolio PVC role in the University.
Offering a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the Faculty is a vibrant and diverse academic collective, home to a third of all students and large community of academic and professional staff. It encompasses four Schools: Arts, English and Languages; History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics; Law; and Social Sciences, Education and Social Work. The Faculty also hosts the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, an internationally renowned centre of excellence for interdisciplinary research and policy engagement.
A member of the University’s Management Board, and reporting directly to the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the post-holder will operate in a pan-institutional capacity. They will work with other Faculty and portfolio PVCs and executive colleagues to provide a collaborative and integrated approach to the delivery of Strategy 2030. The PVC will be responsible for the successful leadership of the Faculty and will line manage the Heads of School and Portfolio Deans, driving innovation and a promoting a high performance culture. They will also network extensively and lead on strategic partnerships with national and international government departments, industry and sector stakeholders.
Good candidates will possess a demonstrable record of international academic distinction in a discipline relevant to the Faculty, experience of successfully leading change in a large, complex organisation and evidence of the successful management of resources (people, financial and physical). Integrity, empathy, and well developed interpersonal, communication and influencing skills will need to be allied to the drive and ambition to deliver the Faculty and University’s strategic aims.
Enquiries can be made, in confidence, to Jamie Cumming-Wesley or Evan Yeckley at WittKieffer.
Completed applications should be submitted electronically to [email protected].