Professor/Associate Professor of Architecture & Built Environment

Job Summary

The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment is looking to appoint a professor to lead research in the School and to contribute to overall research strategy of the University. This exciting opportunity is suitable for a highly motivated and ambitious individual with a strong research record able to develop the School’s research profile and, through working across the University, create opportunities for innovative interdisciplinary projects. The Scott Sutherland School and RGU are undergoing a period of ambitious change at present, and this post offers considerable opportunity for a dynamic, collaborative, and adaptable individual.
As an experienced academic with an established record of leading externally funded research projects, producing peer-reviewed publications, and successful PhD supervision, you will lead the School’s research and scholarly activities. At present the School has 4 main research clusters: Digital Cities and Society; Housing and Communities; Projects, Processes, and Performance, and Architectural Pedagogy. These areas are strongly aligned to RGU’s interdisciplinary research priorities focused on Environment, Energy and Sustainability; Health and Wellbeing; Living in a Digital World; and Inclusive and Creative Societies. Candidates with expertise in Sustainable Cities and Communities, Building Performance and Retrofit, or Digital Collaboration in Construction, are particularly encouraged to apply as we look for the School to become a hub for research on sustainable living. 
Working under the direction of the Dean of School, you will be expected to engage in individual and collaborative research projects, generate grant income and contribute to the research impact agenda. Experience in industry applied research is highly desirable, as is a willingness to engage with a range of relevant stakeholders. This role is particularly suitable for an academic leader who shows a willingness and an ability to stimulate practice-oriented research in collaboration with the professional field and to lead, mentor, and support academic colleagues.
The School already demonstrates strong, explicit teaching- research linkages in specific areas, most notably in relation to the energy performance of buildings, urban resilience, digital visualization and project management, and it aims to build on this further, extending these relationships to Undergraduate as well as Postgraduate levels. Thus, the successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to research-informed student teaching and learning, innovation and integrated academic practice.
We offer a supportive and inclusive environment within an ambitious and growing School with fully accessible working facilities. We welcome diversity amongst our community and are interested to hear and work with candidates from all backgrounds. We would particularly welcome applications from women as they are under-represented in this area of our workforce. 

Salary

Professor: £67541-75346

Associate Professor: £63673-65578

The criteria for Associate Professor and Professor are attached and candidates will be appointed accordingly. Whilst the Professorial salary scale runs to £115k it is most likely we will appoint to Zone 1 (£67541-75346)

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/

Part-time applicants that will require sponsorship may be considered in line with UKVI sponsorship requirements.

Relocation assistance may be available for this post, subject to conditions. For more information, visit: Relocation Policy

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Bassam Bjeirmi Dean of School at b.bjeirmi@rgu.ac.uk .

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Dean of School

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Research team

PURPOSE OF POST: The post represents the core academic leadership and management level that directly supports the over-arching leadership of the Dean of School. Actively contributes to the strategic decision-making process and the formation of strategy under the leadership of the Dean of School to ensure the targets in the University business plan are met. Makes a significant contribution to both the research and educational practice activities of the School of Architecture and Built Environment. The post holder will be required to contribute to the University's objective of growing our academic reputation for research-informed student teaching and learning, innovation and integrated academic practice, to conduct individual and collaborative research projects including supervision of such projects, generate grant income and contribute to the research profile leading to the production of research outcomes.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

Research:

• Lead research in architecture and built environment at the School, leading in the generation of externally funded research activity, in knowledge exchange and impact, and in the development and delivery of research-led- teaching and supervision.
• Grow externally funded research activity.
• Work with the Dean of School and other research professors and readers to develop research capability; a programme of research that fits with the school's research strategy; and a research dissemination and impact strategy.
• Build research partnerships between the school and national and international partners.
• Publish work which, as a minimum, meets the University's expectations for the publication of the next REF-submittable outputs and is suitable for REF impact case studies.
• Support and mentor active research staff and early career researchers within the school and in practice settings to increase publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Work with partner institutions to enhance the translation of research into evidence informed practice.
• Work with partner institutions to enhance service users' involvement in, and experience of the of research.
• Supervise postgraduate research students.
• Contribute to the development of research supervisors to enhance the school capacity for supervision.
• Undertake administrative duties as directed.

Leadership:

• Provide leadership in research to staff within the school.
• Promote a culture of research and practice innovation within the school.
• Make an ongoing significant contribution to the discipline of architecture and build environment, nationally and internationally.
• Work with key stakeholders to integrate research into the quality agenda.
• Support and encourage early career researchers and individuals with research potential to develop their careers through encouraging applications for scholarships/studentships.
• Contribute to academic leadership within the wider University and within the discipline field at a national or international level.

Education:

• Contribute to curricular development of research-led teaching.
• Support the leadership and development of academic standards within the school.
• Contribute to the research and practice development agenda within partner institutions.
• Demonstrate an active commitment to continuing professional development in relation to education and reflective learning.
• Promote the diversification of architecture and build environment activities and collaborations.
• Contribute to teaching and consultancy activities.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Requirements

• PhD in architecture and built environment or a relevant discipline.
• Membership of a Professional body related to architecture & built environment.
• A tertiary-level teaching qualification

Knowledge and skills

• Specialist knowledge in one of the areas identified above which has led to an international reputation in the field and a demonstratable record of research impact and excellence.
• Evidenced ability to provide academic research leadership, including significant contributions to the development of academic staff, and to the direction of academic activity.
• Evidenced ability to promote research collaborations with other disciplines and industry.
• Recruiting and supervising Research Degree students to completion.
• Proven ability to undertake a full range of supervisory activities PhD thesis and similar post graduate dissertations.
• Evidence of extensive teaching experience with a proven track record of discipline development and delivery to a varied audience.
• A wide knowledge of architecture and build environment practice issues.
• Aptitude to mentor, coach and motivate a team.

Experience

• A profile evidencing excellent research and other scholarly activities in one of the areas identified above and a record of publication excellence.
• Significant record of securing research funding awards.
• Substantial experience in architecture and built environment practices and evidence of a commitment to the profession.

• Experience of leading and developing staff at all levels and managing physical and human resources.

• Experience of being accountable for performance management, acting as a role model leading by example and ability to work across discipline boundaries. Evidence of experience in building relationships with external partner agencies and achieving impact in policy and practice.
• Experience in industrially applied research.
• Experience and as a Principal or Co-Investigator on international research partnership projects.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

• Associate Editorship in leading international journals.
• Senior Membership of Learned and Technical Societies.
• Membership of Government or Industrial Advisory Panels.

Experience

• Experience in / evidence of sustainable research activity
• Experience of successful PhD supervision as principal supervisor
• Experience of industrial and applied research or other engagement
• Evidence of research lead teaching experience at HE level
• Extensive experience in developing and delivering high-quality teaching at postgraduate levels.
• Experience in technology-enhanced teaching and learning methods.