Role Description
Faculty:
Job Title:
Grade:
Engineering and Environment
Professor in Extreme Environments
9
Purpose of Role:
The post holder is responsible for maintaining and improving the University’s national and international
reputation in their academic field, in line with their specific academic focus (Research, Learning and Teaching
or Enterprise).
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.
Contribution may go beyond academia and into areas of policy and practice.
Responsible to:
An appropriate nominated academic member of the Faculty Executive or Head of Department where the
Head of Department is a Professor. On a day to day basis to work with and support the relevant Head of
Department and provide leadership to the academic subject area.
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.
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
 Lead the development of research in the subject area. This will also involve collectively working with the
Head of Department and Professoriate to lead research in the Department.
 Conduct research at a level commensurate with the role of professor in a research-rich university
 Lead 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.
 Contribute to the development of intellectual property.
 Act as Principal Supervisor for PhD students.
 Line management of research staff who are part of research 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. This involves original contributions to the development of pedagogic scholarship, theory &
practice development and playing a key role in the advancement of a subject area
 Demonstrate significant impact on developing innovative teaching and learning practice, approaches and
strategies (within the Faculty, University or across the sector).
 Maintain outstanding reputation for personal contributions to improving student learning. This includes
being recognised as an authority within and beyond the University.
 Lead high impact activity which raises the external profile of the University in relation to teaching and
learning. (e.g. events which showcase student achievement and teaching excellence; work with
employers, major partners, local authorities, communities, external agencies and professional
organisations.
 Play a lead role in networking, dissemination and cross-university collaboration to develop pedagogic
practice.
 Play a lead role in developing learning and teaching groups/subject communities within and beyond the
University.
 Maintain a substantial record of bidding into relevant awards and holding teaching-related grants
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;
 Develop substantial sustained industrial/commercial collaboration(s) and activities;
 Development and leadership of substantial enterprise activity e.g. leading a team in developing
enterprise activities in the Faculty or University;
 Demonstrate sustained success in securing major funding;
 Evaluation of external enterprise projects or programmes;
 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.
 Play a leading role in the development and/or application of public or professional
policy or practice at national or international levels.
This Role Description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and will be subject to periodic review.
Person Specification
Faculty:
Job Title:
Grade:
Engineering and Environment
Professor in Extreme Environments
9
E/D
1.
2.
3.
Specific Knowledge
Exceptional specialist subject expertise in discipline area
Excellent strategic knowledge of the national research agenda
Excellent knowledge of funding processes and opportunities for research and /or
innovation activity
Excellent knowledge of a range of research methods and an ability to develop
methods and methodological approaches
Skills and Abilities
Proven and extensive track record in producing internationally excellent quality
publications/outputs
Proven track record in securing external funding for research and innovation activity
as appropriate to the discipline
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
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Proven success in leading and managing research projects
E
E
Strong capacity and willingness to mentor and manage less experienced staff
E
Experience
Evidence of substantial external income generation and project management
E
Evidence of visible, productive, external/international networks and collaborations,
which will benefit the university
Evidence of engagement through editing journals/membership of editorial boards,
peer review, RCUK involvement, or high standing in professional associations
Evidence of having supervised students to successful completion
4.
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
Qualifications
First degree and postgraduate or professional qualifications in a discipline relevant to
the Faculty
PhD in a relevant discipline (Exceptionally, or PhD equivalent through demonstration
of professional standing in the field).
Legend:
E
= Essential
D
= Desirable
E
E