Job description

Global Health & Social Medicine is a unique interdisciplinary department at King’s College London founded in 2012. Its mission is to address the changing landscape of health and medicine from social science perspectives.

The Department invites applications for a Lecturer in Global Health & Social Medicine with a focus on the interrelationships between Environmental Justice and Health.

Candidates should hold a PhD and have an established research profile in a relevant social science field such as sociology, anthropology, political science, political economy, geography, health policy, demography, international development, science and technology studies, or a related relevant discipline or interdisciplinary field. Areas of expertise include but are not limited to: environmental public policy, health impacts of climate change, planetary health, demographics and climate justice, environmental gerontology, anti-racist and/or decolonial advocacy for environmental justice. We will also consider other areas of research at the interface of environmental justice, global health and/or social medicine. In addition to contributing environmental expertise, you will be expected to be well-positioned to collaborate with one or more of the Department’s Research Groups: Ageing & Society; Bioscience & Society; Culture, Medicine & Power; Mental Health & Society; Reproduction.  You should have a track-record of research, publications, and external funding relative to career stage.

You will be expected to make a major contribution to teaching on the Department’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes both in your own research specialism and one or more of the department’s core teaching areas such as global health and/or research methods. You will have relevant teaching experience and excellent communication skills.  Experience or familiarity with the academic environment in the UK is an advantage.  You will be expected to carry out administrative duties within the Department.  A commitment to collegiality is essential, as is the ability and willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with medical and biomedical researchers and practitioners, and with policy makers.  This post is 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.

Those appointed at Grade 7 will be expected to have a growing reputation within the academic field with a proven record of publications in international journals and will also have experience of teaching one or more modules at postgraduate or undergraduate level.

This post will be offered on a full-time, indefinite contract.

Key responsibilities

• To take a role in the planning, organisation and delivery of teaching activities within the Department in accordance with established practice. 
• 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 assist with difficulties encountered by students, e.g. learning support/problems. 
• To undertake the supervision of postgraduate research, at Master’s and PhD levels. 
• To undertake and publish high-quality research consistent with the Department’s research strategy. 
• To take an active role in seeking funding for research activities and projects, for example from the Wellcome Trust, ESRC or ERC. 
• To engage in professional development as appropriate to update skills, and to support teaching excellence. 
• To contribute to Departmental events and activities, including attendance at Departmental meetings 
• To accept academic responsibility within the Department, involving departmental administrative responsibilities where appropriate. 
• To undertake any other reasonable duties that may be requested by the Head of Department. 
• Design, develop and deliver a range of programmes of study (including new courses) within the department in accordance with established departmental practice (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Develop and maintain individual/joint research projects in subject related areas and contribute to the development of research strategies (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Lead and develop internal networks (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Lead and develop external networks (e.g. student recruitment, placements, income generation). (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Develop links with external contacts to foster collaboration (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Conduct individual or collaborative research projects and act as principal investigator and project leader (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Act as a referee and contribute peer assessment (for appointment at Grade 7) 
• Lead teams and develop productive working relationship with others (for appointment at Grade 7)

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 in a relevant social science (e.g. sociology, anthropology, public policy, demography, science and technology studies, or another related disciplinary or interdisciplinary field)

2.       Demonstrable expertise in empirical research in a social science as applied to global health and/or social medicine 

3.       Evidence through publications of an ability to produce work in their specialist field at an international standard 

4.       Demonstrable ability to design and deliver teaching effectively at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level

5.       Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively

6.       Demonstrable commitment to and/or experience of working in multi-disciplinary research and teaching

7.       Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain good working relationships

8.       Ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

9.       Ability to use own initiative

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

11.    PhD published or in press as a monograph AND at least 2 papers published/ in press in peer-reviewed journals; OR at least 5 research papers published/in press in peer reviewed journals  (Grade 7)

12.    A record of publications in leading international journals ( Grade 7)

13.    Proven evidence collaborating with and influencing research users (Grade 7)

14.    Demonstrable ability to teach at a high level of quality at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including experience of teaching one or more modules  (Grade 7)

Desirable criteria

1.       Teaching qualification relevant to Higher Education  

2.       Evidence of acquiring research grants or evidence of potential to attract funding from external organizations  

3.       Proven experience of collaborating with and influencing research users   

4.       Knowledge of the UK Higher Education environment, especially related to student experience and teaching excellence  

5.       Demonstrable leadership qualities 

6.       Higher Education Academy accreditation or equivalent teaching qualification (Grade 7)

7.       Evidence of acquiring research grants or evidence of potential to attract funding from external organizations (Grade 7)

Further information

​​The selection process will include an online presentation and panel interview using Microsoft Teams.​