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Role Description
Faculty/Service:
INNOVATE
Job Title:
Professor of Innovation
Grade:
9
Category:
Academic
Job Purpose:
To lead innovation activities through business and industry collaborations at INNOVATE, an off-campus,
industry focused innovation space that takes a multidisciplinary approach to the research and practice of
design-led innovation.
The post holder will be a collegiate, innovative and internationally-recognised researcher with a strong and
recent record of research evidenced by a track record of international quality publications that have had
demonstrable impact.
Building on a strong collaborative track record with industry, Northumbria has set out a clear ambition for
INNOVATE to be a leading global Centre of Excellence in Design-Led Innovation by 2020.
Responsible to:
Faculty Executive Dean
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
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Support the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, (Research and Innovation), as appropriate, by exercising strategic
academic leadership within the field of innovation, and engaging fellow Professors and Heads of
Department in INNOVATE activity
Support the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, (Business and Engagement) and in the successful delivery of the
INNOVATE strategic plan, by aligning the planning of research and enterprise activities with INNOVATE
to support the University’s 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 Faculty based activity at INNOVATE and
supporting the career development of early career staff based at INNOVATE
Provide effective leadership and management of programmes or projects, including the management of
financial and physical resources and the production of timely and appropriate outputs. This involves
identifying, securing and managing resources and planning for sustainability.
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Innovation
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Foster a culture of continual development of current innovation practices, methodologies and toolsets,
based on the collaborative work being undertaken at INNOVATE, personal research and development
within the discipline
Enable Northumbria’s partners to benefit from improved staff performance or through the
development of innovative products, processes and systems as a result of their engagement at
INNOVATE
Demonstrate an original and significant contribution to knowledge, practice or performance and, where
appropriate, the enhancement of student learning (teaching) - evidenced through publications,
presentations, demonstrations, exhibitions or other works
Support the development of dissemination opportunities for practitioners and industry partners,
contributing to workforce development, project delivery and consultancy
Actively promote the research and enterprise culture of INNOVATE.
Esteem
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Be recognised in the field of innovation, with a demonstrable track record of securing commercial
industry engagement and public funding
Represent INNOVATE internally and externally on committees, working groups, forums and at other
relevant events. This may include chairing committees and ensuring the effective operation of relevant
sub-committees and working groups.
Contribution
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Sustain a proven track record of income generation in support of research and enterprise
Make an active contribution to the development of the knowledge base around innovation
Make a major contribution to improving the capacity for new work to be undertaken, through personal
professional development, collaboration or workforce development
Work with the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Executive Deans, Heads of Department, other Professors and
colleagues to develop a collaborative, collegiate and inclusive culture to engage all staff fully with the
ambition for INNOVATE and the University’s Vision 2025 and its Corporate Strategy
Act corporately and collegially, promoting the ‘One University’ principle and positively endorsing the
Institution within and outside the University to build networks, foster collaboration and share
information and ideas and to promote INNOVATE.
Other
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Ensure fair and consistent application of University policies and procedures
Undertake other University responsibilities that the University Executive may require.
Specific Duties:
Enterprise
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To attract public and Research Council funding to both support and grow the core activities at INNOVATE
and expand the research team
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Lead major research, consultancy, CPD and enterprise activities that have substantial impact regionally,
nationally or internationally
Demonstrate sustained success in developing significant and innovative networks and partnerships with
internal and external stakeholders
Develop and lead substantial and sustained industrial/commercial collaborations and activities.
Evaluate the collaborative potential of external enterprise projects Make a leading contribution to the
international development of INNOVATE and its stakeholders, e.g. through membership of international
committees, publications, and contributions to international conferences
Make a major contribution to the leadership and development of enterprise and knowledge transfer in
the University
Play a leading role in the development and application of public or professional policy and practice at
national or international level.
Research & Teaching
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Lead the development of research in the subject area. This will also involve collectively working with the
Head of INNOVATE, Heads of Departments and the Professoriate
Conduct research at a level commensurate with the role of professor/reader in a research-rich university
Lead and collaborate on bids for research, consultancy and other additional funds, acting as Principal
Investigator when necessary
Deliver presentations at national and international conferences and events, to raise the profile of
INNOVATE and the University
Produce regular scholarly outputs of a quality and frequency consistent with the status of Professor in
the field
Develop intellectual property
Act as Principal Supervisor for PhD students
Line manage research staff who are part of research project teams
Continue to demonstrate an outstanding original contribution to a subject area, evidenced 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
Contribute to the development, leadership and management of innovative programmes, teachingrelated projects and continuing professional development programmes.
This Role Description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and will be subject to periodic review.
2. Location:
The post holder will be based at INNOVATE within the Northern Design Centre in Gateshead; however, travel
to other University sites will be required from time to time. National and international travel appropriate to
the nature of the post may also be necessary.
3. 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
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a normal working week of 37 hours. Within this time a typical workload may include weekday evening
delivery and, exceptionally, weekend working.
4. Additional Information
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.
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Person Specification
Faculty/Service:
Job Title:
Grade:
1.
2.
3.
INNOVATE
Professor of Innovation
9
Specific Knowledge
Excellent knowledge of leading innovation practice
Excellent knowledge of research methods and an ability to develop methodological
approaches
Extensive knowledge of external funding agencies, other relevant research communities
and industry groups
Excellent knowledge of funding processes and opportunities for research and or
innovation activity
Excellent strategic knowledge of the national innovation landscape
Excellent strategic knowledge of the national research agenda
Skills and Abilities
Proven track record in producing nationally and internationally excellent
publications/outputs
Proven track record in securing external funding for research and innovation activity
Extensive Experience in the delivery of collaborative research with Industry
Experience of conducting research in collaboration with partners and service users
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 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 leadership skills in the development and delivery of excellent Teaching/CPD and
supervision
Knowledge, understanding and experience of design-led approaches to innovation
Qualifications
Honours Degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent educational attainment.
A Post-Graduate Research Degree at doctoral level.
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