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Job description

The School of Global Affairs, King’s College London, seeks to appoint a Senior Lecturer or Reader in Brazilian and Latin American Studies to also act as Director of the King’s Brazil Institute (KBI). The postholder would also be expected to convene the Brazilian Studies PhD programmes, and contribute teaching and supervision to the Masters in Global Affairs.

 

The King’s Brazil Institute was founded in 2008 and is a pioneer in the study of Brazilian politics, history and culture. It sits within a broader collection of Global Institutes including: the Lau China Institute; King’s India Institute; African Leadership Centre and Menzies Australia Institute in the School of Global Affairs.  The KBI has a vibrant PhD programme, a wealth of links with Brazilian education, culture, governmental and business sectors. The KBI’s mission is to (1) serve as the intellectual locus within King’s for teaching and research pertaining to Brazil and the wider Latin American region; (2) foster cooperation in the study of and research on Brazil and Latin America with other academic and cultural institutions; and (3) raise the profile of Brazil in the UK and around the world through events and publications in English.

 

Prospective candidates should have research expertise in one or more of the following strategic themes of the School: environment and sustainability, climate change, health and wellbeing, development, culture, or politics / international relations. We particularly welcome applicants whose research is interdisciplinary and that builds on the existing areas of excellence in the School as well as those who conduct comparative research on Brazil and other Latin American or Lusophone countries.

 

The appointed candidate will design and teach modules commensurate with their research area across the Masters in Global Affairs, including a core introductory module Contemporary Brazil. The appointee will also contribute to supervision as well as academic and pastoral support of postgraduate students. They will also pursue opportunities for conducting high-quality research in their field. The appointee will receive mentoring and support to develop their skills and experience in education, academic administration, and research.

 

The post is an open-ended position with a probation period, which is usually three years. 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. King’s also offers a relocation package and support for visa applications.

 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract

This is a full-time  post

 

Key responsibilities

• To take up the Directorship of the King’s Brazil Institute: cultivation of strategic direction, working closely with a newly appointed Board, public engagement and outreach activities, development of teaching offer, engagement with the College and Faculty international strategy, developing a research agenda for the Institute, foster collaboration with Brazilian and Latin American partner institutions.
• To lead and undertake and publish high-quality research, developing a portfolio of individual/joint research projects with high quality outputs in line with the Departmental, School and College research strategies and international research profile.
• To develop teaching materials suitable for the Masters in Global Affairs.
• To deliver teaching and supervision of postgraduate students: in class, online, in computing laboratories and in the field as necessary
• To participate fully in assessment and examination processes as appropriate using a variety of methods and techniques and provide effective, timely and appropriate feedback to students to support their learning.
• To deliver personal and academic tutorials for all stages of postgraduate degree programmes
• To undertake further administrative roles as appropriate for career stage.
• To take an active role in securing external funding for research activities to underpin the long-term growth of the activity.
• To undertake other reasonable academic duties and teaching at the request of the Head of School and Global Institutes Lead.

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 awarded in a relevant interdisciplinary field.

2.       Excellent knowledge and understanding of Brazil and Latin America. Fluency in Portuguese and Spanish.

3.       An interdisciplinary mindset in education and research, and aptitude for working within an interdisciplinary framework, including teaching and research across disciplines and beyond the immediate field of expertise

4.       Excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills

5.       An academic publication record commensurate with other Senior Lecturers in the Faculty

6.       Excellent leadership, administrative and organisational skills at a senior departmental level

7.       Taking an active role in international research networks/ institutions

8.       Innovative public engagement skills and experience

9.       Evidence of grant capture

10.  An academic publication record commensurate with other Readers in the Faculty (Reader level)

11.    Taking an active and senior role in international research networks/ institutions (Reader level)

12.   Excellent leadership, administrative and organisational skills at a senior departmental or Faculty level (Reader level)

13.   Significant grant capture over a period of years (Reader level)

 

Desirable criteria 

1.       Completion of appropriate training in Higher Education teaching and learning/academic practice. Those without this will need to complete this in their first year in post.

2.       A demonstrable commitment to Open Research principles

3.       Completion of appropriate training in equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion. Those without this will need to complete this in their first year in post.

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