Senior Lecturer / Reader (Education & Research)

This role

Building on our recent success in the Research Excellence Framework this is an outstanding development opportunity for a talented individual with the skills and commitment to drive an ambitious vision in applied health research and education relevant to the field of critical care for the 21st century.

The roles provide an excellent opportunity and platform that enables those appointed to develop research and impactfully contribute to the field of critical care. Given King’s breadth of disciplines, there will be significant opportunities to collaborate with other health faculties (and beyond). The appointees will embrace the opportunities of tomorrow through a commitment to research excellence, grant capture, collaboration and education, within the research division of Applied Technologies in Clinical Care.

Why choose us

King’s College London

 is a leading University with nine Faculties. As part of   

King’s Health Partners

, we have an excellent environment for health care interaction, with one of the largest critical care services in the UK across our clinical partners and a strong focus on mentoring and career development.

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) placed King’s applied and allied health research 1st for: overall proportion of research rated 4* (world-leading, the best mark possible), research papers rated 4*, impact rated 4*, environment rated 4*(joint), Grade Point Average and Power.  REF2021 rated as world-leading: 100% of our environment, 86% of our impact and 70% of our research overall. Over 95% of our research overall was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

For the last three years, King’s has been number 2 in the world and number 1 in Europe for Nursing (QS world rankings). King’s produces more highly cited research outputs (top 1% citations) on palliative care than any other centre internationally (SciVal).

Our award-winning NMPC education programmes span pre-registration nursing and midwifery, and multidisciplinary post-graduate taught and research programmes. King’s is the largest provider of health care education in Europe. Our applied clinical and health research transforms therapies, the healthcare experience and outcomes for patients and those important to them, wherever they are cared for.

What will you be doing?

You will lead sustainable, high quality, applied health research that benefits the local and global critical care communities. You will be expected to be ambitious in capturing grant income and publishing high quality outputs, leading to a step change contribution to the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care and your academic field. You will foster interprofessional partnerships that increase the quality of your research and education and deliver impacts to benefit society.

You will contribute to postgraduate and undergraduate education, including PhD supervision and delivering lectures and seminars, contribute to development and capacity building in the Faculty, across King’s and your field.

Your programme of applied health research in the field of critical care should address the health and care challenges of tomorrow, such as ensuring sustainable health and care, equity and diversity, promoting self-management in recovery from critical illness, use of digital health and responding to multimorbidity. It should also advance the methods of applied health research, such as study design, outcome measurement, use of big data, AI, and complex interventions. Your enthusiasm and commitment will contribute to the further development of the research standing of the faculty, and to teaching and administrative activities. You will be encouraged and mentored to apply for internal promotion as you succeed in the role.

We are committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce, and therefore we encourage applications from all groups. This includes from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, the LGBTQI+ community, those who are neurodiverse and those with a disability.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract pending successful completion of probation (3 years) The post-holder is required to actively participate in academic performance development review (PDR) annually.

This is a full-time post – 100% full time equivalent. However, we offer flexibility for part-time working.

Further information

The selection process will include a presentation and a panel interview. Scheduling of presentations will be confirmed once shortlisting has taken place.

Please note that you must provide three Academic referees upon application, including one from your current or most recent employer. Should you be shortlisted, letters of recommendation will be sought ahead of the interview from two of your references. The third reference, from your employer, will only be requested with your consent.

Key responsibilities

• To conduct and contribute to applied health research acting as chief investigator and project leader, and in so doing attract significant overhead and QR bearing grant research income and/or industrial research income, generate world class research publications and impact in the field of critical care related research and relevant to the educational focus of this post. You will work with relevant health care, charity and industry/ commercial research partners (~60% time)
• Actively participate in NMPC and King’s postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and training. This will include developing and delivering high quality innovative education and education and relevant materials, including incorporating King’s and Faculty research, module and programme leadership, pastoral support, supervision, and assessment and generating excellent student success and feedback (~40% time)
• Have a clear forward plan for sustaining and enhancing NMPC research, education, and PhD supervision in the field of critical care related research and consistent with our strategy, including to increase research / evidence informed education, multi- and interdisciplinary endeavours, digital offerings, education to international students and improved student success and experience

