Research director jobs in DerbyCreate job alerts

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills. Our Campus Life and Student Living department is responsible for essential services that significantly impact the student experience. Campus Life is all about the various services that enhance the overall student experience, including sports, recreational facilities and community engagement. Whereas our Student Living teams ensure the safety, comfort and compliance of the University's residential estates. Whichever team you become a part of; student experience is our focus! Within Campus Life, the Sport and Physical Activity team is responsible for delivering a wide-ranging sport, performance sport and physical activity offer that enhances wellbeing, builds community and strengthens the University’s reputation for being Serious about Sport . Through the Team Derby brand, the team works closely with students, colleagues and external partners to deliver inclusive participation opportunities alongside high-quality competitive sport and events. The Sport & Physical Activity Manager provides operational leadership for the University’s sport and physical activity provision and plays a key role in championing the sport agenda across the institution. The role leads a diverse team of staff, consultants, contractors and suppliers, and is responsible for the planning, delivery and evaluation of sport programmes, performance sport activity and sporting events. This includes oversight of operational planning, compliance and the successful delivery of projects aligned to departmental and University priorities. A critical aspect of the role is building effective partnerships and influencing outcomes in a complex environment where delivery often depends on collaboration rather than direct authority. You will work closely with colleagues across academic and professional services, student groups, national governing bodies and commercial partners to align activity, secure resources and ensure a coherent, high-quality offer. The role also involves managing existing sports-related commercial contracts, identifying opportunities to generate and leverage resources, and promoting the University as a destination of choice for students with an interest in sport and physical activity. From time to time, you will support University-wide events such as Open Days, Graduation and Clearing, some of which take place outside normal working hours. Anticipated interview date: 26th March 2026 The ideal candidate will have significant experience delivering sport or physical activity programmes within a complex, customer‑focused environment and will be confident working across organisational boundaries. You will bring a proven ability to advocate for service priorities, influence decision‑making and build productive partnerships without direct line management authority, alongside the confidence to engage a wide range of stakeholders, balance differing perspectives and achieve shared outcomes through collaboration. You will also have experience managing teams and resources and demonstrate strong organisational and communication skills, supported by a relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification and a sound understanding of operational planning and service delivery within sport, leisure or student services. Above all, you will show a strong commitment to inclusive practice and to delivering high‑quality sport and physical activity experiences that enhance student engagement, wellbeing and institutional reputation. • Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata), • Local Government Pension Scheme, • Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, • Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers, • Discounted onsite gym, • Holiday purchase, • Cycle to Work scheme, • A flexible working environment For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post. To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the ___ at interview stage. The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK. Please visit our ___ for more information. The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern. Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy ___. Closing Date: 15 Mar 2026 Area: Management, Professional and Specialist Salary: £38,285 to £45,738 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £52,605 per annum).