Professor and Director of Environment & Agrifood

Organisation

Cranfield University

School/Department

School of Water, Energy and Environment

Based at

Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Hours of work

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working options will be actively considered

Salary

Competitive, open band commencing at £70,960 per annum

The Director of Environment and Agrifood is a strategic high-profile leadership role within the School of Water, Energy and Environment. As an established and international authority in areas related to environmental change, agri-food, or environmental or bio informatics, you will have a well-evidenced world-class track record in research and a flair for leadership and management. You will lead and inspire an ambitious and diverse team of 76 FTE academic staff, postdoctoral fellows and research students across the Theme to build capacity, and – working with the Pro-Vice Chancellor for the School – define the direction of travel of the Theme and its fit within the wider School and University.

About You

With a PhD in environmental change, agri-food, environmental or bio informatics or a related discipline, you will be a thought leader of international standing with a substantial record of inspirational leadership achieved at senior management levels in academia.

Ideally at Professorial level, you will have deep experience in motivating research teams and leading a broad teaching portfolio across the Environment and Agrifood domain. With an evidenced track record in transformative leadership in research and education, you will be able to evidence how you have delivered new opportunities for growth across the environment and agrifood sector, working with international networks of commercial, NGOs and policy makers.

About Us

For the past 50 years, Cranfield has been contributing to enhancing natural capital and ensuring that global food systems are more resilient for the future. We are recognised worldwide by industry, government and academe for our research and teaching in plants, soil, water, and air.

We believe that environmental problems can be alleviated through technological innovation and risk management. In 2017, Cranfield was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for research and education in large-scale soil and environmental data for the sustainable use of natural resources in the UK and worldwide, the first time in the Prize’s history that an award has been given for soil science. Learn more about the Theme here .

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are also committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role.  Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Our equal opportunities and diversity monitoring has shown that women and minority ethnic groups are currently underrepresented within the university and so we actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from these groups.

We are currently piloting hybrid working arrangements until May 2022. This means the majority of our staff are spending between 40% and 60% of their time working from the office where job roles allow.

Further Information

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Professor Chris Fogwill, Pro-Vice-Chancellor - School of Water, Energy and Environment, on (T); +44 (0)1234 754078 or (E); [email protected]  

For any queries regarding the recruitment process for this role, please contact us on (E); [email protected] . Please quote reference number 3994.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   20 April 2022
Initial first stage interviews to be held:     4 May 2022