Reader in International Relations

Job id: 079646. Salary: £61,896-£69,114 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 22 November 2023. Closing date: 10 January 2024.

Business unit: Social Science & Public Policy. Department: Department of War Studies.

Contact details:Lynda Hobbs. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Academic & Teaching.

Job description

The Department of War Studies seeks to appoint a Reader in International Relations in order to contribute to the Department’s teaching and research capacity. The Department is looking for a candidate with a strong research and teaching background in International Relations theory, broadly defined. The successful candidate will have a track record of high-quality publications, research funding and innovative teaching in the field of International Relations. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to both compulsory and optional teaching in the department at both BA and MA levels. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the leadership and teaching of the Department’s MA degree in International Relations and should have the background and research interests commensurate with leading a large post-graduate programme that explores International Relations from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives.

The Department has a large, diverse IR faculty, with particular research focus on security, technology, violence, ethics, gender, migration and borders. We are a theoretically and methodologically diverse Department, including key strengths in critical approaches and methodologies. We welcome applications from candidates whose research contributes to or expands these research areas from a range of perspectives. Applications from candidates with the ability to teach in the areas of In addition, applicants must have experience in supervising doctoral research students. 

The successful candidate will also undertake and publish high-quality scholarship and play a role in the institutional and intellectual development of the Department and undertake Departmental, School, Faculty and University administrative duties as required.  Finally, the person sought must have a proven ability to initiate and lead research projects, together with a commitment to launching new ones. 

The Department of War Studies is part of the School of Security Studies and the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. Together we support a culture of diversity and inclusion for our staff and students. We encourage further growth in diversity and we welcome applicants of all abilities, whom we are able to support with our flexible and varied working practices. The Department particularly welcomes applications from women and/or candidates from a BME background.  

The posts will be offered on an indefinite contract. 

These are full-time posts.

Key responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the planning, organisation and delivery of both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching activities within the Department 
• Develop and use a variety of methods to assess student learning and provide feedback that is timely, relevant and appropriate 
• Undertake high-quality research in the subject area, publish the findings in highly-rated internationally recognised outlets, and participate in the major internationally recognised academic networks 
• Sustain high-quality research activity through a portfolio of individual and/or joint research projects and secure the funding required for this research as required 
• Contribute to a collegial and collaborative research culture 
• Supervise postgraduate research students and/or research staff 
• Attend meetings and conferences to share and present research findings, which creates a professional network and enhances the national and international standing of the Department 
• Carry out administration as requested by the Head of Department 
• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be requested by the Head of Department 

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.       PhD awarded in International Relations or another a relevant subject 

2.       Evidence of an internationally recognised research agenda, with an outstanding track record of academic publications and research impact, and future research agenda

3.       Experience of providing excellent teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate students 

4.       Experience of supervising doctoral students to completion  

5.       Extensive record of design and delivery of innovative teaching  

6.       Track record of research leadership, including successful funding applications for collaborative research grants 

7.       Evidence of academic leadership and ability to take on senior administrative roles 

8.       Experience of interacting with a wide variety of non-academic stakeholders  

9.       Ability to work independently and as part of a team 

10.    Commitment to contributing to diversity and inclusion effort