Associate Professor in Human Geography (Research and Education) - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences - 99554

Position Details 

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK 

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £51,799 to £60,022, with potential progression once in post to £78,265  

Grade 9  

Full Time - Permanent 

Closing date: 30th May 2022

Please note: We are advertising both Assistant Professor and Associate Professor, however there is only 1 post available

We are seeking to appoint an Associate Professor in Human Geography in the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences (GEES) at the University of Birmingham. We welcome applications from collegial candidates in any area of human geography, especially geographies of urban health and wellbeing, environmental geopolitics, environmental/energy justice, governance of natural resources and/or sustainability transitions, and children’s and youth geographies.

Evidence of a strong record in publishing work of high academic quality and impact (as appropriate to career stage) is essential, as is a track record of obtaining external research funding. Applicants must have a commitment to delivering excellent and inclusive teaching and learning at all levels (i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate, and supervising postgraduate taught and doctoral projects in their area of expertise), and to communicating the relevance and impact of their research to stakeholders.

Alongside research, the post holder will support delivery of the Human Geography teaching programme, where there is potential for the appointee to develop new undergraduate and Master’s level courses. Successful candidates will be involved in administrative tasks, appropriate to their appointment grade, to support delivery of research and teaching within GEES.

There are significant opportunities for interdisciplinary research activities within the School and across campus, including with the Institute for Research into Superdiversity, the Centre for Urban Wellbeing, the Birmingham Energy Institute, the Institute for Global Innovation, the University’s Children and Childhood Network, and the recently founded Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action. There is an expectation that appointees will engage internationally, building on the strong track record already established in the School through a Global Engagement strategy that has partnerships in e.g. Brazil, China, India and North America as well as through Universitas 21. There will also be opportunities to contribute to teaching and activities linked to the university’s Dubai campus.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to equity and be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; demonstrate through their research, teaching, and/or public engagement multiple perspectives as the foundation of a rich learning experience; integrate diverse experiences into instructional methods and research tools; and/or provide leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, populations, and intellectual interests.

Summary of Role

You will contribute at a senior level to teaching, research, and administration.  In addition you will be expected to contribute to academic citizenship, likely to be demonstrated through generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students.

Teaching is likely to include: (a) development and leadership of major teaching programmes or equivalent; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability.

Research is likely to involve an established national and international reputation through significant original research work and a clear record of impact.

Management and administration is likely to include Departmental/School leadership and management activity with University wide involvement – for example through sustained high value research, knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement or similar activities. 

Main Duties/Responsibilites

Education 
You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:
•    making a significant contribution to the pedagogical knowledge base of the subject that advances teaching through the enhancement of practice, the development of teaching resources and/or through practice-based research; 
•    leading on the management and the development of approaches to teaching and learning, including designing innovative approaches to digital resources/environments and supporting colleagues to use them that are innovative to the subject area or institution;
•    leading on curriculum design at module and programme level to ensure it is contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging;
•    actively engaging students in curriculum design and sharing evidence of “what works”;
•    making an impactful, high quality contribution to debates about education policy, methods and practices through internal and external publications, subject societies and conference activity;
•    developing an external profile evidenced through engaging in external quality assurance activities related to teaching, eg. external examining and engaging with/supporting education in other institutions;
•    playing an important and sustained role in the recruitment and admission of students; 
•    co-supervising doctoral students to completion; 
•    leading the development of teaching, learning and assessment policies and strategies;
•    acting as an education mentor to colleagues in the School/Department/College or more widely;
•    leading the development of new and appropriate approaches to learning and teaching.  This may be underpinned by research and evaluation of teaching methods and systems 
•    leading sustained high value impact in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including  business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or or employability, and is of manifest benefit  to learning and teaching in the College and the University
•    undertaking own teaching, which will include teaching and examining courses at a range of levels, planning and reviewing own teaching approaches, developing programme proposals, supervision, marking and examining. You will ensure that your teaching practice is informed by discipline based research, through participating in the research culture of the School. 

