Professor Of Business Innovation

Professor of Business Innovation

Location: Cirencester, GL7 6JS

Salary: Grade 12: £70,918- £79,795 per annum

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has been at the forefront of agricultural education and a key contributor to the land-based sector for more than 175 years. They pride themselves in combining knowledge and industry connections with an innovative and forward-thinking approach.

The Role

Agriculture and food business are in a rapid period of innovation and change.  Businesses need to change, at scale and fast, in order to address climate, nature and health crises.  The RAU is well placed to support this need for Business Innovation by working both with large global agrifood companies tackling significant business and policy challenges, and student entrepreneurs that are participating in our award-winning Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme (EEP).

This post will provide academic leadership in a relevant business discipline to support our ambitions in this area. We are seeking an ambitious academic that is passionate about the national and global opportunities for business in the land-based sector who will act as champion for the business and employability skills of undergraduate and postgraduate RAU students.  Successful applicants will have specialist expertise in agri-food business and will be able to demonstrate strengths in one or more of the following areas: business strategy, leadership, food supply chain management, finance, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

The post holder will also provide academic input into our own Business Development Team, which includes responsibility for Business Innovation and Growth. This Team works in partnership to drive our future strategy to support business partners, develop new business models and innovative offerings, in the food, farming and agricultural sectors. This work is closely linked to the RAU’s most significant investment, the Innovation Village, which is currently under development.

Key Responsibilities

1. Support excellent, research-informed and practically relevant student learning:

• Teach across relevant RAU undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Cirencester and Swindon
• Where relevant, involvement in teaching in China and other international collaborations.
• Articulate subject material in a way that will enable students to demonstrate an understanding of the subject areas through contextualization and critical analysis of case studies and scenarios in the context of their subject area.
• Contribute to the management, administration and coordination of parts of the teaching programme and its development.
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
• Guest teaching on relevant modules.
• Help colleagues with programme and module development.

2. Develop the RAU’s portfolio of excellent and impactful research in the field of enterprise and innovation, including:

• Designing and delivering research projects that potentially have substantial public benefit.
• Applying for external funding for projects that include RAU colleagues.
• Submitting internationally excellent or world-leading papers to peer-reviewed journals.
• Contributing to the work and strategic direction of the Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture, and Farm491/Innovation@RAU.

3. Enhance the RAU’s impact and reputation as a champion for progressive and inclusive innovation and enterprise, including:

• Active knowledge exchange.
• Media appearances.
• Speaking at public, policy and industry events.
• Representing the University at external meetings.

4. Contribute to a thriving, positive University culture:

• Connect and engage with relevant initiatives across the University, and foster collaboration.
• Support academic colleagues to engage in research and knowledge exchange.
• Encourage open, inclusive and respectful debate.

All newly appointed academic staff who have not already achieved a relevant teaching qualification for Higher Education or Qualified Teacher Status are expected to study and attain the Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) or equivalent within two years of appointment in the role.

Skills & Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in cognate discipline
• Sustained intellectual leadership in their discipline, pedagogic research and/or professional research, across the university and nationally
• Track record of internationally excellent academic publications
• Experience of securing research funding
• Experience of undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching
• Experience of design and quality control of modules, course programmes / specifications and innovative assessment methods

Benefits

We offer a range of Staff Benefits including:

• 35-hour working week
• Generous 30 days annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time posts)
• Pension scheme
• Free and guaranteed parking on campus and free shuttle bus from campus to Cirencester town centre
• Discounted catering facilities
• Discounted onsite gym
• Free library services
• Employee assistance programme
• Occupational health and counselling services
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric car scheme (via Tusker)
• Staff development opportunities

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for The Royal Agricultural University, please click apply to be redirected to their website where you can complete your application.

Closing Date: Monday 12 February 2024

Interviews:  Friday 23 February 2024