Committee Vacancies (Academic Board nominations)

The role of the Vice CHair of Academic Board (VCAB) is to act as an interlocutor and point of communication between the academic community, the School Management Committee, and Council. Formally, the VCAB chairs Board meetings when the President and Vice Chancellor is absent or at their request, briefs the President and Vice Chancellor about important business before meetings, sees that the Board’s committees are working properly, and reports the views of the Board to Council meetings. The VCAB also reports regularly to the Board on the work of Council and its committees.

The VCAB chairs the Agenda Committee of the Academic Board, which plans the business of the Board, approves the structure of the agenda, ensures that the business of the Board is fully prepared and ensures that action agreed by the Board is followed up.

The VCAB also chairs the Academic Nominations Committee which is responsible for identifying and appointing some of the School's senior academic office holders and relevant committee Chairs, as well as appointing members of the academic staff to School committees for which the Academic Board is the appointing authority.

The VCAB is an ex-officio member of a number of other committees including the Academic Planning and Resources Committee, the Department Heads Forum, and Council.

A job summary for the VCAB is available here. A copy of the Council member role description is also provided here, given the specific responsibility of this role.

Requirements: The Academic Nominations Committee is looking for a senior academic who understands the history, complexity and diversity of the School, who can take a School-wide perspective on issues, and who can provide sound, reliable and level-headed judgement as well as gain the confidence and respect of the School community. Ideally, the VCAB should have had experience of sitting on significant School committees, such as Council and Academic Planning and Resources Committee, and will previously have held a senior administrative role, such as Head of Department.

The current VCAB, Pauline Barrieu (p.m.barrieu@lse.ac.uk) will be pleased to talk with potential candidates. 

The VCAB attracts an honorarium of £20,000 per annum, double entitlement to sabbatical leave and additional research support funds of £5,000 per annum. This is a 0.5 FTE role that comes with corresponding teaching replacement resources.

The VCAB is also supported by a senior administrator who is the Secretary of the Board.

How to apply: To apply for the role of VCAB, please send a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) and CV to the Secretary of the ANC, Lyndsay Galpin, at academic.board@lse.ac.uk, by 9 May 2025.

The School is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and the Academic Nominations Committee encourages applications from individuals from under-represented groups. 

It is also open to the Academic Nominations Committee to consider candidates for this post other than those who apply in response to this circular.

1 vacancy: Group 4 (non-Prof)

Term of office: 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028

The Education Committee is responsible for overseeing the education and experience of all students and has responsibility for enhancing provision in line with the School’s educational vision and values. Particular areas of responsibility include: teaching, learning and assessment; curriculum development; quality assurance and enhancement; academic standards; student experience and academic support; academic regulations and associated policies. A number of sub-committees in these areas report to Education Committee.

Members of Education Committee sit on periodic Department Review panels delivered on behalf of Education Committee, APRC and Research Committee. Each review panel includes one academic member of Education Committee and each member should expect to sit on a minimum of one 2-day review during their term.

Requirements: Candidates should have experience of how their departments’ quality assurance arrangements work. They should also be prepared to contribute to policy discussions aimed at enhancing education at the School. The Education Committee will handle a steady stream of business across the academic year, and agendas will be full, sometimes heavy.

Please return the completed application form, along with a CV, to academic.board@lse.ac.uk. Please note that the application process for this committee will involve a short interview via Zoom.

When determining appointments, the Academic Nominations Committee will have regard to the current targets for gender representation and ensuring the committee membership includes a balance of both professors and non-professors and representation from every constituency group.

Questions about membership of the committee can be directed to Tom Hewlett (t.w.hewlett@lse.ac.uk).

2 Vacancies: Group 2 (Prof), Group 4 (Prof)

Term of office: 3 years, to be appointed asap until 31 July 2027

The Research Committee encourages and facilitates research appropriate to the School as an academic centre of scholarship and teaching in the social sciences. It seeks to initiate and to secure means for the development of research, and for implementing the research strategy of the School within the framework approved by Council and set out in the Research for the World strategy. The Committee’s terms of reference also include oversight and promotion of the continuing alignment and integration of the School’s knowledge exchange efforts with its commitment to research excellence; oversight of the work of the REF Strategy Committee, Knowledge Exchange and Impact Strategy Committee, and Research Ethics Committee; and responsibility to encourage and facilitate the School’s strategy and policy in relation to postgraduate research student activity.

