Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences and Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Professor in Uniformed Public Services Research/Director of the Centre for Equalities in Uniformed Public Services
Grade: Professorial
Job Family: Teaching, Research and Scholarship
Work Base: Chelmsford. Please note that the post-holder will be required to travel to other sites and overseas as necessary
Hours of Work: Full time, permanent
Responsible to: PI for new centre funding (Dir of VFI) with reporting to Dir of PIER as required
Responsible for: Academic staff, Professional services staff, Post graduate students
Relationships and Contacts: Students, Colleagues, Professional and external bodies, UK and International partners, Employers and professional bodies

Job Purpose

To lead the Centre for Equalities in Uniformed Public Services ensuring it meets its objectives and becomes recognised nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence in research, knowledge transfer and scholarship.

Background

The new Centre for Equalities in Uniformed Public Services is a £11.3 million investment in uniformed public services research by UKRI and represents a substantial increase in ARU’s research capacity. Key objectives of the new Centre include producing excellent underpinning research into cultural transformation in uniformed public services, and adopting a strongly collaborative approach with local, regional and national uniformed public services organisations to tacking issues around equality, diversity and inclusion. The new Centre brings together the strengths of two of ARU’s existing outstanding Research Institutes (the Veterans and Families Institute and the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region).

Principal Accountabilities

Leadership

• Lead the strategic development and day-to-day operations of the Centre for Equalities in Uniformed Public Services.
• Provide professional leadership and vision and have a strong visible presence across our university, and contribute to cross-faculty collaboration under the University research themes.
• Mentor early career academics and support the development of colleagues.
• Attend relevant academic or management committees.
• Work with external stakeholders to agree and deliver a programme of data-driven research projects.
• Create and sustain a team environment that encourages high performance by colleagues and increases our national and international research profile.
• Lead on the evaluation of the impacts and effectiveness of the Centre’s activities.

Research and teaching

• Strategically position and drive the Centre’s research profile in Uniformed Public Services Research.
• Conduct world-class research, publishing in highly rated, peer reviewed journals with significant impact and maintaining a strong pipeline of publications.
• Attract competitive funding from public or private sources.
• Contribute to teaching and related activities across undergraduate and postgraduate modules and courses.
• Foster a vibrant post-graduate research environment and contribute to the supervision of postgraduate/PhD/professional doctorate students.

Impact and KE

• Undertake research activity which creates impact within the University/wider society.
• Develop a strong network of contacts in the international academic community, for example through membership of editorial boards, holding leading roles in academic associations, and participating in reputed international conferences.
• Work closely with external non-academic organisations in research and knowledge exchange.
• Present original work at national peer-reviewed conferences, policy fora and/or other public events.
• Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may be reasonably required, commensurate with your grade.
• Utilise the power of data to drive change, ensuring findings are clearly disseminated and easily transferable into policy and practice.

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is normal practice to review periodically job descriptions to ensure that they are relevant to the job currently being performed, and to incorporate any changes which have occurred or are being proposed. The review process is carried out jointly by manager and employee and you are therefore expected to participate fully in such discussions. In all cases, it is our aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes, but where it is not possible to reach agreement we reserve the right to make reasonable changes to your job description which are commensurate with your grade after consultation with you.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

All of the following criteria are essential unless otherwise noted.

Education/qualifications

• PhD or Professional Doctorate.
• Currently holds the title of Professor in another UK university or ability to meet our attached Professorial Criteria.
• Certificate in Learning and Teaching. (Desirable)
• Principal Fellow of the HE Academy (Desirable)
• Higher degree or professional qualifications at postgraduate level in a relevant subject area. (Desirable)
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. (Desirable)

Experience

• Sustained record of leading on the generation of external income from research contracts and/or consultancy related to discipline areas.
• A track record of internationally recognised research outputs in at least one uniformed public service area.
• Experience in managing projects and budgets.
• PhD/Professional Doctorate supervision experience to completion.
• Significant and sustained contribution to researcher development.
• Established academic reputation as evidenced by contribution to subject development/ collaborative partnerships at a national/international level.
• Strategic planning experience.
• Exceptional team and project leadership.
• A track-record of successful collaboration with external partners.
• Ability to deliver successful change (Desirable)
• Chair or other leading role in relevant professional or academic association or special interest group. (Desirable)
• Successful and significant research-led teaching experience at HE level in a relevant subject area. (Desirable)

Knowledge/skills

• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to motivate.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to influence, negotiate and represent the Centre at all levels, including externally.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent presentation skills across a range of mediums/audiences.
• Ability to advise, analyse and interpret complex issues and problems.
• Fluency in social media tools and promotion. (Desirable)
• Quantitative research design and data analysis skills. (Desirable)

Personal qualities/disposition 

• Work proactively as part of a team.
• Enthusiastic attitude and flexible approach to work; commitment to ensuring team wellbeing.
• An active listener.
• Open-minded and curious with a ‘can do’ attitude.
• High level of emotional intelligence.

Research and professional practice 

• Sustain a high-quality research publication record through regular publication of high quality (3* and 4*) papers in high impact journals, or subject equivalent (e.g. exhibitions, monographs, as appropriate) as would be eligible for inclusion in any periodic research assessment exercise e.g. REF.
• Pursue a personal research/scholarly programme consistent with the school’s research priorities and which contributes to curriculum development and teaching.
• Lead, develop and contribute to relevant external networks and discipline or sector bodies, nationally or internationally.
• Act as a mentor and role model to early career researchers.
• Make a substantial contribution to coordinating aspects of the University’s submission to any periodic research assessment exercise e.g. REF.
• Identify opportunities for income generation and/or entrepreneurialism through research and consultancy to contribute to an increase the funding stream. (Desirable)
• Support the design and development of new or existing enterprise activities, initiatives, and programmes, including specific projects, and non-accredited courses. (Desirable)
• Ensure the quality of project and course delivery to University’s and funder’s required standards. (Desirable)
• Lead on the evaluation of the impacts and effectiveness of activities. (Desirable)

Other

• Understanding of the external environment in which we operate.
• Commitment to own continuous personal and professional development.
• Willing and able to travel, as required by the job.
• Committed to equality and diversity.
• Committed to our Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Compliance to Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR principles/ requirements.