Main other responsibilities

• Contribute to and lead the academic work of the Faculty, working with colleagues and clinical teams, with the aim of obtaining significant research funding and conducting research at an international and world-leading standard according to King’s performance framework
• Lead, collaborate on and assist with externally funded peer-reviewed research projects, programmes and fellowships, including winning funding from NIHR, UKRI, industrial/commercial funding and prestigious charities as Principal investigator and/or co-investigator
• Generate substantive external peer review grant income, sufficient to support research group with 1-4 research staff (depending on level), and with >10% research time funded from external grants FEC, increasing over time
• Form and grow internal and external collaborations to enhance the quality of reach of our research programmes, linking with world-leading academics and groups in related fields, and where appropriate lead collaborative developments
• Supervise, co-supervise and nurture clinical and non-clinical researchers (including PhD students and fellowships) to build the field for the future.
• Publish research findings in high quality peer view journals, with 1 – 2 open access research outputs that are internationally excellent / world leading each year, with unique role clearly identified in acknowledgements
• Contribute to, innovate and further develop post-registration and post-graduate taught / continuing professional development programmes, including evolving context and programmes relevant to research strengths and the future needs of health and care, with a strong focus on excellent student experience, seeking opportunities for efficiencies with other modules and programmes
• Communicate and collaborate with students, patients, families, the public, policy makers and clinical colleagues and in research and teaching, and its relevance to care and policy, with key stakeholders, institutions, and organisations
• Actively engage in Patient and Public Involvement and imbed Patient and Public Involvement into all research projects and teaching endeavours
• Engage with the media, press, publicity, policy makers, practitioners, and others to deliver impact of the research and teaching to the benefit of patients, families, and society.
• Play a broader role in the Faculty, contributing to the growth and development of our people and the wider organisation as appropriate to role.
• Actively participate in relevant audit and clinical governance activity, including audit of research and teaching activity, and team building activities
• Champion, model and uphold King’s values and principles, and maintain highest standards of adherence to data protection, ethical and research governance principles and practices
• Have and maintain a KHP research passport, honorary contract if required,  Good Clinical Practice in research, and complete all mandatory training
• Undertake relevant professional development in negotiation with line manager and PDR discussions.

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.

Essential criteria  

1. Higher academic degree (PhD / medical equivalent) (All Roles)

2. Clear upward trajectory of peer-review publications with sustainable track record consistent with world-leading or internationally excellent REF outputs, with originality, rigour, and significance in areas relevant to Faculty research themes. These should demonstrate growing international recognition of research excellence in their field  (Senior Lecturer) / internationally recognised leadership in their field of research with new knowledge and innovation (Reader)

3. Evidence of ability to secure research grant funding, demonstrated by previous experience and upward sustainable track record, plans, experience of funding schemes relevant to Faculty research themes, and demonstrable leadership in delivering publications/projects. Clear ability to obtain sufficient funding to lead a research group to deliver an innovative research programme (Senior Lecturer) / experience in obtaining funding and leading a research group to deliver an innovative research programme (Reader)

4. Evidence of continued development in research methods in applied health / clinical research, and how these would contribute to improving / complement the Faculty’s research and education, with increasing expertise in specific areas (e.g. health services research, trials, mixed methods, co-design, big data analysis, implementation science, economics, statistics, patient and public involvement) (Senior Lecturer), and with international recognition of this (Reader)

5. Experience of the planning and delivering high-quality evaluated education at undergraduate / postgraduate levels with a strong focus on a high-quality student experience and success. Evidence of leadership in education / assessment initiatives. Evidence of supervising PhD students and strong progress (Senior Lecturer) and timely completion (Reader)

6. Evidence of commitment to continued development in evidence-based practice, research methods and evidence relevant to care, with up-to-date knowledge, skills and accomplishments, able to supervise MSc and undergraduate student projects and critically appraise a wide range of relevant research, including data presentation and basic analysis (All Roles)

7. Ability to work well as an effective member of teams and networks and to share and encourage good practice in teaching and research and to inspire and motivate others, including in challenging environments, with evidence of successful team and staff development (Senior Lecturer) plus leadership (Reader)

8. Excellent written, verbal and digital communication skills, in all formats, face to face, presentation, email, reports, written and for teaching. Evidence of developing this in others (All Roles)

9. Excellent administrative and organisational skills, underpinned by strong interpersonal skills and personal effectiveness, able to deliver high quality work and projects to deadlines, work efficiently and prioritise appropriately, and take individual responsibility for planning and undertaking work (All Roles)

10.   Commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity for staff and students (All Roles)

Desirable criteria

1. Relevant clinical expertise related to critical care, and a network of national (Senior Lecturer) and international (Reader) successful collaborations that will benefit our future directions

2. Track record of successful capacity building, including PhD supervision, attracting PhD fellowship funding and growing post-doctoral teams (Reader)3. Experience of serving on grant giving and funding committees (Reader)
4. Ability to identify new research opportunities and collaborative partnerships to enhance the research of the Faculty and King’s (All Roles)

To apply complete the online application form, and provide us with an uploaded copy of the following documents:

1. Academic CV. This should include your research publications, highlighting your most significant publications in the last 4 years, and list all relevant peer review grant income.

2. A maximum of 4 pages cover statement to include: your key contributions to research, leadership and teaching relevant to this role, and your future plans in the development of your research programme if appointed at King’s. Specify whether you are applying for a role as reader or senior lecturer.