Chair in Computer Science (Programming Languages and Systems)

Job ID: 014885

Salary: Negotiable salary, from £68,619 per annum

Posted: 01-Feb-2021

Closing date: 15-Mar-2021

Business unit: Natural & Mathematical Sciences

Department: Informatics

Contact details: Professor Luc Moreau , hod-inf@kcl.ac.uk 

Strand Campus   Academic and teaching    

Job description 
The purpose of this role is to provide the highest level of academic leadership in research in the area of Programming Languages and Systems, in Education and Administration.   
 
As part of its strategic development, the Department of Informatics is seeking applications from outstanding scholars and leaders with an excellent and ongoing track record in Programming Languages and Systems. The Department has the ambition to broaden and deepen its strengths in this area, so candidates engaged in research which complements that of the existing members of the Department will be considered favourably. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: programming language design, programming languages and systems implementation, programming language theory, software benchmarking, and evaluation of programming languages and systems usage. 
 
The successful candidate will have a proven track record of shaping and delivering strategy in research, education, and academic administration. They will take an important role in driving ongoing and emerging activities, such as contributing to, and shaping, Departmental Groups and Hubs (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/informatics/research), as well as cross-College multidisciplinary initiatives.  
Applicants must have a PhD, an excellent publication and funding record, and the ability to attract research funding.  It is essential that applicants have the enthusiasm and commitment required to contribute to the further development of the research standing of the Department of Informatics, and to make a full contribution to teaching and administrative activities. 
 
Our staff and students come from all over the world and the Department is proud of its friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged with a number of family-friendly policies, including the operation of a core hours policy, the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example maternity leave. The Department of Informatics is committed to ensuring an inclusive interview process and will reimburse up to £250 towards any additional care costs (for a dependent child or adult) incurred as a result of attending an interview for this position. 
 
For further information about the Department of Informatics at King’s, please see https://nms.kcl.ac.uk/luc.moreau/informatics/overview.pdf. 
 
This post will be offered on a full-time, indefinite contract.

Key responsibilities
The successful candidate is expected to:   

• Provide academic leadership in the area of Computer Science within the Department of Informatics, and to play a leading role in this area within the Faculty, and across the College.  
• Contribute to the teaching, project supervision, and administration of the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the Department of Informatics, including teaching of core subjects in Computer Science.  
• Enhance the research profile of the Department, through maintaining a consistent high-level output of publications and presentations of world-class quality.  
• Sustain high-quality research activity through a portfolio of individual, joint and/or network research projects.  
• Engage actively and regularly in the pursuit of research funding through grant applications to Research Councils and other research funding bodies, and to assist other academic staff in the development of research proposals.  
• Engage, when appropriate, in the dissemination of advanced research through knowledge transfer, outreach, continuing professional development, etc.   
• Supervise and train postgraduate students and postdoctoral research staff to ensure their effective development.  
• Contribute fully and conscientiously to administrative tasks in the Department of Informatics, as directed by the Head of Department.   
• Be involved in the mentoring of junior staff and act as line manager for non-professorial members of academic staff. At an appropriate time, the appointed candidate may be expected to take on a term of office as Head of Department.  
• Lead/contribute to service activities within the Department, Faculty and College.  

 
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 computer science or related field  
• Outstanding research record in computer science as evidenced by sustained publications in high quality journals and conferences  
• Established record of acquiring research grants/funding  
• Ability to attract and develop talented researchers into the field  
• Teaching and assessment experience at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level  
• Experience with shaping modules and/or programmes 
• Academic and administrative leadership experience 

Desirable criteria 

• Ability to further academic planning and strategic development 
• Experience of university governance and of academic administration  
• Experience with interacting with Industry 

Further information
The selection process will include a presentation and a panel interview. The candidates will also have the opportunity to meet members of the department. Interviews are scheduled to be held on 15 April 2021.

Presentation scheduling will be confirmed once shortlisting has taken place. Meetings, presentations and interviews are subject to pandemic constraints and may be held online.
 
This post is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service