The committee meets twice per term, and there is a steady stream of business to deal with throughout the year, including in between meetings. In addition to making positive contributions to meetings and taking oversight of the Research for the World strategy, members should also be willing to represent the Committee on either the annual Research Centre or Departmental Reviews as needed.

Requirements: the ideal candidate should have experience of undertaking research, experience of managing research contracts, and knowledge of how research is funded at the School. They should demonstrate an interest in/awareness of research policy issues that affect the LSE, experience of collaborative research and the ability to take a strategic overview of research at LSE. Experience on a Departmental Research Committee would also be valuable.

Please return the completed application form, along with a CV, to academic.board@lse.ac.uk. Please note that the application process for this committee will involve a short interview via Zoom.

When determining appointments, the Academic Nominations Committee will have regard to the current targets for gender representation and ensuring the committee membership includes a balance of both professors and non-professors and representation from every constituency group.

Questions about membership of the committee can be directed to Casimira Headley-Walker (c.headley-walker@lse.ac.uk).

1 vacancy: Group 4

Term of office: 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028

The Graduate Studies Sub-Committee is a sub-committee of the Education Committee. It is responsible for considering proposals from departments and institutes for the establishment and modification of programmes for graduate degrees and diplomas, and for such other factors affecting graduate studies at the School.

Requirements: Candidates should have a broad understanding of graduate provision across the School, and be willing to contribute towards discussions and decisions about changes to programmes and courses, as well as policy and regulation.  There is a steady stream of business and GSSC usually meets twice a term.

Please return the completed application form, along with a CV, to academic.board@lse.ac.uk. 

When determining appointments, the Academic Nominations Committee will have regard to the current targets for gender representation and ensuring the committee membership includes a balance of both professors and non-professors and representation from every constituency group.

Questions about membership of the committee can be directed to Janine Olding (j.olding@lse.ac.uk) 

2 vacancies: Group 3 and Group 4

Term of office: 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028

The Regulations, Policies and Standards Sub-Committee is a sub-committee of the Education Committee. On behalf of the Education Committee, the Regulations, Policies and Standards Sub-Committee is responsible for overseeing the review and development of academic regulations, policies and where appropriate, procedures, required to facilitate the implementation of decisions taken by the Education Committee or by Academic Board, in line with the School’s educational vision and values. The committee will monitor and review policies and procedures designed to maintain academic standards and enhance the quality of its educational provision.

Requirements: Candidates should have an interest in academic quality and standards and ensuring that the relevant policies and procedures effectively maintain academic standards and enhance the quality of the School's educational provision. Candidates should also be able to assess whether proposed changes at the Committee align with the School's strategic vision and values.

Please return the completed application form to academic.board@lse.ac.uk.

When determining appointments, the Academic Nominations Committee will have regard to the current targets for gender representation and ensuring the committee membership includes a balance of both professors and non-professors and representation from every constituency group.

Questions about membership of the committee can be directed to Casey Hawkins (c.hawkins@lse.ac.uk). 

1 vacancy: Group 1

Term of office: 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028

The Research Degrees Sub-Committee is responsible for considering matters relating to programme and School regulations for research degrees within the School. It oversees the establishment, modification and deletion of research degree programmes and the component taught courses offered within the programmes. It reviews research degree regulations, and the arrangements for appointment of research degree examiners and the award of degrees to successful students. RDSC members also act as decision-makers for appeals submitted under the Appeals Regulations for Research Students

Requirements: the ideal candidate should have an understanding of the different aspects of doctoral provision within the School. Experience of managing doctoral programmes and doctoral students in their own department would be advantageous. They should be interested in research policy issues that affect the LSE and its research students and should be able to take a School-wide perspective on them. They should be aware that there is a steady stream of business to deal with during the year and in between meetings. Applications from Doctoral Programme Directors (past or present) would be particularly welcomed.

Please return the completed application form, along with a CV, to academic.board@lse.ac.uk.

When determining appointments, the Academic Nominations Committee will have regard to the current targets for gender representation and ensuring the committee membership includes a balance of both professors and non-professors and representation from every constituency group.

Questions about membership of the committee can be directed to Pete Mills (p.b.mills@lse.ac.uk).