Overview
Academic Director of Estates Strategy (Health & Life Sciences) – INTERNAL ONLY – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY
About us:
King’s 2030 strategy commits us to growing and developing our strength areas, and Health and Life Sciences are key priorities, leveraging the academic excellence of our health faculties, our NHS partnerships (via King’s Health Partners), and place-based presence to deliver world-leading research, education and impact. Our estate, often embedded in healthcare infrastructure and at the heart of the SC1 innovation ecosystem, present a unique opportunity to shape the future of translational research and infrastructure, interdisciplinary education and student experience, inclusive innovation and population health.
Reporting to the SVP (Health and Life Sciences), Professor Graham Lord, this role seeks a senior academic leader to define and drive the vision for the next generation of King’s estates, as relevant to health and life sciences. The role-holder will work closely with a number of stakeholders including the Associate Principal (Campus Futures) and health faculty leadership to oversee the development of our academic strategy for campus development, delivered through the Campus Futures Programme, to integrate our institutional ambitions in health and life sciences with NHS priorities, SC1 innovation opportunities, and the city’s wider health and economic growth agenda.
The postholder will ensure that our estate (particularly Denmark Hill, London Bridge and Waterloo, including St Thomas’ Hospital), enables and accelerates the full spectrum of academic activity, from early-phase research and student experience to enterprise generation and clinical innovation, whilst supporting inclusive growth, digital transformation and space optimisation.
About the role:
The postholder will report to the SVP for Health and Life Sciences, with a dotted line to the Assistant Principal (Campus Futures). Key stakeholders include the Health Faculty Executive Deans and Directors of Operations, and SVPs (Academic) and (Operations), and the Assistant Principal (Innovation).
Key responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership: Develop and deliver a strategic vision for King’s health and life sciences estates, to enable delivery of King’s 2030 strategy, Health+, SC1 London, and NHS partner ambitions. Ensure integration with broader campus initiatives (including through Campus Futures), and translation of strategic priorities into actionable plans that optimise resources, enhance student experience, support world-class education and research, and support our innovation agenda.
Navigate Multi-Stakeholder Governance working across King’s internal committees and joint KCL-NHS Trust partnership governance structures. Ensure transparent decision-making, shared ownership, and timely progress across all stakeholder groups while participating actively in the overarching Campus Futures Health Programme Board and overseeing/participating in any specific project delivery boards.
Represent King’s in key external forums and place-based partnerships, e.g SC1 London, NHS infrastructure planning, and London’s life sciences growth agenda. Champion inclusive innovation by ensuring campus developments promote equitable access to research, education, and health outcomes for underrepresented communities.
Academic Integration & Innovation: foster future-facing academic and clinical collaboration by developing flexible, integrated health campus spaces that support interdisciplinary education, digital learning, and research in partnership with NHS and faculties. Provide visible leadership and a compelling narrative, engaging the King’s community while driving productivity and efficiency in space use aligned with broader university initiatives.
Operational Excellence & Sustainability: Ensure operational and financial coherence of the health campus strategy through close collaboration across estates, finance, planning, digital, and research infrastructure teams, while supporting strategic investment and funding proposals to advance sustainable long-term development. Embed environmental sustainability and resilience into all planning, aligning with the NHS Green Plan and the King’s Sustainability Strategy to deliver measurable improvements in performance.
Performance, Risk & Community engagement: Establish robust performance frameworks to track outcomes against strategic priorities, provide visible leadership and community engagement, ensuring all stakeholders at King’s and our partners are well-informed, consulted, and engaged throughout the programme, and proactively manage risks, issues, and dependencies, working closely with central functions e.g. Campus Futures Programme Management Office and King’s Portfolio Office
This is a part time post, offered at 0.2 – 0.4 FTE to be agreed with the successful candidate. You will be offered an fixed-term contract for 3 years.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
