Associate Professor/Professor of Practice in Public Policy (E&S)

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

The University of Exeter is delighted to advertise a new part-time (0.5 FTE) Associate Professor/ Professor of Practice role, which is available immediately on a fixed term basis, for up to 3 years. The position will be reporting to Professor Gareth Stansfield, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Humanities, Arts and Social Science Faculty.

The role  

The requirement to engage policy-makers and policy with insights and ideas is increasingly competitive and the University of Exeter has responded to these challenges with the creation of the Policy@Exeter initiative. This new position has been created to build, develop and operationalise Policy@Exeter to promote, disseminate and develop research that responds to the needs of policy makers, enabling the University to deepen collaborations and strengthen its reputation with policy actors. The University is also specifically interested in supporting work that chimes with its greener, healthier, fairer aspirations as part of its Strategy 2030.

Policy@Exeter aspires to become a national and global focal point for policy-makers seeking partnerships and expertise aligned to the University’s capabilities.  The vision is to bridge the gap between academic research findings and the insights and influence this brings to policy-making regionally, nationally and globally; and for Policy@Exeter to be recognised as a leading organisation of its kind.  New models of  engagement and delivery with policy-makers will be required to deliver this vision hence the creation of this new post to develop and foster this opportunity.

The successful candidate will be required to lead Policy@Exeter, defining a 5-year vision and scope. The role will be the public face for the University’s policy engagement initiatives, securing stronger recognition for our policy strengths. Policy@Exeter will advise colleagues on developing policy impact; and provide policy influencing insights at the most senior level as well as for relevant committees. Cultivating key policy partnerships regionally, nationally and internationally leading to formal partnerships, the role will also define education and research revenue generation opportunities for Policy@Exeter within an effective delivery mechanism, and lead on the delivery of a cross-disciplinary advisory group and advisory board.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups within the workplace. 

 About you

This is an outstanding opportunity for a creative, policy-oriented expert to lead the Policy@Exeter initiative. We seek an established well-networked thought leader to increase our influence and impact in local, national and international policy debates.

You will have:

• Excellent current relationships with national and global policy actors
• Leadership experience in a policy-focused consultancy, think tank, or a similar agency
• A strong record in attracting funding for collaborative programmes of work
• An active approach to developing and communicating interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary policy-influencing initiatives
• Enthusiasm for delivering high-quality knowledge exchange and impact programmes linked to research
• Excellent communication and advocacy experience with a track record of securing engagement with a range of influential audiences and beneficiaries

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

What we can offer you:

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
• Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;

• Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.

Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the post please contact Prof Gareth Stansfield. Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean (HASS) via email on: [email protected]

The closing date for applications is 02/04/2023. Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 4 May 2023 in person in Exeter.