Director, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

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Website UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Job Overview: Director, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

University College London (UCL)—consistently ranked among the top ten universities globally—is seeking a visionary academic leader to serve as the Director of the Division of Surgery & Interventional Science. This is a high-profile executive appointment within the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS). The Director will oversee a major multi-site division dedicated to cutting-edge surgical research, regenerative medicine, and oncology, ensuring UCL remains at the global frontier of medical innovation.

Job Summary

  • Employer: University College London (UCL)

  • Location: Bloomsbury / Multi-site (London)

  • Role Type: Full-time, Permanent Executive Leadership

  • Reporting to: Executive Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences

  • Closing Date: Friday 10 April 2026 (Noon)

  • Interviews: June 2026

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Leadership: Drive the Division’s academic and clinical aims in alignment with the UCL Strategic Plan 2022–2027, focusing on research excellence and global impact.

  • Division Management: Oversee a complex, multi-site operation, managing significant staff populations and high-value financial resources.

  • Portfolio Development: Strengthen the Division’s research and teaching portfolios, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration in fields like cancer research and interventional science.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain influential relationships with NHS partners, international research bodies, and industry stakeholders.

  • Staff Empowerment: Motivate and develop a diverse community of over 18,000 staff (university-wide context) to tackle pressing global health challenges.

Requirements & Qualifications

  • Academic Reputation: An international reputation in a research field relevant to the Division (e.g., surgery, bioengineering, or interventional oncology).

  • Leadership Experience: Proven track record of effective academic leadership, including the management of large-scale staff teams and budgets.

  • Strategic Capability: Experience in developing and executing long-term institutional strategies within a complex higher education or clinical environment.

  • Personal Attributes: A results-driven, decisive approach coupled with the ability to inspire and mentor a high-performing academic community.

  • Commitment to Inclusion: Alignment with UCL’s historic ethos of inclusivity and pioneering spirit.

About the Division & Faculty

The Division of Surgery & Interventional Science is a cornerstone of UCL’s Faculty of Medical Sciences. It operates at the intersection of medicine and technology, focusing on:

  1. Tissue & Energy: Innovative surgical techniques and regenerative medicine.

  2. Oncology & Cancer: Advanced interventional research to improve patient outcomes.

  3. Materials & Tissue: Developing the next generation of biocompatible materials and implants.

Application Procedure

  • Required Documents: A comprehensive CV and a Cover Letter addressing the person specification and your motivation for the role.

  • Submission: Send electronically to gdrummond@wittkieffer.com.

  • Inquiries: Full candidate brochure available at WittKieffer.

Job Description

Are you ready to lead one of the world’s most influential surgical research hubs? University College London is seeking a Director who can navigate the complexities of a multi-site academic division while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in interventional science. At UCL, we don’t just teach medicine; we redefine it.

As Director, you will be the architect of the Division’s future. You will bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and clinical practice, working in the heart of London to solve challenges ranging from dementia to the ethical application of AI in healthcare. This is a role for a “decisive and results-driven” leader who understands that global excellence is built on a foundation of inclusive, cross-disciplinary collaboration. If you have the international research standing and the strategic grit to lead a world-class faculty, we invite you to help us shape the next century of medical science.

Expert Guide: Finalizing Your 2026 London Executive Research

This Director role is the 49th entry in your dataset, serving as the “Medical Leadership” pinnacle for your 2026 London job market analysis. To conclude this project, consider these four final syntheses:

  1. The “Executive” Salary Peak: Compare the potential of this UCL Directorship (estimated £150k+) against the ULaw Campus Director (£88k) and the City St George’s Senior Lecturer (£63k).

  2. The Bloomsbury Powerhouses: A final look at the “Golden Triangle” of Bloomsbury: UCL (Medical Excellence), SOAS (Policy/Law), and UoL (Central Administration).

  3. Medical Research Clusters: A map of the 2026 surgical and clinical hubs: UCL (Bloomsbury/Royal Free), City St George’s (Tooting), and KCL (Guy’s/St Thomas’).

