Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art (RCA) is the world’s largest community of postgraduate-only art and design students. It is also the oldest art and design university in continuous operation and has been ranked as the world’s number one art & design university for a remarkable eleven consecutive years (QS World Subject Rankings 2015–25).

Under the leadership of our President & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christoph Lindner, we are stepping towards our vision of the Royal College of Art at our 200th anniversary in 2037 as the world's most influential art and design community. We will be at the forefront of exploring the potential of new technologies in the creative industries, as well as using our work to tackle urgent challenges such as climate change and inequality, while interacting with more global artists, educators, designers, researchers, and innovators through UK-wide and international partnerships.

It is in this context that the RCA now seeks an experienced and visionary leader for the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). Serving as a member of the RCA Executive Board and reporting directly to the President & Vice-Chancellor, this senior academic role will provide strategic leadership in advancing the College's research, knowledge exchange, innovation, and consultancy ambitions, ensuring we retain our position as the most research-intensive art and design specialist institution in the UK with a world-leading track record of partnerships with business, industry, governments, and communities.

The role holder will lead the development of a forward-looking, cross-disciplinary research and innovation ecosystem that anticipates and shapes global creative, technological, and societal futures. With oversight of the College's Research Centres, doctoral programmes, InnovationRCA (one of the UK's most successful university incubators), executive education, and consultancy functions, the successful candidate will drive growth in research funding, diversify income streams, and enhance cost recovery while fostering a culture of impact, innovation, and research integrity.

Key priorities include launching a new Research and Innovation Strategy for 2026–30, creating two new College-wide research initiatives focused on sustainability and future technologies, and increasing research quality with the aim of raising the proportion of outputs scoring 3 and 4 stars in REF2029 by at least 10%.

The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record in research leadership, strategic partnership development, and securing significant research funding, along with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative research culture that supports excellence at all career stages.

This is a unique opportunity to join one of the world's leading institutions in arts, design, and communication education and to position creative research at the forefront of global innovation. If you are a visionary leader passionate about advancing research excellence and translating creative knowledge into real-world impact, we encourage you to apply for this pivotal role.

The Royal College of Art will be supported in this appointment by executive search firm Perrett Laver.

Completed applications should be uploaded at https://PLusPortal.PerrettLaver.com quoting reference number 8129. 
For informal inquiries, please contact Harvir Bains at Harvir.Bains@perrettlaver.com.

The deadline for applications is 9:00am GMT on Monday 1st December 2025.

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