Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in International Relations of the Global South

Job description

King’s India Institute seeks outstanding candidates for the post of Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in International Relations of the Global South (with reference to India). The successful candidate will have a primary research agenda focused on the international relations or foreign policy of India, as well as the ability to teach and supervise students on the international relations of the Global South more broadly. They will have excellent teaching experience and an outstanding track record of research experience and publications, appropriate to career stage.

The King’s India Institute was inaugurated in 2012 and is a leading centre for the inter-disciplinary study of contemporary India. It sits within a broader collection of Global Institutes in the School of Global Affairs at King’s including: the King’s Brazil Institute; Lau China Institute; African Leadership Centre and Menzies Australia Institute.  The King’s India Institute has a vibrant PhD programme and runs the MSc Global Affairs in collaboration with other institutes.

The Lecturer/Senior Lecturer will contribute to teaching and programme leadership on the MSc Global Affairs. The MSc Global Affairs examines the politics, society, economics and history of the world’s non-western regions and rising powers, and their role within a changing world order. The appointee’s core responsibilities will include offering two optional modules: 1) International Relations of the Global South; 2) India’s role in Global Politics. They will also contribute to the supervision of dissertation and group capstone project work. The King’s Global Institutes teach both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. For this post, we especially encourage applicants with strong quantitative skills but also more generally welcome applications from those with specialisation in methods of either type including mixed methods.

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. A relocation package may also be offered.

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

• To undertake and publish high-quality research, developing a portfolio of individual/joint research projects with high quality outputs in line with the Institute, School and College research strategies and international research profile.
• To develop a portfolio of grant-funded, high impact research on India and the international relations of the Global South
• To actively contribute to and play a leading role in the design and delivery of teaching in the King’s India Institute and King’s Global Institutes at all levels
• 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 undertake the supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and PhD levels
• To serve as a personal tutor and assist with difficulties encountered by students
• To mentor early career researchers and junior staff as required
• To actively support colleagues through participation, promotion and presence at events, workshops, seminars and meetings aimed at enhancing collegiality and team-working

• To contribute to the development of the Indo-Pacific research group led by the Global Institutes in collaboration with staff in the Department of War Studies

• To accept senior academic responsibility within the Institute and School, involving efficient delivery of administrative responsibilities as allocated by the Institute Director.
• To develop links with academic and/or non-academic stakeholders, including the development of third-stream activity such as online or executive education
• To raise the profile of the India Institute through public and civic engagement
• To engage in professional development as appropriate to update skills, and to support teaching excellence
• To undertake other reasonable academic duties and teaching at the request of the Institute Director

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 social science or relevant discipline.

2.       Excellent knowledge and understanding of the International Relations of the Global South, with specific reference to Contemporary India

3.       An excellent research track record of publications appropriate to career stage

4.       Evidence of acquiring competitive external research grants or of potential to attract research funding 

5.       The ability to design and deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials in the specified fields of expertise for online or face to face delivery, including innovative and employability-focused assessment

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

7.       Excellent leadership, administrative and organisational skills

8.       Innovative public engagement skills and experience

9.       A demonstrable commitment to an inclusive, diverse and collegial approach to education and research.

10.    An excellent research track record of publications (for instance, a research monograph and at least four peer-reviewed journal articles; or seven peer-reviewed journal articles) (Senior Lecturer level)

11.    Evidence of acquiring competitive external research grants, as either Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator (Senior Lecturer level)

12.    Proven experience of administrative roles requiring leadership (e.g. BA and MA Programme Directors, Teaching Committee Lead) (Senior Lecturer level)

Desirable criteria

1.       Knowledge of an Indian language

2.       Teaching qualification relevant to Higher Education. Those without this will need to complete this in their first year in post.

3.       Experience of PhD supervision as either primary or secondary supervisor (Senior Lecturer level)