Senior Lecturer, Department Of War Studies, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 9,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such support to training future Army officers is vital.

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst trains around 1,000 British Army and International officers a year. You would be working in the academic Faculty of Leadership, Security and Warfare, which provides a key intellectual element in an officer’s education. In the Faculty, you would be working alongside over 40 academics split into three departments: Communication and Applied Behavioural Science, Defence and International Affairs and War Studies. These departments, in partnership with the University of Reading and the Henley Business School, deliver the first year of either a MSc or BSc programme in Leadership and Strategic Studies as part of the Army Higher Education Pathway (AHEP).

The Department of War Studies is looking to recruit a Senior Lecturer into its team of dedicated and motivated academics. You will instruct British Army officer cadets and officers in modern War Studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This is an opportunity to make a difference in real world settings and shape the British Army officers of the future.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

We deliver a number of broad-based War Studies courses to all British Army officers during their initial officer training and the first stage of their professional development and as part of the AHEP.

These courses provide professional knowledge and insight into the study of War in a historical and contemporary context in order for Army Officers to better understand and interrogate modern British doctrine. They cover the conduct of War from the French Revolution to the present day and examine specifically theories and theorists of War, conventional war-fighting and combined arms manoeuvre, irregular warfare, insurgency, counter-insurgency and stability operations, contingency operations and hybrid war. The majority of the courses are taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels as part of the university accredited AHEP. Most instructing takes place at Sandhurst but all staff are expected to occasionally deliver courses at MOD sites around the UK and abroad. There are also opportunities to teach courses abroad (UK international Defence Engagement programme) to support military exercises and battlefield studies and to work with other military formations and units and support doctrine development.

In meeting the professional expectations of a Senior Lecturer and supporting the conceptual needs of the wider Army, you should be able to demonstrate that you are and will remain research active in the field of War Studies. There is considerable latitude in the direction and nature of research. In meeting the needs of our new curriculum, the Department is particularly interested in recruiting a candidate with expertise in Normandy Campaign of 1944. Furthermore the Department is looking to expand its current strengths and applications from candidates working on the conflicts and interventions of the Post-Cold War era, particularly in Europe, the Middle-East and Africa are also encouraged.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups in academia.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1.

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Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Person specification

• Delivering War Studies teaching and associated duties (marking, report writing, assessment) in an applied setting at postgraduate and/or undergraduate level, with the enthusiasm to further apply this in a military context.
• The ability to deliver relevant research and publish outcomes to support teaching and enhance the reputation of the Department as a seat of Higher Educational learning.
• Self-motivation to conduct both professional and personal administration.
• Excellent communication skills to perform additional academic support tasks; e.g. overseas lecturing, conferences and professional advice/workshops within Defence.
• A dedication to continued professional development and a willingness to up-skill in emerging areas and to be prepared to work outside your immediate area of expertise.

Essential:

In addition to a demonstrable passion for the subject, you should be research-active and must possess a higher degree in a relevant subject such as War Studies, although degrees in history, international relations and other relevant subjects will be considered (preferably a PhD completed or close to completion). You should have experience of teaching at undergraduate and/or post-graduate levels.

Desirable:

Teaching qualification, with a view to working towards a Level 7 qualification.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package.

The Academy has a lot to offer its employees: free on site parking, subsidised gym and swimming pool membership, 271 acres of parkland, wooded areas and lakes, numerous historic buildings, a museum, a library, several café style eating facilities, fly & coarse fishing as well as regular social activities.

Job contact :

Name :
Dr Christopher Mann, Head of the Department of War Studies
Email :
matthew.mann542@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
dbscivpers-resourcingteam1@mod.gov.uk