Role Description
Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
The Department of Humanities
Job Title:
Grade:
Category:
Professor in Humanities
9
Academic Management
Job Purpose:
The post holder is responsible for academic leadership of a multi-disciplinary research team with a focus on
the Humanities and with the aim of maintaining and improving the University’s national and international
reputation in this academic field. The post holder will be expected to demonstrate continuing scholarly
attainment and achievement and provide academic leadership (of their subject and associated colleagues) in
the role of Professor, through active contribution to their discipline and to the life and work of their Faculty
and the wider University.
Responsible to:
The Head of Department
Generic Duties and Responsibilities:
In line with the University’s Mission, Corporate Strategy and Leadership Attributes, Professors will
demonstrate achievement in the following areas:
Leadership and Management
 Support the Executive Dean as appropriate, by exercising strategic academic leadership within their
academic field, in line with their specific academic focus.
 Support the Executive Dean and Head of Department to deliver the Faculty’s plans, by contributing to
aligning the planning of research, teaching and enterprise activities with Faculty and University priorities
and strategic goals.
 Provide effective management to teams and people including agreeing work plans and objectives. This
involves developing teams and individuals through supporting the Executive Dean and Head of
Department to appraise and develop staff, advising staff on personal and career development.
 Provide effective leadership and management of programmes or projects including management of
finance and physical resources and production of timely and appropriate outputs. This involves
identifying, securing and managing resources and the process of project planning for sustainability.
Innovation
 Demonstrate original and significant contribution to knowledge, practice or performance
(enterprise, research) and the enhancement of student learning (teaching) as evidenced through
publications, presentations, demonstrations, exhibitions or other works.
 Introduce demonstrable change to existing products, beliefs, knowledge, practice or performance
within the subject discipline. Maintain reputation and recognition from the national and
international academic community for high quality work.
 To support the development of educational opportunities for practitioners and social work and
social care service providers, contributing to curricula development, consultancy and delivery in the
fields of professional judgements and decision making in social work practice in a changing context

To actively promote the research and enterprise culture of the Faculty and to support the
development of educational opportunities for social work and other staff contributing to curricula
development, consultancy and delivery in the fields of mental health social work practice in a
changing context
Esteem
 Be recognised from within the national and international community for high quality work.
 Lead a number of academic engagement activities such as public engagement with the press and
broadcast media, public policy engagement and liaison through events and exhibitions.
 Represent the Faculty internally and University externally on committees, working groups, forums and at
other events. This may include chairing committees and ensuring the effective operation of relevant subcommittees and working groups.
Contribution
 Sustain a proven track record of income generation in support of scholarly activity and research.
 Make an active contribution to the development of the academic discipline.
 Make a major contribution to improving the capacity for new work to be undertaken either through
personal professional development, collaboration or workforce development.
 Work with the Executive Dean, Heads of Department, other Professors and colleagues to develop a
collaborative, collegiate and inclusive culture to engage all staff fully with the University’s Vision and
Corporate Strategy.
 Act corporately and collegially, promoting the ‘One University’ principle and positively promoting the
University within and outside the University to build networks, foster collaboration and share
information and ideas and to promote the subject and the University.
Other
 Ensure fair and consistent application of University policies and procedures.
 Undertake other University and Faculty responsibilities as the Executive Dean or University Executive
may require
Specific Duties:
The specific role and responsibilities will be agreed with the relevant manager in accordance with the
academic focus of the role and the nature of the academic discipline. Typical expectations according to the
focus of the role may be expressed as follows:
Research
 Take a leading role in the development of multi- and interdisciplinary research in the Humanities. This
will involve working collectively with Heads of Departments and the Professoriate to lead research in a
specified theme or themes.
 Contribute to the development and management of the Institute of the Humanities, and initiate and
support activities that raise its profile nationally and internationally.
 Conduct research at a level commensurate with the role of Professor in a research-rich university.
