Professor and Head of Population Health Sciences

We are seeking an inclusive and inspirational strategic leader to lead the Department of Population Health Sciences, working closely with the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Head of the College of Life Sciences and Dean of Medicine. In this key role you will enable and empower students and staff to realise their ambitions through research-inspired education. Your creativity, underpinned by strong institutional, national and international collaborations, will deliver impact and outcomes across the Department, College and wider University, giving you the opportunity to play a transformative role in the future direction of your discipline.
The Department of Population Health Sciences works to understand and improve population health through international quality research and teaching, encompassing determinants of health, interventions in policy and practice, and methodological development. Our research is based around a number of broad themes, with established strengths across epidemiology, medical statistics, public health, primary care, health services research, and psychiatry. We were delighted with our performance in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, in which we placed 12th in the UK for our overall research quality (GPA) to UoA 2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care, with 50% of our Research Impact judged to be ‘Outstanding’.
Structured to support innovative multidisciplinary and multi-method solutions to research questions, our mission is to conduct high quality scientific research that can inform policies and practices aimed at securing people's health and well-being.
Population Health Sciences play a central role in teaching the Medicine MBChB undergraduate course offered by the University of Leicester Medical School and we provide a rich and well-staffed environment for postgraduate students. Our excellent teaching and energetic lecturing staff include top health science researchers with strengths across epidemiology, medical statistics, public health, health services and psychiatry.
Our University is now placed consistently amongst the top 30 universities in the country. A rise of 11 places in the Complete University Guide means we are now ranked 29th in the league table of higher education institutions in the UK and in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023, Leicester is ranked 163rd among the world’s universities and 22nd in the UK. We were also placed 35th in the Guardian University Guide.
Research England published the results of REF2021 and the results show that, since the previous REF in 2014, the University has moved up 23 places to rank 30th overall in the Times Higher Education REF rankings, Clinical Medicine was 2nd in the UK. This represents one of the biggest climbs of any university. This is our best ever performance in a research assessment exercise and an exceptional testament to the quality and impact of our academics’ research and the wider research environment.
About you
As Head of Department you will be responsible to the Head of College for the highly effective operation and development of your Department, ensuring that this aligns to University Strategy 
You will be an accomplished communicator who can lead, inspire and motivate colleagues across the Department and, crucially, you must be capable of leading change and delivering against the strategic priorities of the University. You will be committed to providing an inclusive environment for students and staff focused on realising potential and striving for excellence.
For more information on the role and its responsibilities please see the candidate brochure.