Research Associate in the Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries

Job description

The Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries (CMCI) seeks to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Professor Sheila Petty (Nominated Principal Investigator, University of Regina) and Dr Estrella Sendra (Co-Principal Investigator, King’s College London) on the ‘Decolonizing Film Festival Research in a Post-Pandemic World’ research project, funded by the New Frontiers in Research Fund Special Call ‘Innovative Approaches to Research in the Pandemic Context’.

This project proposes a first step in the process of decolonizing film festival research by bringing together an international team of African film festival researchers to investigate methods to decolonise festival research. The team will design and trial an innovative and accessible two-part Decolonial Test, pioneering new directions in research methodologies, with direct application in film festival research and adaptation across related disciplines. The Decolonial Test will foster important dialogue between researchers and practitioners of film festivals, first through the research itself, and second, through pilot implementations across African film festivals in Brazil, Canada, Senegal and the UK.

The successful candidate will work as part of the team in all aspects of the research project. They will travel to several festival sites along with a Principal Investigator, and assist with networking, implementation of the questionnaires, and storage transcriptions and analysis of the interviews. They will also work closely with the project investigators on several research outputs for diverse audiences, as well as on the logistics and organisation of the final workshop and meeting, and presentation of the project. Applicants will need to be well versed in film festivals theory and practice, ideally, with experience in African film festivals either in the continent or outside of Africa. Applicants must hold a PhD in Film Festivals or a relevant subject in Culture, Media and Creative Industries. Due to the multilingual nature of the project, the candidate will need to be proficient in English and have at least advanced knowledge of one of the following languages: Portuguese, Spanish or French. The ideal candidate will be expected to demonstrate capacity to enthusiastically liaise and collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders within festivals and creative industries, particularly in the Global South. We encourage applications from members of groups with protected characteristics that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Equality Act. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from the Global South, as they are under-represented and because of the regional focus of the project.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be based at the Strand Campus in Central London. Some foreign travel is required for fieldwork in Senegal (winter 2022) and Canada (spring 2023).

Culture, Media and Creative Industries, King’s College London, is a world-renown department for research and teaching in cultural and creative industries, arts management, cultural policy and global media industries.

In applying for this role please include a covering letter clearly indicating how you meet the essential and desirable criteria below, and an up-to-date CV.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed-term contract for 11 months provisonally from 31st October 2022 and onwards. However, the latest possible contract end date for this post is 29 February 2024.

Key responsibilities

• Working as part of the team in all aspects of the research project 
• Travelling to several festival sites along with Principal Investigator 
• Assisting with networking with festival participants and researchers 
• Assisting with the implementation of the questionnaires and focus group 
• Assisting with storage, transcription and analysis of interviews 
• Writing or contributing to writing of final report based on findings 
• Writing or contributing to writing of research publications for diverse audiences 
• Active participation in planning logistics of the final workshop and meeting 
• Active participation in the presentation of the project in the final workshop and meeting 

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.      A completed PhD in Film Festivals or a relevant subject in Culture, Media and Creative Industries. 

2.      Strong interest in African film festivals, decolonial theory, research ethics, and innovative research methods  

3.      Evidence of academic research in professional practice in in film festival theory, ideally, with experience in African film festivals either in the continent or outside of Africa. 

4.      Excellent verbal and written English  

5.      Advanced linguistic skills in at least one of the following languages: Portuguese, Spanish or French.  

6.      Ability to enthusiastically liaise and collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders within festivals and creative industries, particularly in the Global South 

7.      Ability to write publishable research outputs and to engage publicly in knowledge exchange for wider audiences. 

8.      Excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills 

9.      Excellent time management 

Desirable criteria

1.       Involvement in the organisation of African film festivals 

2.       Research and practical experience in the Global South  

3.       Excellent verbal and written Portuguese, French and Spanish 

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.