ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART ROLE DESCRIPTION Post: Department: Senior Research Fellow Intelligent Mobility Design Centre Grade: 10 Responsible to: Director, Intelligent Mobility Design Centre Background The Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art is the only entirely postgraduate institution of university status devoted to research and knowledge exchange, teaching and practice in art, design, communication and humanities. Its international reputation for excellence in teaching, practice and research has been recognised for two successive years by the highly regarded QS World Ranking survey, with the College as the world's number 1 art and design University in both 2015 and 2016. In 2016/17 the College will have some 1,780 students registered for MA, MRes, MPhil and PhD degrees and over 400 full and part -time academic, technical and administrative staff. The College is located on two sites in central London, in Kensington and Battersea. The campus in South Kensington includes among its neighbours Imperial College London, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal College of Music, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum Group. The Battersea campus is home to the schools of Fine Art and Material, as well as InnovationRCA, the RCA s graduate start-up and enterprise centre, and the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, the RCA s award-winning centre for inclusive design research. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) recognises the world-leading, small, specialist institution status of the College through its exceptional funding stream, which in 2016/17 will equate to 6m. Its excellence in teaching and research has been consistently recognised as being of the highest standing. The REF 2014 results cemented the RCA's position as the UK s leading university of art and design with the highest levels of research intensity, and a 100% score for research impact and research environment at world-leading (4*) and internationally excellent (3*) quality levels. In March 2016, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an unprecedented 54 million grant to the RCA to support a major expansion of its Battersea South site with the creation of a flagship new 108m innovation campus of 15,000 sqm,
2 housing four new research institutes (in design and computer science, design and material science, drawing, and intelligent mobility), programmes from the schools of fine art, material, and architecture, and two knowledge exchange labs in advanced modelling and manufacturing and 2D and 3D visualisation. The College has an august history in art and design education, numerous eminent graduates and a remarkable record of graduate employment. The Intelligent Mobility Design Centre The RCA s newly established Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC) provides a design-led disruptive research environment for the development of new approaches to innovation for the automotive industry. Mobility - including mass transportation, personal automobiles, green vehicles, manufacturing, infrastructure - is set for the greatest change since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Where previous evolution has been iterative, with developments within discrete elements of transportation - engineering, styling, materials, marketing, etc. - the opportunity now exists, through smart technology and design, to consider holistic and systemic approaches to the future of transportation that meets the needs of society, individuals, the economy, and countries infrastructure strategies for the 21st century. Intelligent Mobility defines and describes this paradigm shift, and involves bringing together existing fields of expertise with a design-led approach that addresses both the physical and virtual aspects of the mobility challenge as an integrated whole. The IMDC is a multi-disciplinary research environment, protected from the shortterm demands and financial risks of the commercial world, which builds on the RCA s world-leading Vehicle Design programme and its visionary mix of technological design solutions with insights into user experience. The Centre leads collaborative research projects, bringing the RCA s leading academics and research students together with industry specialists to work on bespoke collaborations as well as wider multi-disciplinary research partnerships, in shared studio spaces, to address major societal challenges of the future of human mobility. Purpose of the role: Working as part of a small but growing team of researchers under Centre Director Professor Dale Harrow in the newly established, industry-funded Intelligent Mobility Design Centre at the RCA, this post involves making a significant contribution to collaborative research projects addressing the challenges of human transport and mobility in the 21 st century. The role involves planning and leading projects, working in conjunction with academic colleagues and industry partners on the Centre s research programme, developing and submitting research funding applications, managing and delivering projects, and undertaking and publishing internationally recognised research. It also involves working with partners across industry, government, public sector and community organisations and policy makers, and offers the opportunity to co-supervise a number of doctoral research students. 2
3 Main duties and responsibilities: 1. To work closely with the IMDC research staff, undertaking high-quality and rigorous collaborative research projects which lead to robust research outputs and research publications in recognised academic journals 2. Working with the Centre Director, the Executive Director of Research Centres and the RCA s Research & KE Office, to plan, prepare and submit funding proposals to major UK and international research funders, industry partners and other funding sources, to support the Centre s research agenda and the post-holder s own research career development plans 3. To engage with the IMDC s sponsor companies, undertaking collaborative research projects and managing working relationships to maintain a productive partnership 4. To engage with relevant academic, industry, government and policy networks, representing the Centre, enhancing its profile, and seeking new partnership and sponsorship opportunities 5. To act as supervisor (or co-supervisor) to an appropriate number of doctoral research students in the Centre, including those undertaking industry-facing doctorates, ensuring a high-quality research student experience, timey submission and completion of high-quality doctoral theses, adherence to best practice in research training and research career development, and compliance with College and funding body processes and reporting requirements. 