The Opportunity

The School is seeking to appoint an accomplished and highly experienced farm practice academic to establish a unique transdisciplinary approach to contextual farm animal practice.

The role spans the School's strategic themes and as such places the successful candidate at the heart of our future development, with the opportunity to operate at a highly strategic leadership level.

The appointee will head up a multi-disciplinary team, leading and promoting applied research and a broader programme of scholarship that is impactful on farms and in practice and embedding the principles of how such approaches are adopted.

We are looking for a creative and forward-thinking colleague who can lead across our institutions, partnerships and networks in the sector. An ability to engage with colleagues working in social sciences, policy and business to ensure that knowledge exchange is relevant and implemented is advantageous.

The successful candidate will be a senior member of the HKVS team with the potential for a key leadership role.

A unique partnership between two outstanding universities, the Harper and Keele Veterinary School brings together two distinctive institutions with a track record of excellence in teaching and student experience to provide an exciting new opportunity for veterinary students to train within rural Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Together Keele and Harper Adams universities have 186 years of heritage in the animal and human health areas. Both institutions are recognised for their strengths in employability, student satisfaction and first class teaching and have a shared commitment to research in food security and sustainability.

The joint veterinary school provides students with the opportunity to take advantage of both institutions with a common commitment to excellence and complementary skills.

The appointee will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the school's widening access to the veterinary profession for students from all backgrounds and to embrace and engage in the School's culture of innovation in teaching and learning.

To be successful you will require a degree in veterinary medicine and higher qualifications in veterinary public health. You will also have a proven track record of teaching and assessing within a Higher Education setting.

The role can be based at either campus but will require regular travel between Harper Adams and Keele for teaching, research and leadership duties.

The Harper & Keele Veterinary School is committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible.

The Benefits

The School recognises that its success depends upon the contribution and dedication of its talented staff.

In return, we have a competitive benefits package available, including:

• Competitive rate of pay with annual increments within the grade (Keele Spine)
• Generous annual leave entitlement with opportunities to purchase additional leave
• Excellent staff pension scheme
• Access to continued personal, professional and career development
• On site 'outstanding' nursery (Keele site)
• Discounted health & fitness facilities on site (Keele site)
• Cycle to work scheme (subject to eligibility)

The Harper & Keele Vet School values diversity, and is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity, and to proper and fair representation across its senior decision making groups. In support of these commitments, the University particularly welcomes applications from individuals of Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds for all roles.

Please note this appointment is subject to medical clearance by the University's Occupational Health provider.

How to Apply

For full post details please visit: For full post details and to find out more about working at Keele please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/vacancies

Keele University employees wishing to apply should login to Employee Self Service and click on the 'View current vacancies' link.

For informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Matt Jones, Head of School. Email: [email protected]. Applications to this address will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 24th August 2026

Post reference: KU00005291