Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has advertised a new executive role called “Executive Dean of the Edinburgh Business School & School of Social Sciences.”

Heriot-Watt said in the job posting: “The post is new in that it unifies the Executive Dean of the Edinburgh Business School and Head of the School of Social Sciences posts.

“This new post is to be formally termed the Executive Dean of the Edinburgh Business School & School of Social Sciences.

“As Executive Dean, you will report to the Vice-Principal and Provost, and be a core member of the Global Operations Executive, which is tasked with operationalising the Institution’s strategy …”

Heriot-Watt said key priorities in the first three years of the role will include delivery of a plan “to take the EBS into the top 50 of the QS rankings by 2030 if not before” and to “establish and fill with appropriate people all the key leadership positions within the school.”

The priorities also include “progress towards securing AACSB accreditation as quickly as possible and look to what is required to secure other accreditations.”

Executive search firm GatenbySanderson said: “The ideal candidate will have a strong external profile and will bring substantial leadership experience at a senior level which spans multi-national business and/or academia.

“With outstanding financial and business acumen expressed in tone and aspiration, candidates will have a track record of successfully leading major change in diverse cultural contexts and a values-led approach to leadership.”