6. To undertake occasional teaching on the Intelligent Mobility Design MA Programme, as required by the Centre Director. 7. To line manage and manage the research career development of a small team of post-doctoral research associates, and to provide intellectual leadership, in conjunction with the Centre Director, for the relevant team s portfolio of projects 8. To lead a team research culture that reflects best practice in research conduct, including in issues and processes concerning research ethics, research integrity and research data, compliance with relevant funding body processes and reporting requirements, and RCA guidelines concerning the use and procurement of IT equipment and other equipment and facilities; to liaise with the RCA s Research and KE Office staff, Information, Learning and Technical Services staff and others to achieve this, and to undertake relevant training and development opportunities. 9. To present the work of the relevant IMDC team at events, meetings, seminars, symposia etc. within the RCA and externally, ensuring that the Centre s research and reputation are enhanced, and tailoring content and style to a broad range of specialist and non-specialist audiences. 3
4 10. To ensure that the relevant IMCD projects are properly documented and disseminated to key audiences, via reports, papers, exhibits, publications, the website etc, working with the Centre Director, the Executive Director for Research Centres, and the RCA Comms & Marketing team as appropriate. 11. To supervise the work of any interns or junior research associates engaged in IMDC projects, ensure they are equipped to deliver agreed outputs within agreed timescales, and are undertaking work at an appropriate level. 12. To contribute to identifying opportunities, preparing material for and delivering Executive Education courses and workshops. Person Specification: Essential: 1. PhD in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience in a different sector 2. Experience of working at post-doctoral level in a research centre, equivalent experience in industry or another sector 3. Experience of carrying out research projects and publishing research outputs 4. Experience of leading collaborative projects, preferably involving HE/industry collaborations in a relevant field 5. Experience of managing and reporting on projects, including managing a budget 6. Clear understanding of good practice in managing and supervising research students and doctoral programmes 7. An understanding of the importance of good practice in research conduct (including in research ethics, research integrity and handling research data) 8. Ability to play a leadership role in a team and also be an effective and collaborative member of a broader team, working constructively with senior staff and supporting the work of less experienced staff or students involved in projects 9. Flexibility and confidence to tackle a wide range of tasks, with an open, proactive, creative and problem-solving approach 10. Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills, able to adopt an appropriate style for a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences 11. Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills 12. Genuine commitment to the aims of the Centre Desirable 1. Experience of supervising doctoral students to a successful completion (inhouse training is available through the RCA s PG Certificate in HE teaching and supervision) 4
5 PAY & BENEFITS Pension The Royal College of Art is a member of the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL) which is a contributory defined benefit pension scheme. The college will contribute a sum equal to 16% of your salary while you pay 6%. Holiday 6 weeks (30 days) paid leave a year plus bank and public holidays normally observed in England and Wales. In addition, the college is normally closed for six days a year, one day either side of Easter and the remainder between Christmas and New Year. Part-time staff will be entitled to the pro rata equivalent. Season ticket loans Interest-free loans are available for staff to purchase annual season tickets. Enhanced maternity and adoption pay Qualifying employees are entitled to enhanced maternity/adoption pay: 26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks Statutory Maternity/Adoption Pay. This compares to the statutory provision of 90% of average pay for 6 weeks followed by Statutory Maternity/Adoption Pay for 33 weeks. Enhanced paternity pay Qualifying employees are entitled to two weeks paternity leave entitlement at full pay. This compares to the statutory provision of two weeks pay at the statutory rate. Enhanced sick pay Occupational sick pay after six months service is three months full pay/three months half pay. 24/7 confidential support Staff and family members in their household have access to a free, external confidential support service for work, financial, legal, family and personal problems 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Occupational health Occupational Health support for the College is provided by Imperial College s occupational health service at their South Kensington Campus. Cycle to Work Scheme The Royal College of Art has signed up to the Cycle to Work Scheme part of the government s Green Transport Initiative which allows employees to make significant savings on purchasing new bikes and safety equipment. Childcare Vouchers The Royal College of Art enables staff to purchase childcare vouchers, through its partner Edenred, as a salary sacrifice scheme. 5
6 Life Cover Active members of the SAUL pension scheme automatically receive life cover. A lump sum of four times your salary together with a refund of your contributions and a 2/3 pension for your dependent/spouse is payable should you die whilst in employment. Professorships and readerships The College awards professorships or readership to academic staff based on published criteria through an annual application process. Any award is subject to successful completion of probationary period, which is normally one year from first appointment. Library All staff are welcome to join the college library. Events All staff are welcome to attend exhibitions, lectures and private views held by academic schools and programmes. 6