Head of Department of Criminology, Politics & Sociology

Become Head of the Criminology, Politics & Sociology Department and you’ll take on a challenging and exciting brief – an experience as rich as the one we offer to our students. You’ll provide leadership and strategic vision, helping the Head of School to manage all people and activities. You’ll also work tirelessly to continually enhance the quality of our teaching and ensure the department curriculum and research capabilities are joined up.

Looking at the role in more detail, we’ll ask you to take strategic oversight of department admissions, develop and maintain subject expertise and excellence, deliver on agreed learning, teaching, research and enterprise objectives, and liaise with course leaders to ensure all academic, student progression and retention benchmarks are met.

The role of Head of Department will be initially for a period of 4 years; this may be renewed for a longer period. If not extended, you would return to the substantive academic role of Associate Professor/Professor. The Head of Department responsibilities attract an annual additional allowance of £6,000 per annum. This allowance would cease when the additional responsibilities are no longer allocated.

The Department of Criminology, Politics & Sociology is one of four departments within the School of Law, Social & Behavioural Sciences. The School is located within the Faculty of Business & Social Sciences along with Kingston Business School. Kingston University is a thriving, modern institution. The department contains a complementary range of disciplines with opportunities for new courses. There are 19 academic staff in the department,  delivering a range of criminology and sociology undergraduate courses, postgraduate taught and PhDs. 

Now is a very exciting time in its evolution as we implement our University’s Town House Strategy. Named after the internationally acclaimed, award-winning Town House building, the strategy will prepare students for the future world of work, increase the University's research and knowledge exchange, enhance its collaboration with local communities, business and industry, strengthen its impact on policy and support the goal of building a more sustainable society and economy.

It is built around four themes:

• Driving a progressive new model of education, combining subject-specific knowledge with the future skills and attributes most needed by employers.

• Partnering with industry to develop students' skills, and engaging government and organisations with the University's expertise to further debate and influence policy.

• Having impact in research, knowledge exchange and professional practice.

• Providing an innovative and high-performing working environment for staff.

The Person

We are looking for an ambitious, experienced, and dynamic individual with an excellent leadership profile to join our Faculty of Business and Social Sciences as Professor/Associate Professor and Head of Department and play a key role in:

(i)      providing strategic leadership to achieve significant student growth and reputation enhancement across the Department.

(ii)     leading/inspiring/supporting colleagues to fulfil the Kingston University Town House Strategy, and

(iii)    leading high quality and student-centred education contributing to teaching excellence and supporting research innovation and development.

(iv)   Ensuring our values underpin everything you do. Our values are Inclusive, Innovative, Ambitious, Enterprising.

You’ll provide strong and effective leadership and strategic vision, helping the Head of School to manage all people and activities. You’ll also work to continually enhance the quality of our teaching and ensure the Department curriculum and research capabilities are joined up.

You will provide strategic oversight of Department admissions, quality enhancement in teaching delivery and the student experience, maintain subject expertise and excellence, deliver on agreed learning, teaching, research and enterprise objectives, and liaise with course leaders to ensure all academic, student progression and retention benchmarks are met. Strong student growth is a school priority, particularly within the Department of Criminology, Politics & Sociology, we are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate a track record of student growth and make an immediate impact in the department in increasing student numbers.The position is open to candidates across the discipline who are at Senior Lecturer or higher. We have a particular interest in colleagues who have experience of strategic leadership, demonstrating significant student growth and an understanding of curriculum.

Candidates should have a sound, relevant academic profile which is backed up by a keen understanding of what are the component parts of a world class Department in this discipline. Clearly these are subjects that evolve and develop swiftly, so an ability to flex and tune provision in line with student and employer expectations is essential. As is the ability to ensure that the quality of research and teaching makes for a distinct and desirable proposition. Strong leadership and people management skills are a prerequisite as is an appetite to fully embrace Kingston University’s direction of travel.

You will also have the relevant level of UKPSF recognition (FHEA or SFHEA) or be willing to obtain this by the end of your probationary period. A natural leader, you will inspire our academics to continue working collaboratively, and you will be able to identify and establish opportunities for enterprise. Committed to maintaining your ongoing professional development, you will gain national recognition through the publication of your work and you will have the natural gravitas to act as a spokesperson for the department.

The Faculty

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences combines Kingston Business School and the School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences. Driven by a forward-thinking approach, the Faculty is dynamic, innovative and ambitious. We focus on business and social challenges that impact us all such as decision making, sustainable development and individual resilience.

Together, the Schools strive to nurture socially responsible, well-informed and actively engaged members of society who graduate as adaptable, ambitious and solutions-focused professionals.

Practical experience and real-life learning are at the heart of our degrees. Our graduates will be equipped with the skills to manage and navigate a world that needs employees to be digitally skilled and to have highly developed people management skills, emotional intelligence as well as innovative, entrepreneurial drive. Based at the Penrhyn Road campus, close to the river and Kingston town, the department is ideally located with easy access to London.

Further information

This is full-time Head of Department contract with a starting salary from £58,687 per annum, in addition to a £6,000 allowance per annum during the 4-year Head of Department tenure.

Interviews are expected to be held on 18 October 2023. The successful candidate will begin to shadow the current Head of Department with a view to taking over the role in full by February 2024.

For informal enquiries please contact Stephen Tong, Head of School of Law, Social & Behavioural Sciences.

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.

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.