Research
To pursue sustained research activity through original research and scholarship, including other research-related contributions through conference papers and presentations and/or consultancy projects and advice, including (as appropriate):
•    contributing to the management of research activities and/or supervising other research staff;
•    leading successful funding bids;
•    consistently publishing internationally excellent research, with some research regarded as world leading, that results in a sustained, highly respected reputation of international quality;
•    supervising and examining PhD students, both within the institution and externally;
•    providing expert advice internally and externally;
•    peer reviewing  articles for peer reviewed academic journals and grant applications by research councils and/or other major funding bodies; 
•    leading sustained impact activity including public engagement and makes a significant contribution to policy development at a national and international level;.
•    supervising and examine PhD students, both within the institution and externally;
•    as appropriate, managing research activities and/or supervising other research staff;
•    developing novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued.

Management/administration 
Lead activities in the Department/ School and represent the School on College/ University committees or working groups.  Where appropriate to the discipline, this is likely to include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below: 
•    making an important contribution  to the development and running of the Department or School, for example, leading activity on research and/or teaching assessment  
•    leading a successful international engagement at School or College level;
•    developing and managing staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching activities
•    making important contributions to the development of the Department’s research and/or learning and teaching strategy
•    contributing significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University;
•    promoting a culture (including policies and procedures) that embeds equality and values diversity and inclusion
•    leading, serving on and assisting the work of committees and task and finish groups beyond School/ Research Institute, e.g., Senate, Council, University Education or Research Committee etc.;
•    leading external committees, e.g., those associated with public/professional bodies or delivery of activities for an external body at an appropriate level, e.g., chairing sub committees associated with large elements of work;
•    leading/project managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. a new research initiative, or a recruitment drive);
•    making a sustained contribution to widening participation, schools outreach and/or public understanding of the discipline;.
•    contributing to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups).

Citizenship
•    identifying wellbeing issues within the School/College/University and developing appropriate solutions to address these;
•    taking collective ownership of challenges faced by the School or College and working with colleagues to develop solutions;
•    mentoring and coaching of colleagues, particularly those in the early stages of their career. 

Person Specification

•    Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.

Demonstrated excellence in at least Research, with competence in Learning and Teaching and Management and Administration.

Learning and teaching requirements
An excellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impact and quality.  The teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by an appropriate level of scholarship.  

Where appropriate, evidence of success under the following headings:
•    High national reputation for the development of teaching and learning excellence within the discipline
•    Successful and sustained use of a range of appropriate teaching methods, and assessment strategies that promote high quality learning, including learning that is flexible, distinctive and current and stimulates learners’ natural curiosity
•    Significant and sustained contribution to one or more of the following: strategic development of new programmes; approaches to learning; the development of learning resources
•    High quality and sustained contributions to fostering excellence in teaching activities more widely, i.e. in the Department/School or College and/or externally
•    Track record of substantial and sustained high value impact on the enhancement of the student experience, and/or employability
•    Mentoring and expert advice which develops the skills of colleagues in teaching and in fostering learning

Research requirements
An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through significant original research work and a clear record of impact.  Evidence of success under the following headings, as appropriate to the discipline:
•    High level peer esteem as evidenced by

• Excellent reputation in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high quality output, level of innovation, impact on subject and recognition
• An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications

•    Successful and sustained supervision of doctoral students to completion
•    Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through research grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding
•    Sustained high value impact knowledge transfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the College and University

Management and administration-related requirements
Demonstrated significant achievement in management and administration-related activities, which may include leadership of activities/initiatives.  Evidence of success under the following headings
•    Successful and sustained performance in significant administrative/managerial role (s) (e.g. exams officer)
•    Significant and sustained high quality innovative contributions to the management/administration of the Department/School/College or University
•    Successful and sustained contribution to the corporate life of the School/College/University, displaying willingness to contribute actively to committees, collaborative teaching and administrative tasks
•    Actively promotes equality and diversity to internal and external stakeholders
•    Able to use data to identify equality and diversity issues
•    Experience of developing interventions to address equality and diversity issues

For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Julian Clark (0121 414 6262, [email protected] ) or Dr Jessica Pykett ([email protected] )

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment 

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.