Head of Department of Architecture and Landscape & Associate Professor

Shape the future of Architecture and Landscape at Kingston School of Art.

Kingston School of Art is seeking an outstanding academic leader to join us as Associate Professor in Architecture and Landscape, serving as Head of Department for an initial four-year period. 

This is a permanent academic position, subject to probation, with the expectation that the successful candidate will return to standard departmental responsibilities following their period as Head of Department. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a vibrant, ambitious and interdisciplinary department and to play a key role in shaping the future of Architecture and Landscape at Kingston School of Art. As a member of the School Leadership Team, you will work closely with senior colleagues to translate School, Faculty and University priorities into meaningful action, driving excellence in student experience, academic quality, research, knowledge exchange and external engagement. 

As Head of Department, you will provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for Architecture and Landscape, ensuring an outstanding student experience and fostering a culture of innovation, inclusion and academic excellence.

Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will maintain an active academic profile appropriate to Associate Professor level through teaching, research, professional practice and/or knowledge exchange activity.

The Person

We are looking for a collaborative, credible and inspiring academic leader with the vision, judgement and experience to lead change and support colleagues to thrive. You will have a strong understanding of the contemporary landscape of architectural and design education, with the ability to build on the Department's strengths while identifying and developing new opportunities for growth, collaboration and impact. 

You will be adept at building strong relationships across the University and with professional, industry and external partners, aligning departmental priorities with wider strategic ambitions. You will also bring the ability to manage resources effectively, including people, budgets, workload and specialist learning and studio spaces. 

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate a strong academic and professional profile alongside the leadership capability to take Architecture and Landscape into its next phase of development. This is an opportunity to shape not only the future of the Department, but also its contribution to the distinctive, practice-led and interdisciplinary culture of Kingston School of Art. 

Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they meet the Kingston University standards in learning and teaching, and research.  By the end of the probation period, you must have achieved the relevant level of UKPSF recognition (if this has not already been obtained).  

For those new to teaching, this will be through our accredited Introduction to Learning and Teaching and for those experienced in teaching, through our Kingston Academic Practice Standards Framework. ’

The successful candidate will demonstrate: 

• Strategic leadership and vision, with the ability to lead the Department through change and identify opportunities for its future development. 

• Strong people and management skills, with experience of leading diverse academic teams and managing staff, budgets, workload and specialist resources. 

• Academic and professional credibility, with a strong record in teaching, research, knowledge exchange and/or professional practice relevant toArchitecture and Landscape. 

• Commitment to an outstanding student experience, supporting student achievement, progression, belonging and academic development. 

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across the University and develop productive relationships with professional, industry and cultural partners. 

• A commitment to inclusion, innovation and collegiality, creating an environment in which staff and students can thrive. 
• The vision and judgement to enhance the Department's profile and impact, strengthening its distinctive contribution to Kingston School of Art and its national and international reputation.

The Faculty

Kingston School of Art (KSA) has a strong heritage. Since its origins in the late 19th century it has established an exceptional reputation and become one of the UK's leading art and design educational institutions.

The Faculty combines a dedication to creative risk-taking, innovation and experimentation with a commitment to working with numerous local, national and global partners and collaborators to lead and shape the future of the creative and cultural industries. As an Art School within a university, KSA fuses the benefits of an art and design-focused identity with the ability to be at the forefront of exciting cross-disciplinary developments in diverse areas such as health, business, engineering and the humanities and social sciences.

Ranked in the top five per cent of the world for art and design education by QS Top Universities, KSA produces globally celebrated alumni, high performing courses, impactful research performance and regularly achieves industry and student awards while engaging with the latest thinking from industry practitioners.

The Faculty works with leading brands and institutions forging exciting partnerships with organisations like the ICA, the Design Museum and the BFI. More recently, the Faculty has expanded its international presence through partnerships with the Indian Institute of Art and Design and the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, America.

With a wide variety of disciplines taught within the Faculty, KSA offers opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration in research and teaching - providing both exceptional choice for students and a stimulating environment for academics in the creative fields.

Further information

This is a full time (37 hours per week), permanent position with a starting salary of £60,996 per annum. There is an additional responsibilities allowance for the duration of tenure as Head of Department of £6000 per annum.

Interviews are expected to be held in person on Tuesday 20th October 2026.

For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Dr Fan Carter, head of School of Arts, KSA.

Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart. Every one of our staff and students’ identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences makes us who we are - so harness and embrace yours by applying today. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities.

We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required, this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. 

To apply click on ‘Apply Now’. If, for accessibility reasons, you need to apply in an alternative format, please email jobs@kingston.ac.uk or call the HR Shared Services team on 020 8417 3118.