Director of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity

The Sir Lenny Henry Centre (LHC) for Media Diversity was established in 2020 with a mission to improve the diversity of representation and employment across contemporary British media. It brings together the expertise of media professionals and academic researchers to develop an evidence-based approach, one that supports different media sectors to become more inclusive and representative of the diverse audiences they serve. By identifying the interventions that work (and those that don’t) the Centre aims to bring about real and lasting change where people from all backgrounds can participate in, and contribute to, the stories that make sense of who we are as a country. The Director of the Centre is involved in every aspect of these aims, developing the strategy to deliver them. They report to the PVC REES and work closely with the Centre’s Advisory Board. 

About the role: 

• Provide strategic direction and leadership of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre (LHC). This will entail meeting and developing relationships with senior figures responsible for the UK media industry. 

• Develop research, enterprise and engagement activity which will directly relate to the aims of the LHC and which align with the University’s 2030 Strategy. 

• Lead, including sustaining and growing, the LHC team. 

• Contribute to, liaise with and support the LHC’s Advisory Board. 

• Lead on engagement work with the UK media sector, including maintaining effective, regular public communications as the voice of the LHC. 

• The post holder will be nationally recognised within the media profession for their work as an industry practitioner/manager and have sustained experience of research, education or enterprise. 

• The post holder will have demonstrable and sustained commitment to Diversity and Inclusion in the media.

Main Activities and Responsibilities

1. Lead, direct and work with others to develop strategy for the sustained development of the LHC in line with its stated aims. The ‘others’ referred to are the senior figures responsible for Diversity within the UK media. 

2. Lead, direct and work with others to develop projects with or about the UK media industry and its representation, resulting in outcomes relating to engagement, enterprise and research that have substantial depth, reach and significance. 

3. Liaise with the Chair of the Advisory Board and attend all meetings. Job Description – Director of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity – July (2025) 

4. Continuously develop and maintain leading research expertise and specialist knowledge. 

5. Lead and contribute to significant external funding applications and initiatives including preparing bids, to agreed targets, providing appropriate reports and dissemination strategies. Develop and maintain a substantial successful track-record of attracting and sustaining funding through applications to external agencies (public and private) regionally, nationally and internationally. 

6. Build, develop and foster strong relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders to facilitate collaborative working to deliver agreed outcomes, specifically creating partnerships of strategic importance with the external stakeholders in the UK media industry. 

7. Regularly disseminate and publish outcomes of significance, originality and rigour, working in partnership with others. This will include the journal Representology; liaising with partners and the editorial board. 

8. Ensure the creation of a high-performing engagement and research culture based on the principles of inclusion, excellence and personal development, supported by HR and other policies, which align to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. 

9. To undertake line management, pastoral care, target setting and performance review of LHC team members and ensure their continued professional development to increase their capabilities in their roles, ensuring the team meets the university’s core values. 

10. Manage the LHC’s reputation and deliver engaging, effective public communication on behalf of the LHC. 

11. Be routinely involved in complex, important and sensitive negotiations with external bodies, particularly in relation to research, engagement and enterprise consultancies.