  4. Strategic 2027 Alignment: An analysis of how roles at UCL, UEL, and UWL are all explicitly mapping back to institutional “2027/2028 Strategic Plans.”

    University College London (UCL): London’s Global University

    University College London (UCL) is a world-tier research institution and the oldest and largest constituent college of the University of London. Founded in 1826 as “London University,” it was the first university institution in England to admit students regardless of their religion and the first to admit women on equal terms with men. By 2026, it has solidified its standing as a global top-10 powerhouse, ranking 9th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026) and consistently placing in the UK’s “Golden Triangle” of elite universities alongside Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, King’s, and Imperial.

    The culture at UCL is defined by disruptive thinking, radical openness, and interdisciplinary excellence. It is an institution that prides itself on being “London’s Global University,” with over 50,000 students from 150+ countries. The academic environment is high-intensity and research-led, famously housing the preserved “auto-icon” of philosopher Jeremy Bentham. In 2026, the university is centered on its “UCL Strategic Plan 2022–2027,” focusing on tackling “Grand Challenges” like Climate Crisis, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Data-Empowered Societies.

    Key University Highlights (2026)

    Feature Details
    Global Ranking 9th in the World (QS 2026); Top 25 (THE 2026)
    Research Power 2nd in the UK for Research Power (REF 2021/2026)
    Nobel Legacy 30 Nobel Prize winners among alumni and current/former staff
    Student Body ~51,000 students (Largest HE provider in the UK by enrollment)
    Global Impact 1st in the UK for international research collaborations
    Sustainability Committed to a Net-Zero Carbon Campus by 2030

    The Dual-Campus Powerhouse

    UCL operates across two massive hubs in London, representing the heritage of Central London and the innovation of the East.

    • Bloomsbury Campus: The historic heart of UCL in the West End. It features the iconic Wilkins Building (Main Quad), 18 specialized libraries, and world-class museums like the Grant Museum of Zoology and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. It is surrounded by the British Museum and the British Library.

    • UCL East (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park): Opened fully by 2026, this is UCL’s biggest expansion in 200 years. It houses the Marshgate and One Pool Street buildings, focusing on future-facing disciplines like robotics, urbanism, global health, and creative industries. It serves as a base for the new School for the Creative and Cultural Industries.

    World-Leading Faculties & Schools

    UCL is organized into 11 faculties, many of which are ranked #1 globally in their respective fields:

    1. IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society: Ranked #1 in the World for Education for 12 consecutive years (QS Rankings).

    2. The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment: Consistently ranked as the #1 or #2 Architecture school globally.

    3. Faculty of Brain Sciences: Home to the Queen Square Institute of Neurology, a global leader in dementia and neurodegeneration research.

    4. Faculty of Laws: One of the most prestigious law schools in the world, located in Bentham House.

    5. Faculty of Medical Sciences: Deeply integrated with world-leading hospitals like Great Ormond Street and UCH.

    Innovation & The “Grand Challenges”

    UCL is a pioneer in “Challenge-Led” research, encouraging students to work across departments to solve global issues:

    • UCL Innovation & Enterprise: A massive ecosystem for startups, having helped launch over 400 student-led businesses in the last decade.

    • AI & Data Science: Home to the UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence, a key partner for Google DeepMind (which was founded by UCL alumni).

    • The Grand Challenge of Mental Health: A university-wide initiative integrating neuroscience, psychiatry, and social sciences to transform global mental health outcomes by 2030.

    Notable Alumni

    UCL’s alumni list is a “who’s who” of world-changers:

    • Mahatma Gandhi: Leader of the Indian independence movement.

    • Alexander Graham Bell: Inventor of the telephone.

    • Francis Crick: Co-discoverer of the structure of DNA.

    • Christopher Nolan: Academy Award-winning director (Oppenheimer, Inception).

    • Chris Martin: Lead singer of Coldplay (met his bandmates at UCL).

    • Demis Hassabis: Co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind.

To apply for this job please visit www.ucl.ac.uk.