This is the job description for the Professor Grade 10. Senior Lecturer Grade 9 job description is available here. Please specify which position(s) you wish to be considered for on your cover letter.

Job Purpose

To take a senior leadership role by conducting internationally-leading research in planning, delivering research-led education and demonstrating excellence in teaching that supports the strategic objectives and priorities of the School/College in line with the University’s ambitions, and makes a substantial contribution to enhancing teaching and research within the School/College. To undertake substantial responsibilities associated with managing external stakeholder relationships that enhance the University’s reputation, advance knowledge exchange, public understanding and outreach and strengthen links with professional bodies, including the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Based in the new Place and the Built Environment Subject within the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy in the School of Social and Political Science.

We particularly welcome applicants with expertise related to one or more of the following specialisms: planning theory; planning systems; planning policy and practice; comparative planning; collaborative and community planning; and environmental and climate change planning.  The successful applicant will play a significant leadership role in teaching, curriculum development, research, and impact activity.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide leadership across the School and College in relation to research and publication in order to enhance the quality of the School’s international research profile, including conducting personal research of the highest quality and maintaining a consistent high-level output of publications and presentations of world-class quality.

2. Sustain internationally leading high-quality research activity, seeking and securing funding for a portfolio of research projects through grant applications to external funding bodies, e.g. Research Councils and mentoring early career staff to support their development in securing funding.

3. Take a leading role across the School and College in relation to strategic learning and teaching initiatives through: embedding a research-led, evidence-based ethos in teaching and learning; leading on teaching collaborations and teaching innovations; and influencing teaching and assessment practices and policy across the School/College.

4. Undertake academic management and leadership roles and responsibilities across the School and College in a manner that enhances the student experience, ensures programmes are internationally benchmarked and of international standing, and that values and supports a culture of enhancement.

5. Demonstrate leadership in supervising research projects undertaken by research staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students and ensure the effective development of staff and students. Actively engage with potential research students of high calibre intending to undertake postgraduate and doctoral research, building effective working relationships and supervising to completion. This includes leadership in securing PhD studentship funding.

6. Make a substantial contribution to University Committees/Working Groups to ensure the advancement of learning and teaching policies and practice that align with local and international challenges in Higher Education, evolving student needs and other related changes in the University’s strategic context. This includes leadership in championing innovation in teaching and student-centred learning.

7. Build effective internal and external collaborations to support the development and mentoring of academic staff and their learning, and to enhance research and teaching within the Subject, Division, School and College. This includes leadership in supporting career development, especially for early career colleagues.

8. Represent the Subject/Division/School/College/University on key external bodies and at significant external events nationally and internationally to promote excellence in research and teaching, and the development of professional practice, including with the Royal Town Planning Institute.

9. Ensure a substantial track record of, and demonstrate leadership in, knowledge creation and transfer, ensuring impact on external bodies and contributions to public understanding and contributing fully to key strategic initiatives that underpin School, College and University strategies for external engagement.

10. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

11. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Subject Group Lead, Head of Division, and Head of School.

12. To contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan.

Qualifications

Essential:

A1 SCQF level 12 (PhD) or equivalent in Planning or related discipline with an extensive and established reputation in research and significant teaching experience within the discipline/subject area.

A2 An established and internationally-recognised reputation for high-quality research and knowledge exchange in planning. This includes a track record of published research of international excellence compatible with enhancing the University’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

A3 A thorough understanding of, and track record in, contributing to broader academic leadership and management at School/Research Institute (RI)/Service/College level. This includes a proven commitment to leading a research group and supporting the career development of colleagues, and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

A4 Engagement with the current and future priorities of strategies, aims and ambitions.

A5 Membership of a relevant professional body, such as the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

C1 Proven ability to lead and deliver high quality and innovative University teaching, including assessment and curriculum development, and particularly relating to diversifying the curriculum and expanding post-graduate teaching.

C2 A track record of research income generation from a range of sources, including UK funding councils or equivalent, and involving projects with inter-disciplinary components, multi-institutional, non-academic, and/or international partners, and funding for knowledge exchange activities.

C3 Comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of research issues and debates, both nationally and internationally, and on the future direction of research and teaching in planning. This includes evidence of contributing novel theoretical, methodological, empirical and cultural perspectives within the discipline.

C4 Maintaining a portfolio of research activity of international quality, reputation and impact, as appropriate for planning and including knowledge exchange activities.

C5 Providing academic leadership across the Subject/Division/School/College, leading innovation and management of teaching, setting standards and monitoring progress. This includes evidence of ability to lead significant research programmes and contribute to leadership associated with REF submissions.

C6 Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage at all levels within the Subject/Division/School/College/University, and beyond, in the academic, policy and practitioner communities.

C7 Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to foster collegiality and collaborative working.

C8 Proven ability to foster research collaborations with colleagues in other disciplines, Schools, Colleges and Universities as appropriate.

C9 Excellent skills in building external stakeholder relationships that enhance the University’s reputation, advance knowledge exchange, public engagement, and strengthen links with the Royal Town Planning Institute and other professional bodies or other organisations, where appropriate.

C10 Proven project, people and budget management skills.

C11 Leading student supervision and mentoring/coaching early career staff, providing specialist advice, support and academic leadership.

C12 Contributing to the academic leadership and management of the Subject/Division/School/College, or equivalent, e.g. by chairing committees and leading on key processes and new initiatives.

C13 Demonstrated commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

C14 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 9, £58,596 - £65,814 per annum or within the Professorial range and subject to negotiation.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended.

Closing Date: 3rd March 2025 at 23:45