Job description

We are seeking to recruit an outstanding scholar with expertise in sociology, social policy or a closely allied field and a strong interest in social justice to play a central role in the development of applied social science research and teaching at King's.

The successful candidate will be a member of the friendly and vibrant Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) within the School of Education, Communication and Society in the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy. They will play a key role in the mentoring of CPPR colleagues, contribute to programme leadership, teaching and module coordination on the BA Social Sciences and other programmes as required and undertake doctoral supervision. They will conduct and publish outstanding research, obtain external funding for new research projects,  help to promote a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond CPPR, and contribute to leadership within the School.

The successful candidate will have an outstanding research track record and outstanding teaching ability, experience of successful academic leadership, and a collegial approach to leading teams. They will also have an interest in enquiry-based, participatory and/or critical pedagogies and communication across disciplines.

We welcome applications from candidates with interests including, but not limited to, social theory, class, gender, race, Black studies, de/postcolonial studies, global justice, youth justice, activism, education, health and/or disability studies. Applications from candidates with the expertise needed to lead BA modules such as ‘Transitions to Adulthood’  and/or ‘Children and Youth in Troubled Times’ would be particularly welcome.

We also particularly welcome candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to reflect the community we serve.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Contribute to mentoring within the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), helping to sustain its supportive culture and contributing to inter-disciplinary working within and beyond the Centre
• Contribute to programme leadership, curriculum development, teaching and module coordination on the BA Social Sciences and other programmes as required, in particular the MA Education and MA Child Studies suite of programmes
• Act as Personal Tutor to students and supervise student dissertations
• Conduct high quality research and undertake knowledge exchange activities relating to one or more of CPPR's four programmes of research and knowledge exchange
• Enhance the research profile of CPPR through a portfolio of high quality publications and funded research
• Recruit and supervise MPhil/PhD students in their specialist research area
• Promote and market the work of the School
• Act in a senior role within the School, undertaking administrative and other activities as directed by the Head of School

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 

1. A PhD in a relevant area
2. Strong leadership and teamworking skills, with evidence of capacity to engage, motivate  and mentor colleagues and a proven commitment to inclusive and democratic ways of working
3. Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
4. Expertise in sociology, social policy or a closely allied field, with a strong interest in social justice and applied social science and an aptitude for communication across disciplines
5. The ability and willingness to contribute to programme leadership and make a broad contribution to the teaching and coordination of modules on the BA Social Sciences, and the MA Education and/or Child Studies programmes, including in areas beyond the candidate's immediate specialism
6. Proven teaching ability and an interest in and expertise relevant to enquiry-based, participatory and/or critical pedagogies
7. A substantial record of high quality research publications and research funding

Desirable criteria 

1. The ability and willingness to lead the BA modules, ‘Transitions to Adulthood' and/or ‘Children and Youth in Troubled Times'
2. Expertise in quantitative methods