Professor of Critical Digital Practice

Job ID: 015244

Salary: £72,119 to £89,515 per annum, including London Weighting

Allowance Posted: 05-Feb-2021

Closing date: 05-Mar-2021

Business unit: Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Department: Digital Humanities

Contact details: Stuart Dunn, stuart.dunn@kcl.ac.uk

Strand Campus   Academic and teaching    

Job description
The post holder will have a strong background as a critical practitioner in a field of the digital humanities, broadly defined. They will deliver world-leading research, including, where appropriate, practice-led research, research-informed teaching, and research mentoring and supervision.  Applicants will be able to demonstrate an international profile with an excellent publication record commensurate with their expertise, and a track record of achieving grant funding. The post holder will build and expand upon the Department's research, extending into new directions and significant emergent areas.
They will be expected to provide inspiring and innovative teaching and research grounded in a field of critical digital practice, such as coding, visualization, design or creative methods. They will offer teaching across the Department's existing range of options, and create new modules of broad interest at both BA and MA level. They will seek out new and emerging student markets and contribute to the development of new programmes to meet student demand, including distance learning.  They will also contribute significantly to the Department and College's vision for practice-led PhD supervision.

The post holder will provide excellent management and administrative skills for the Department and Faculty, and will be willing in due course to take on a senior leadership role in the Department, such as Director of Research, Education Lead or Head of Department, and/or in the Faculty/College.
Applications from all areas of the digital humanities and culture will be considered but we particularly welcome applications from candidates whose research provokes new thinking and crosses disciplinary and domain boundaries, and which engages with practice-based research.  The post holder will join a vibrant and energetic research community in which the Faculty is investing heavily.

The department is committed to building an equitable and diverse academic environment. We therefore welcome applicants from underrepresented communities and those who can demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion in teaching, research, mentoring and service.
 
This is a full time post.
This is an indefinite contract. 

Key responsibilities
Research:

• Achieve an international research reputation in one or more fields of the Digital Humanities relating to critical digital practice
• Publish or otherwise disseminate internationally excellent (3* in REF terms) research outputs, including outputs of world-leading excellence (4* in REF terms)
• Demonstrate and sustain an excellent record in applying for or obtaining high-value external research funding from national and international funders, including funders not traditionally associated with Digital Humanities,
• Develop and lead collaborative projects with international and/or prestigious national research teams or partners
• Lead impact, public engagement and/or knowledge transfer activities of international significance
• Lead on the development of research initiatives in the area of technology in culture and society, and administration and policy in the department and/or Faculty
• Engage, where appropriate, in interdisciplinary research at KCL through the Arts and Humanities Research Institute, other Departments within A&H, and developing our links with other Faculties
• Contribute to leadership in the international research community through holding prominent roles in international professional associations or learned societies
• Contribute to the DDH's emerging research agenda on “Digital London”, and develop related Research, Service and Impact activities

Education

• Lead the review and strategic planning of the module and programme portfolio of DDH, or contribute to the Faculty's Education strategy and leadership
• Lead the development and management of the curriculum within DDH
• Take a prominent role in the Faculty's curriculum development, and quality assurance and enhancement activity
• Be recognized outside the College as a senior educator and leading subject authority, for example by acting as an external representative on departmental or subject-review panels
• Hold a Senior Fellowship (SFHEA) or Principal Fellowship (PFHEA) of the Higher Education Academy

Leadership and administration

• Be able to undertake a senior leadership role within the Department, such as Head of Department, or a senior Faculty responsibility, for example as a thematic or cluster Vice Dean, for a sustained period. 
• Consistently show well-developed enabling skills and evidence of significant leadership and management contributions to a department or the Faculty
• Effectively lead, develop and motivate colleagues towards achieving departmental, Faculty and College goals in line with King's Strategic Vision 2029
• Establish and coordinate initiatives for mentoring and developing staff in the Department, and contribute to our culture of fostering teaching and research among Early Career colleagues.
• Lead in the national development of your subject field or discipline
• Build outward-facing connections with overseas educational, cultural, public or private sector bodies to enhance the external profile of the Department.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills,knowledge, and experience
Essential criteria 

• PhD in a relevant discipline, or equivalent research or work experience
• An in-depth understanding of critical digital practice in Digital Humanities broadly defined, including at least one specialism, with the ability to identify and take forward new and emerging areas of research that further develop the field of the digital humanities
• An outstanding record of world leading research and publication compatible with a 4* REF profile
• An ability to attract and supervise to completion high quality research students
• An excellent knowledge of contemporary teaching and learning approaches in higher education and the ability to enthuse students with innovative teaching methods
• Ability to communicate clearly and convincingly both orally and in writing to a wide range of individuals and groups, including students, academic audiences, and professional services colleagues
• Experience of evaluating and developing new programmes and modules, and refreshing and updating existing ones; including developing teaching materials assessments, either online, in person or both
• Experience of providing effective personal tuition for students
• Experience of, and participation in, co- and collaborative research
• Excellent communication skills
• An understanding and working knowledge of Equal Opportunities and Diversity 

Desirable criteria

• Senior Fellowship (SFHEA) or Principal Fellowship (PFHEA) of the Higher Education Academy, or an equivalent recognized educational qualification.
• Experience in a senior leadership role, including providing mentoring, management and career development for staff
• Evidence of research income generation and/or third sector funding and knowledge exchange partnerships