Vice Principal AI and Creativity & Dean of School

Edinburgh Napier University is an ambitious, applied university with a clear sense of purpose and a strong record of delivering personalised education, work-related learning and research that matters in the real world. Ranked the number one modern university in Scotland and the number one university in Edinburgh for student satisfaction, we combine strong student outcomes with a practical, outward-looking approach to education, research and partnership.

We are seeking a Vice Principal for AI and Creativity & Dean of School to help shape the next phase of our academic development and institutional ambition.

As a member of the University Leadership Team, the postholder will combine university-wide leadership on AI and creativity with academic and operational leadership of a newly configured School spanning Computing, Engineering, the Built Environment, Arts and Creative Industries. You will lead the continued formation of the School, bringing disciplines together within a shared academic community and shaping its culture, direction and performance.

Alongside this, you will play a leading role in how the University responds to the opportunities and implications of AI and creativity for education and the workforce, working with employers and external partners to inform future curricula and skills development. The role carries broad responsibility across academic quality, student experience, research and innovation, financial sustainability, governance and risk, as well as leadership of the Merchiston campus.

We are seeking an outstanding academic leader who can lead across a broad and distinctive disciplinary mix and contribute at University Leadership Team level. The successful candidate will bring a strong track record of delivery in a complex academic setting, with the ability to lead through change, build trust and align diverse groups behind a clear vision. You will have the academic standing to command credibility across technical, professional and creative disciplines, alongside the judgement to shape the University’s approach to AI, creativity and the evolving needs of learners and employers.

You will be a highly collaborative and people-focused leader, with the ability to represent the University externally with authority and impact.

For further information on this exciting opportunity and details of how to apply, please visit

The closing date for applications is Friday 11th September 2026.