Associate Professor in Health and Wellbeing

Job Summary

At Robert Gordon University (RGU) we are proud of our excellence in education and research and we are offering an opportunity to join our great team as an Associate Professor with expertise and a proven track record in health and wellbeing research and quantitative methods.  RGU is an innovative, inclusive, and ambitious University, focused on the impact of its demand-led teaching and research.

The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice are now seeking to expand their team of senior, research orientated academics with a view to building on the impactful research currently being undertaken within the School and to enhance our leadership and reputation. We are therefore seeking to appoint an academic with an established track record of research and knowledge exchange in health and wellbeing research with expertise in quantitative methods. We are interested to hear from academic researchers whose interests include areas relating to the organisation and delivery of health care, health inequalities or health wellbeing across the lifespan.

This new role will provide academic direction in an area relating to the research work of the School and University. Health and wellbeing research is a key priority for the University. The School has a vision to ‘transform health and social care within urban, remote and rural communities’, and we set out to achieve that through four key strategic priorities:

• To place people and communities at the centre of what we do in promoting health and wellbeing
• Undertake impactful, innovative and interdisciplinary research and scholarship that improves health outcomes and informs policy and practice
• Provide high quality education and supervision to prepare graduates to lead the transformation of health and social care.
• Engage in purposeful partnerships to grow our academic and research portfolio.

You will contribute to our vision to be recognised for research that addresses the health and wellbeing of children, families, older people, and those disadvantaged by undertaking impactful, innovative and interdisciplinary research to inform policy and practice.  

You should have a PhD in a health, social science or relevant discipline. You will be a recognized expert in an area of health and wellbeing research relevant to the University and School strategy with evidence of securing research funding, high quality publications and successful completions of at least two doctoral student degrees. You will be expected to develop an independent programme of health and wellbeing research and work in collaboration with colleagues to provide expertise in quantitative research methods. You will deliver subject expertise to our community of stakeholders, make a substantial contribution to the School’s research objectives, and enhance and enrich our research environment, activities and outputs.

We offer a supportive and inclusive environment within an ambitious and growing School with fully accessible working facilities. We welcome diversity amongst our community and are interested to hear from and work with, candidates from all backgrounds. We know that staff want to find a productive work/life balance and, as well as offering a hybrid working policy, we would welcome applications from those seeking part-time working patterns.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits. 

 

Salary: Associate Professor: £56,021 - £64,914

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/

Part-time applicants that will require sponsorship may be considered in line with UKVI sponsorship requirements.

Relocation assistance may be available for this post, subject to conditions. For more information, visit: Relocation Policy 

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to the Dean Professor Susan Dawkes - s.dawkes@rgu.ac.uk or the Associate Dean for Research – Professor Catriona Kennedy c.m.kennedy1@rgu.ac.uk

To apply please submit your CV along with a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role against the requirements set out in the person specification.

 

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Associate Dean for Research

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Research active staff as required

PURPOSE OF POST:

To contribute to the research and educational practice activities of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice. The post holder will be required to contribute to the University's objective of growing our academic reputation for research-informed student teaching and learning, innovation and integrated academic practice, to conduct individual and collaborative research projects including supervision of such projects, generate grant income and contribute to the research profile leading to the production of research outcomes.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

Research:

• Work with the Dean of School and Associate Dean for Research to develop a programme of research that fits with the School's research strategy.

• Publish work which as a minimum meets the University's expectations for the publication of REF-submissible outputs.

• Work with the School Leadership Team to develop research capability within the School.

• Support research active staff within the School to contribute to the School research strategy;

• Mentor research active staff and early career researchers within the School to increase publication in peer reviewed journals.

• Build research partnerships between the School and national and international partners.

Education:

• Contribute to evidence-based education and continuing professional development for students and practitioners as appropriate.

• Supervise post-graduate research

• Contribute to the development of research supervisors to enhance the school capacity for supervision.

• Support the development of academic standards within the School.

• Contribute to the research and practice development agenda within partner institutions.

• Demonstrate an active commitment to continuing professional development in relation to education and reflective learning.

Leadership:

• Provide leadership in research to staff within the School as appropriate;

• Promote a culture of research and practice innovation within the School;

• Make an ongoing contribution within the discipline field regionally and nationally;

• Support and encourage early career researchers and individuals with research potential to develop their careers though encouraging applications for scholarships/studentships;

• Contribute to academic leadership within the wider university and within the discipline field at regional and national levels.

Person Specification

 

Essential Requirements

Qualifications

PhD or equivalent doctoral level qualification relevant to health and wellbeing.

Knowledge & Skills

Identified area of expertise in quantitative research methods relevant to health and wellbeing research.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentation skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills, communication style and team working.

Commitment to excellence in research and teaching/supervision and to provide the highest quality experience for students.

Commitment to working within professional governance guidelines and ethical codes of conduct.

Ability to articulate a research vision and strategy for development, implementation, and delivery of successful research projects.

Experience

Evidence of supervising at least two doctoral students to successful completion.

Experience of operational leadership in research

Record of research evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals competitive research grants and evidence of national and international recognition and esteem.

Evidence of positive working relationships across key sectors relevant to health and wellbeing.

 

Desirable requirements

Qualifications

Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Teaching in higher education qualification.

Experience

Contribution to wider professional activities aligned with research (e.g. journal editing, reviewing, committee membership).

Recognition for research or scholarly activity through prizes or awards.

Evidence of success in substantial academic leadership positions.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner

Behaviour 2: Pastoral Care and Welfare  - Experience of calming and reassuring those with work/study related problems who may be experiencing distress, dealing with difficult welfare situations or confidential matters and providing support for those in considerable distress or requiring long-term complex support

Behaviour 3: Analysis and Research - Experience of developing hypotheses and concepts to explain data, events and phenomena, and reporting findings to a wider community

Behaviour 4: Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers’ expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards 

Behaviour 5: Teaching and Learning Support - Experience of providing standard information or delivering teaching or training, designing content or learning materials within existing frameworks and developing innovative approaches to learning experience and the curriculum

Behaviour 6: Liaison and Networking - Experience of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships, leading and developing internal networks to pursue a shared interest and leading and building external networks to enhance the work of the organisation