 Lead and collaborate with bids for research, consultancy and other additional funds, acting as Principal
Investigator when required.
 Deliver presentations at national and international conferences and similar events, to raise the profile of
the research and the University.
 Produce regular outputs (publications or similar, as appropriate to the discipline) of a quality and
frequency consistent with the status of Professor in the field.
 Develop impact case studies suitable for submission to the next research assessment exercise.




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Initiate engagement activities that involve a broad range of the population in Humanities research
activities.
Attract PhD candidates to Northumbria University and act as Principal Supervisor.
Line manage research staff who are part of project teams
Continue to demonstrate an outstanding original contribution to a subject area, evidenced, for example
by a sustained record of outputs of international quality.
Demonstrate active and leading involvement with key research and policy bodies at national or
international level.
Learning and Teaching
 Play a key role in the development, leadership and management of innovative programmes, teachingrelated projects or initiatives.
 Make outstanding contributions to the enhancement of student learning via pedagogic innovation and
change and playing a key role in the advancement of interdisciplinary learning.
 Play a role in networking, dissemination and cross-university collaboration to develop pedagogic
practice.
 Play a key role in developing learning and teaching groups/subject communities within and beyond the
University.
Enterprise
 Lead major innovations in linking research (and scholarly activities) and knowledge transfer through e.g.
consultancies, CPD, enterprise activities which have substantial impact regionally, nationally or
internationally.
 Demonstrate sustained success in developing significant and innovative networks and partnerships with
internal and external stakeholders.
 Demonstrate sustained success in securing major funding.
 Making a leading and international contribution to developing the link between the discipline and its
stakeholders through e.g. membership of international committees; publications, contribution to
international conferences.
 Make a major contribution to the leadership and future development of enterprise and knowledge
transfer in the University.
This Role Description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and will be subject to periodic review.
Additional Information:
Location
The post holder will be based at the University’s City Campus, but travel to other premises which the
University may from time to time occupy will be required. As will national and international travel to
academic partners and corporate clients in relation to programmes, awards, consultancy and/or other
activities and externally funded programmes appropriate to the nature of the post may be required.
Attendance Requirements
The nature of the post is such that the post holder is expected to work and attend at the University’s
premises such hours as are reasonably necessary for the effective discharge of the duties of the post, within
a normal working week of 37 hours. Within this time a typical workload may include weekday evening
delivery and exceptionally, weekend short course work and / or national and international travel appropriate
to the nature of the role.
References
Contact with your present or most recent employer will be made if you are offered the position. Please
complete the relevant section in the application form.
Person Specification
Faculty/Service:
Job Title:
Grade:
Arts, Design and Social Sciences
Professor in Humanities
9
E/D
1.
2.
3.
Specific Knowledge
Excellent knowledge of the complexities of the changing context of multi- and
interdisciplinary work in the Humanities
Excellent knowledge of a range of interdisciplinary research methods and an ability to
develop new methods and methodological approaches
Expertise in working co-operatively with external agencies and other research
communities.
Excellent knowledge of funding processes and opportunities for research and or
innovation activity
Excellent strategic knowledge of the national research agenda
Skills and Abilities
Proven and extensive track record in producing internationally/nationally excellent
quality publications/outputs
A high level of leadership and organisational skills as demonstrated through the ability to
inspire others, prioritise workloads and work autonomously as well as part of a team
Proven success in leading and managing research projects
E
E
E
D
E
E
E
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Proven track record in securing external funding for research and innovation activity
E
E
Proven leadership in the development and delivery of excellent undergraduate and
postgraduate teaching and supervision
Proven track record of developing and sustaining a culture of innovation and creativity,
valuing and empowering people in a professional environment
Experience of conducting research and / or education in partnership with service users.
Qualifications
Honours Degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent educational attainment
A Post-Graduate Research Degree at doctoral level
E
Legend:
E
D
E
= Essential
= Desirable
E
D
E
E