Post Title: Professional Lead - Mental Health Nursing
SBU/Department: School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences/Department Nursing Midwifery and Wellbeing
FTE: 1.0 FTE (working 37 hours a week)
Duration of Contract: Permanent
Annual Leave: 35 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: College Lane Campus, Hatfield
The School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire is widely recognised for its excellence in healthcare education. Guided by our vision to transform lives through outstanding teaching, research, and community engagement, we continue to build on our strong reputation. Our Mental Health Nursing programmes are ranked 7th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide, and our students consistently rate us above the sector average across all areas of the NSS.
We are now seeking an inspirational Professional Lead - Mental Health Nursing to help us continue delivering high‑quality education and an exceptional student experience. Joining a welcoming and collaborative academic team, you will play a key role in shaping the future of mental health nursing within the school. Working closely with the Head of Department, you will contribute to enhancing academic quality, driving curriculum innovation, upholding professional standards, and supporting our commitment to excellent student outcomes.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Professional Lead will drive the School and University strategy within their specialist area, ensuring effective operational delivery, academic quality and professional practice. You will champion effective teaching and assessment, lead curriculum development, and support continuing professional development to enhance the student learning experience.
You will contribute to shaping the School’s academic direction by supporting research, commercial and international activity, and by developing strategic partnerships that strengthen experiential learning. The role includes working with professional advisory groups, ensuring staff maintain required professional registrations, and liaising with PSRBs, visiting academics and clinical partners to enhance the academic environment.
As part of the Senior Management Team, you will contribute to departmental strategy and policy development and deputise for the Head of Department when needed. You will chair profession/subject meetings and serve as a full member of the relevant Programme and Module Boards of Examiners.
The role also includes meeting profession/subject targets such as developing new programmes and short courses, generating commercial income, and supporting research, scholarly activity and student recruitment. You will work closely with Associate Deans and maintain strong external relationships with stakeholders including Health Education England, Integrated Care Boards, regulatory bodies and training hubs.
You will manage and maintain high standards of health and safety and oversee recruitment, probation, appraisal, development, promotion and performance review, ensuring processes align with university policy. You will also represent the Department at key University committees and external meetings.
Skills and experience required
Candidates must bring significant experience contributing to academic or professional leadership within a higher education or relevant professional setting, with a demonstrated track record of collaborating effectively with academic and professional colleagues across multiple disciplines to deliver teaching, research, or enterprise outcomes. You will have evidence of establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders such as regulators, NHS organisations, or professional advisory bodies. Previous experience of line management, including performance review, workload planning, and staff development and experience in chairing formal meetings related to education and quality assurance is also essential.
You will demonstrate knowledge of and expertise in developing and delivering teaching and assessment of the profession, at undergraduate or postgraduate level and have knowledge and understanding of academic/professional quality assurance processes. Excellent communication skills, and proven experience of producing and presenting high-quality written reports, proposals, and presentations tailored to academic and external audiences is essential.
Qualifications required
You will be educated with a minimum of a Masters Degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline. You will also hold current membership of a relevant professional body, or equivalent. A recognised Teaching Qualification and Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly the HEA) is also essential.
Disclosure and Barring Service
Our commitment to the University’s Safeguarding Policy requires that the recruitment of staff in this area, will require the minimum of a Basic DBS Check. In the course of our work and University-led activities, there may be external contractual obligations where a further Enhanced Check is required. DBS checks may require renewal in line with policy.
Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad
Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total), in the last 10 years, will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct’ from each of those countries.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.
An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
Please note, this post cannot be visa sponsored unless you can evidence a good honours first degree plus a PhD / Doctorate. A criminal record check may also be required.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Xabi Cathala, Head of Department Nursing Midwifery and Wellbeing on
[email protected]
Closing Date: 17 June 2026
Interview Date: TBC
Reference Number: REQ000700
Date advert placed: 03 June 2026
Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts
