Dear all,
I would be grateful if you could draw these post-doctoral positions to the attention of anyone you think might be interested.
With best wishes,
Paul

Faculty of Arts
Arts Engaged

Five Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Job Summary

Three year fixed term, starting 1 September 2012

Realising Innovation and Impact in the Arts and Humanities

Arts Engaged, the Centre for Innovation and Impact in the Arts and Humanities, invites applications for five Postdoctoral Research Fellowships within a project funded by the University of Leeds Transformation Fund and the Faculty of Arts.

Arts Engaged at Leeds seeks to develop strategic thinking and innovative methodologies for embedding innovation and impact at all stages of the research process. Its principal objectives are as follows:


·         To transform the quality and extent of the Faculty’s research impact (social, cultural and economic) locally, nationally and globally



·         To build knowledge of and contacts in five innovation and impact areas of particular relevance to arts and humanities:


i)             Corporate and media
ii)            Government and public policy
iii)           Museums and galleries
iv)           Cultural organisations and industries
v)            Community and voluntary bodies/public awareness



·         To engage innovation and impact at the heart of research faculty-wide, and at all levels, from large scale collaborative programmes, through individual research and doctoral projects, to research-led teaching



·         To support and consolidate the development of innovative methodologies, impact resources and case studies to benefit research across the faculty and for wider use both nationally and internationally



·         To achieve higher rates of grant capture by capitalising on research innovation and improved impact planning

The five Postdoctoral Research Fellows will divide their workloads as follows: 50% innovation and impact activities; and 50% individual and/or collaborative research within one of the Faculty’s research centres (see below for list of participating centres).

Each Fellow will have special responsibility for one of the following innovation and impact areas: Corporate and Media; Government and Public Policy; Museums and Galleries; Cultural Organisations and Industries; Community and Voluntary Bodies/Public Awareness. With other members of Arts Engaged, you will work on the development of policy and practice in research innovation and impact, new methodologies and resources, external contacts and partnerships, grant applications, impact plans and case studies, and the provision of Faculty-wide training and surgeries.

The other half of your time you will undertake individual and/or collaborative research within one of the participating research centres (see below), and will be expected to develop an international as well as national profile through publications, grant applications, conference papers and wider social, cultural and/or economic impact.

Although each fellow will formally/notionally be employed in one of the Faculty’s four schools (English; History; Humanities; Modern Languages and Cultures), you will be situated in Leeds Humanities Research Institute which provides research support for the Faculty.

You will be expected to have completed a PhD by 1 September 2012 in an area of research related to one of the participating research centres (see below), and to have experience of knowledge transfer or exchange, research collaboration with an external partner, or significant non-academic research impact.

Participating Faculty of Arts research centres include:

Centre for World Cinemas, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/20064/centre_for_world_cinemas
Centre for History and Philosophy of Science, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/40006/centre_for_history_and_philosophy_of_science/1146/centre_for_history_and_philosophy_of_science/1
Institute for Religion and Public Life, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125010/institute_for_religion_and_public_life
Interdisciplinary Ethics Applied, http://www.idea.leeds.ac.uk/
Leeds Centre for Dante Studies, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/40009/leeds_centre_for_dante_studies
Institute for Colonial and Postcolonial Studies,
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/20044/institute_for_colonial_and_postcolonial_studies
History of Enterprise and Cultures of Consumption Research Group, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125044/history_of_enterprise_and_cultures_of_consumption_research_group
Legacies of War, http://www.arts.leeds.ac.uk/legaciesofwar
Centre for Medical Humanities

Information about the Faculty of Arts can be found at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/.

Information about Arts Engaged and Leeds Humanities Research Institute can be found at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/lhri/.

For information on the growing importance of innovation and impact in the arts and humanities, see RCUK Excellence with impact http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/Pages/home.aspx;  AHRC’s Leading the World: The Economic Impact of UK Arts and Humanities Research, http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/About/Policy/Documents/leadingtheworld.pdf; and the British Academy’s report, Past, Present and Future: The Public Value of the Humanities and Social Sciences, www.britac.ac.uk<http://www.britac.ac.uk/>.

Applicants are asked in addition to their standard application to submit a CV.

University Grade 7 (£29,972 - £35,788 p.a.) It is likely that an appointment will be made no higher than £31,798 p.a. since there are funding limitations which dictate the level at which the appointment can start.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Stuart Murray, tel +44 (0)113 343 4747, email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>, or Dr Matthew Treherne, tel +44 (0)113 343 8612, email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

Closing date 22 February 2012
Job Description

Responsible to: Head of School
Reports to: Director of Arts Engaged

Main Duties and Responsibilities

(a)  Innovation and Impact

·                to plan and manage your own innovation and impact brief in collaboration with the Director and other members of Arts Engaged (in relation to one of the following five areas: Corporate and Media; Government and Public Policy; Museums and Galleries; Cultural Organisations and Industries; Community and Voluntary Bodies/Public Awareness)
·                with other members of Arts Engaged, to participate in the development of policy and practice in research innovation and impact, new methodologies and resources, external contacts and partnerships, grant applications, impact plans and case studies
·                to disseminate good practice in research innovation and impact across the Faculty
·                to assist others in identifying and developing opportunities for innovation and impact in their own research
·                to contribute to the provision of Faculty-wide training and surgeries
·                to participate in Arts Engaged meetings, seminars, and workshops as required by the Director

(b)  Research

·                to plan and manage your own independent research activity in collaboration with the Head of Research Centre and other members of the research team
·                to disseminate the results of your research as appropriate in international peer-reviewed publications and open access repositories
·                to attend residential national/international conferences and dissemination events
·                to develop grant applications in collaboration with the Head of Centre and other members of the research team
·                to ensure that, where appropriate you work collaboratively with external non-academic partners, and that the results of your research have a social, cultural and/or economic impact and engage with a wider public
·                to participate in project meetings, seminars, and conferences in liaison with the Head of Centre



And any other duties as may reasonably be required, consistent with the grade of the post

The precise scope of the above duties will be agreed in consultation with the Director of Arts Engaged and the Head of Research Centre (who will also be a member of Arts Engaged)



Career Expectations

The University of Leeds is committed to developing its staff. All staff participate in the Staff Review and Development scheme and we continue to work with individuals, supporting them to maximise their potential.

Progression to a higher grade is dependent on an individual taking on an increased level of responsibility. Vacancies that arise within the area or across the wider University are advertised on the HR website - http://jobs.leeds.ac.uk<http://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/> - to allow staff to apply for wider career development opportunities.

University Values

All staff are expected to operate in line with the university’s values and standards, which work as an integral part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together. More information about the university’s strategy and values is available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/


Person Specification

Essential


·      A PhD within the area of Arts and Humanities (completed by 1 September 2012)
·      A demonstrable commitment to research, including:

i)             The ability to identify research objectives
ii)            Independence and initiative in tackling research problems
iii)           The ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team

·         Experience of, and demonstrable commitment to, collaboration with people and organisations in at least one of the following fields:

i)     Corporate and media
ii)    Government and public policy
iii)   Museums and galleries
iv)   Cultural organisations and industries
v)    Community and voluntary bodies/public awareness


·      Peer-reviewed research publications or evidence of forthcoming publications, on a relevant topic

·      Excellent communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills, to both academic and non-academic audiences

·      Openness to new ideas, collaborations and partnerships, and a willingness to develop these where appropriate

·      Understanding of the Impact environment within Higher Education

·      The ability to work independently and flexibly, and to work within a team environment.

·      The ability to work accurately and carefully

·      The ability to work to deadlines and maintain a professional approach to all aspects of the role

·      Competencies in, and a willingness to carry out, everyday project management and administrative duties

Desirable


·      Experience in giving research presentations at national and international seminars and conferences

·      Experience of public dissemination

·      Sound knowledge of the process of obtaining competitive research grant income

Additional information

Details of the terms and conditions of employment for all staff at the university, including information on pensions and benefits, are available on the Human Resources web pages accessible via the links on the right hand side, or at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/index.htm

Criminal Record Disclosures

A Criminal Records Disclosure is not required for this position. However, applicants who have unspent convictions must indicate this in the ‘other personal details’ section of the application.

Disabled Applicants

The post is located within the Leeds Humanities Research Institute and the Faculty of Arts.  Disabled applicants wishing to review access to the buildings are invited to contact the department direct.  Additional information may be sought from the Recruitment Officer, email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or tel + 44 (0)113 343 1723.

Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their disability but will still be covered by the Equality Act once their disability becomes known.

Further information for applicants with disabilities, impairments or health conditions is available in the applicant guidance.<https://ig29.i-grasp.com/UniversityOfLeeds/www.leeds.ac.uk>