Department
Based on the University of Essex’s Colchester campus, Edge Hotel School opened in 2012. Following its integration as a department of the University in 2018, we have ambitious plans to develop the scale and range of our distinctive industry-engaged experiential learning and to start research activity. An international outlook is important to these developments. The School benefits from close working with Wivenhoe House Hotel, a 4-star country hotel on campus. In the National Student Survey 2020, 100% of students expressed overall satisfaction with their course.
Duties of the Role
We are now seeking to appoint to the role of Director of Research, with the substantive post of Professor or Reader, at a very exciting time in our development. You will develop and implement a research strategy for the School, drawing on the University of Essex’s distinctive cross-disciplinary culture. You will also provide leadership in developing new educational provision and contribute to teaching (including on the School’s new MSc International Hospitality Management course starting in October 2021, co-designed and co-taught with Essex Business School). You will provide leadership in ensuring your own research and that of others in your department generates impact beyond the academic sphere in keeping with the REF criteria.
The successful candidate will be appointed to a substantive post (Professor or Reader) in Edge Hotel School, to which they will revert at the conclusion of their term of office, and undertake the full remit of duties of an academic member of staff including education and research. Every department in the University engaged in research has a role of Director of Research; it is anticipated that the successful candidate will hold this role in the School for an initial period of three years, with eligibility for re-appointment for further three years.
Full duties for both Reader and Professor can be found in the attached jobpack(s).
Skills and qualifications required
The successful candidate should hold relevant doctoral-level research degree or equivalent professional experience or practice, and have a distinguished academic record, including an internationally excellent research standing.
You will be an experienced educator and researcher, working in a discipline relevant to hospitality management, tourism and leisure. We expect the successful candidate to have a strong track-record of strategic leadership in education and research in higher education as well as an individual profile of excellent teaching and a research. An ability to develop and implement strategies, work in cross-disciplinary teams and to build networks is vital. We are looking for a colleague interested in bold ideas and novel approaches. Experience of winning external funding to support research is essential; an understanding of opportunities for knowledge transfer would be desirable.
The successful candidate will have a strong record of academic publication at international or world-leading levels of recognition, with evidence of a clear publication plan for submission to future Research Excellence Framework (REF) programmes. The successful candidate will also have a sustained record of effectiveness in education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, incorporating the organisation, leadership and/or management of specific aspects of teaching and learning provision.
A sustained record of strategic leadership in academic practice and academic development, that includes a broad range of disciplines together with excellent planning skills, allied to well-developed analytical and problem solving skills are also essential.
The full Person Specification for both Reader and Professor can be viewed in the attached jobpack(s).
Appointment will be made at either Reader (ASER) Grade 10, or Professor (ASER) Grade 11. This post also carries a leadership allowance for the term of office.
You should indicate at the start of your cover letter which grade you are applying for or state that you want to be considered for both. Decision-making at shortlisting and interview stage will be against the criteria set out in the Person Specification (see below), which differ for each grade. If you are applying for the post at both grades you need only submit one set of documents but your covering letter should explain clearly how you meet the different criteria.
At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.
To support this commitment we have our Global Forum, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based Faith Centre, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives.
Please see the attached job pack, which contains a full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role plus more information relating to the post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application. Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please telephone the Resourcing Team (01206 876559).
*More information: Working at the University