Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Job number: NAT02317
- Faculties: Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Departments: Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Salary or Salary range: Competitive
- Location/campus: South Kensington Campus - On site only
- Contract type work pattern: Full time - Open ended
- Posting End Date: 30 Nov 2026
About the role
Imperial College London is one of the world’s great universities – second in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year 2027 – renowned for ground-breaking research and outstanding education, a highly talented community of staff, students and alumni, and international reach. Our mission is to achieve enduring excellence in research and education in science, engineering, medicine and business, for the benefit of society.
We were founded in 1907 with a mission ‘To be useful’ – understanding the universe to improve lives within it. Since our founding, we have sought to be not only a world-leading university, but a world-changing one, combining our tremendous strength in science, engineering, medicine and business with scientific discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship to create real-world impact addressing global health, climate change, AI, business leadership and more.
Our strategy, Science for Humanity, is unashamedly ambitious in seeking to maximise Imperial’s potential as a force for good in the world. Our Imperial Class of 2030 programme will nurture the most talented, enterprising and diverse graduating class we have ever served; the next phase of our White City Deep Tech Campus will be a powerful engine for investment, inclusive economic growth and job creation; and our new cross-institutional School of Convergence Science will bring research impact to the emergent forces shaping our future at unprecedented scale in thematic areas: sustainability; human and artificial intelligence; health and technology; space, security and telecoms.
The natural sciences sit at the very heart of Imperial’s identity and global reputation. Our Faculty of Natural Sciences pursues fundamental scientific discovery and applies it to society’s greatest challenges – from the building blocks of the universe and the complexities of living systems to climate, energy, the environment and global health.
With a vibrant community of almost 1,400 staff and approximately 5,700 students, and research income in excess of £90 million, the Faculty brings together the Departments of Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physics and the Centre for Environmental Policy, across our South Kensington, White City and Silwood Park campuses. Our world-leading research, exceptional students from across the globe, and extensive collaborations across Imperial, with industry and with partners worldwide uniquely position us to deliver transformational change.
What you would be doing
To achieve our strategic ambitions and maintain our position at the forefront of scientific excellence worldwide, we need exceptional academic leadership. The Dean of Natural Sciences represents a pivotal appointment for the Faculty and Imperial’s future success. Reporting to the Provost and working with the President, and as a member of the University Management Board and Council, you will lead a world-class faculty, driving forward our academic mission and ensuring excellence across our research, education and innovation portfolio.
What we are looking for
We are seeking an outstanding individual with the vision, credibility and leadership capabilities to shape the future of the natural sciences at Imperial and beyond. You will have an international academic reputation in a relevant discipline and be able to command respect across the university community in order to deliver Imperial’s ambitious vision. As a role model for Imperial’s values and behaviours, your leadership will be vital in fostering an inclusive environment in which our scientific community can thrive and deliver on our strategic ambitions.
This is truly a role with the potential to be transformational for Imperial, for natural sciences education and research, and for the world we serve.
Further information
For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit https://PLusPortal.PerrettLaver.com quoting reference 8584.
For informal inquiries please contact Harvir Bains on harvir.bains@perrettlaver.com.
The deadline for the receipt of applications is 09:00 am GMT on Monday 30th November 2026.
Salary: Competitive.
Location: South Kensington, London, with regular travel
As a leading institution in the heart of London, Imperial proudly upholds a longstanding commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Valuing the diversity of the Imperial community is one of the four cornerstones of the recent strategy and Imperial strongly encourages applications from those with a diverse range of backgrounds.
We will build a supportive, diverse, inclusive and highly motivated staff community across all disciplines, functions and activities. This will help us to attract and retain the talented and diverse staff we need to achieve our mission.
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Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
We reserve the right to close the advert before the stated closing date, should we receive a high volume of applications. Please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you have any general queries about this vacancy, please contact the hiring manager listed in the ‘Further Information’ section. Alternatively, you can contact the Recruitment Hub at recruitmenthub@imperial.ac.uk, and we will be happy to assist you.
If you experience any technical issues that prevent you from submitting an application, please contact our Technical Support team at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk, who will be able to help resolve the issue.
About Imperial
Welcome to Imperial, a global top-ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.
As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.
This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.
Our Culture
We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination, and creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages.
Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.
Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.
