Job description

The Department of Global Health & Social Medicine is a unique, interdisciplinary social sciences department at King’s College London founded in 2012. Its mission is to address the changing landscape of global health and biomedicine through social science perspectives.  

The Department invites applications for a Lecturer in Social Science, Health and Medicine. We welcome applicants in any area of the social sciences with an interest in the political, social and economic aspects of contemporary biomedicine and global health. You should hold a PhD degree in the social sciences or humanities (e.g., anthropology, sociology, history, geography, political science, STS, development studies).Your areas of research might include but are not limited to: the politics of global health; drugs and culture; the politics of reproduction; racism and health; toxic environments and health; humanitarian reason; pharmaceuticalisation; structural violence; mental health and society; global biopolitics; as well as other areas that relate to one of our research groups like Culture, Medicine & Power and Bioscience & Society. 

The Lecturer will contribute to teaching, supervision, marking and academic and pastoral support of our students on our BA/BSc in Global Health & Social Medicine. They will also work together with and support the Department’s UG Programme Committee. The Lecturer will also be expected to conduct research in their field and contribute to the Department’s research activities. They will also be expected to carry their share of administrative duties within the Department. A commitment to collegiality is essential. The Lecturer will themselves receive mentoring and support to develop their skills and experience in education, academic administration, and scholarship. The post will be responsible to the Head of Department of Global Health & Social Medicine. 

At King’s, we are deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work and study, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. King’s offers inclusive benefits to staff including flexible working, Enhanced Parental Leave, funds for Parents and Carers and the potential to join community staff networks. 

The start date for the post is September 2022.  

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract for 2 years.

Key responsibilities

• To take a role in the planning, organisation, and delivery of teaching and assessment activities within the BSc/BA Global Health & Social Medicine programmes. 
• To undertake project supervision for selected undergraduate (Bachelors) dissertations within areas of appropriate expertise. 
• To serve as a tutor for Global Health & Social Medicine undergraduate students, offering pastoral care and academic advice.  
• To contribute to Departmental events and activities, including attendance at Departmental meetings and co-curricular activities. 
• To pursue scholarship relating to their field, either individually or collaboratively with academic staff in the Department or elsewhere.  
• To develop new knowledge and understanding within the field of their specialism and to transfer this knowledge into high quality teaching and learning for students. 

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.       PhD Degree in a relevant area of the social sciences or humanities (e.g., sociology, anthropology, geography, political science, history, science & technology studies, development studies) 

2.       Excellent knowledge and understanding of a relevant field of expertise 

3.       Experience of teaching relevant subjects at undergraduate level, with evidence of innovative and effective teaching and ability to engage and inspire students of diverse and international backgrounds  

4.       Commitment to student learning, supporting student welfare, and enhancing the student experience 

5.       Excellent interpersonal and communication skills 

6.       Excellent organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills 

7.       Ability to use own initiative and think critically 

8.       Collegiality and willingness to work as part of a team 

9.       Excellent IT skills 

Desirable criteria 

1.       Developing record of high-quality scholarly publications appropriate to career stage  

2.       Experience of assessment procedures in UK Higher Education and providing excellent feedback 

3.       Completion of appropriate training in Higher Education teaching and learning/academic practice  

4.       Experience of academic administration; Experience of providing academic advice and pastoral support to students