Pro-Vice-Provost (Intercultural Communication)

Ref Number B09-01360 Professional Expertise Research and Research Support Department Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement) (B09) Location London Working Pattern Part time Salary £77,000+ Contract Type Fixed-term Working Type Hybrid Available for Secondment Yes Closing Date 14-Jun-2026

About us

We invite members of the UCL community to apply for strategic leadership roles (Pro-Vice-Provost) in one of UCL's evolved Grand Challenges: Intercultural Communication.

The UCL Grand Challenges (GC) programme is a flagship institution-wide programme designed to stimulate cross-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange on some the most important issues facing the world today. It enables collaboration between experts in different disciplines and across sectors, through funding, network building and knowledge mobilisation.

As part of the UCL Strategic Plan 2022 - 2027, the GC programme is expanding with:

• five new GC Themes: Mental Health & Wellbeing; Climate Crisis; Data-Empowered Societies; and Inequalities themes have already been launched. This final theme - Intercultural Communication - will be launched in Academic Year 2026/27.
• an expanded remit, covering not only research and innovation but now also integrating GC Themes across UCL's education mission and institutional operations
• new strategic academic leadership (Pro-Vice-Provosts for each theme) and a revised programme of activities for each GC Theme
• significantly expanded funding over each GC Theme's five-year lifespan. In its evolved form, the GC programme aims to apply the collective expertise of our community and its partners to areas of pressing societal concern, as well as to influence the university's educational offering and institutional operations.

This role is available as an internal five-year 0.5 FTE secondment, with funding for backfill of the appointee's substantive post. We would very much welcome applications from potential job share candidates who are seeking to jointly lead the Intercultural Communications theme as Pro-Vice-Provosts. Previous appointments to GC Themes, including for Climate Crisis, Inequalities, Data Empowered Societies and Mental Health & Wellbeing, have successfully followed this approach.

About the role

The Pro-Vice-Provost (PVP) Intercultural Communication role will provide strategic academic leadership for their GC Theme, working closely with the Vice-Provost (RIGE), the Director of Grand Challenges, the designated Dean Sponsor, members of the Theme's Executive Group and the pan-GC Steering Group, and professional staff in the GC team and across RIGE.

The role requires inspiring and engaging leadership sufficiently comfortable in the language of several disciplines to be able to excite and engage people within and beyond UCL about the potential benefits of involvement. As PVP, you will respond to the external landscape and stakeholder needs, as well as internal capabilities and aspirations. You will kick-start new research, innovation and education initiatives in partnership with internal and external collaborators. You'll channel investment into academic departments and faculties that network and empower colleagues and raise our institutional reputation in areas relating to the GC Theme. Reflecting the expanded scope of the programme, you will ensure that our collective expertise - both disciplinary and professional - is consistently brought to bear on UCL's decision-making on issues related to the GC Theme.

A full job description is attached to this advert. If you would like an informal chat about the role please contact our Director of Grand Challenges, Sam Balch, on

Please note that we currently intend to hold interviews on July 3rd.

About you

Each PVP role is available as an internal five-year 0.5 FTE secondment (0.25 FTE as a job share), with funding provided for backfill of the appointee's substantive post.

Successful applicants will be visionary, inclusive leaders with the ability to inspire colleagues across disciplines and sectors. They will bring deep knowledge of the theme and related issues, and a commitment to harnessing UCL's excellence to tackle complex societal issues.

Please review the job description, paying particular attention to the Essential and Desirable criteria, and ensure these are covered in your application.

We warmly welcome joint applications from two colleagues with complementary experience and interests who wish to job-share. This model provides an excellent opportunity for colleagues at different career stages or with diverse responsibilities to take on institutional leadership roles while maintaining their academic work.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.