Architect Job: Professor of Knowledge Exchange in Architecture

Frenchay Campus

Contractual hours: 37

Job description

The School of Architecture & Environment is looking to appoint a Professor of Knowledge Exchange in Architecture. The post offers a significant opportunity for a dynamic and enterprising individual with a national and international reputation in Architecture to lead and develop creative, collaborative and innovative knowledge exchange, enterprise, teaching and research projects within the Centre for Architecture & Built Environment Research (CABER) and wider School.

The School of Architecture and Environment is an ambitious, interdisciplinary School spanning the architectural, built and natural environments. The Architecture subject area has a strong reputation for community-engaged and action-based learning and research alongside an ambition to nurture creative practice and practice-led research. The appointee will build on the School’s values of inclusivity, sustainability and collaboration to lead the development of these areas toward UWE Bristol’s 2030 strategic goal of Transforming Futures.

The successful applicant will be an experienced, inspiring and collaborative academic with a significant track record of successful knowledge exchange, innovation, entrepreneurship, creative practice and/or business and public engagement with impact. They will demonstrate excellence and achievement in Architecture and Design with cross-cutting expertise which aligns with the School’s teaching and research, for example: healthy and sustainable architecture, climate resilience, regenerative design, materials innovation and/or digital futures. They will demonstrate a strong track record of successful bidding for knowledge exchange, research or consultancy funding; managing complex projects; mentoring and empowering other academics; producing high quality contributions to knowledge; and leading knowledge exchange or research development initiatives.

The successful applicant will be expected to make a significant contribution towards the maintenance and enhancement of the University’s reputation for impact, including the next Knowledge Exchange Framework and Research Excellence Framework exercises.

All Bristol UWE academics are expected to develop their careers in a combination of learning and teaching, research, scholarly and/or practice activity, knowledge exchange and external engagement alongside academic leadership and citizenship demonstrating UWE Bristol Values in all activities.

About us: The School of Architecture and Environment is an ambitious centre of academic excellence with an established and respected global reputation. Join our supportive community of experienced teaching staff, passionate researchers and experts in practice.

Our award-winning R Block on Frenchay Campus is home to inspiring facilities, from computer-aided design (CAD) studios to modelling workshops. Hone your craft in a space that won the Royal Fine Art Commission ‘Building of the Year’ award for Architectural Education.

Thanks to our strong partnerships with industry we’ve built connections with leading experts and practices in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Through regular consultation with local, national and international employers, we offer cutting-edge insight.

We’re discovering new ways to create and manage more sustainable and inclusive spaces and places fit for the future, whether they’re in urban, rural, built, or natural environments. Our environmental research underpins all our teaching, encouraging future graduates to focus on sustainability from the outset.

Where is this role based?

This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed – £300m has been invested recently on new state-of-the-art learning spaces and accommodation while we continue to develop incredible new facilities to enhance our offer even further.

Frenchay campus has excellent transport links; as well as being located near the motorway network we are within walking distance of two train stations, our bus terminus connects us to the local bus and metrobus network and we also have a range of cycling and changing facilities.

Bristol is a city that’s famous for its rebellious streak, independent thinking, unique style and edgy creativity. Home to over 460,000 people hailing from 187 different countries – you can find over 91 different languages spoken here, and 45 religions practised. Topping polls on a regular basis, Bristol isn’t just a great place to live, but a great place to work.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 32,000 students, 250,000 alumni and 4,000 staff from across the globe. We are both globally connected and regionally embedded, with a strong network of employer and partner connections.

We have a lot to be proud of at UWE, our achievements include scoring above sector average for student satisfaction, we are ranked 24^th in The Guardian Best UK Universities 2023 and 39^th in the latest Times Higher Education ‘Table of Tables‘.

We are an ambitious and values led university. We’re focused on solving future global challenges through outstanding learning, world-leading research and a culture of enterprise and we are looking for people who share our core values to help us achieve those aims. 

With inclusivity as a core value, UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community. We support and celebrate the diversity of our staff and students as a key driver for innovation and success, promoting pathways and achievements to inspire and generate confidence and ambition.

In addition to progressive pay rates, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A generous holiday allowance of 35 days (pro rata if part time)
• Up to 12.5 bank holiday/closure days per year
• Excellent defined benefit pension schemes
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Family friendly policies and wellbeing initiatives
• Onsite nursery at our Frenchay Campus.
• Retail savings via the Wider Wallet scheme
• Option to participate in the cycle to work scheme

We also boast an excellent in-house Learning & Development team who provide a wide variety of in-house training courses and development programmes and our Academic Practice Directorate supports our academic colleagues to ensure the highest in professional teaching standards.

Add your individuality to ours

Proud to be part of a vibrant, multicultural city that celebrates diversity, we’re always on the lookout for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our growing staff community of over 4,000 individuals and find yourself in a stimulating and supportive environment where you’ll thrive. Add your individuality to ours to help set us apart.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Multiple Heritage or Other Minority Ethnic and female candidates as we are currently under-represented in these areas within UWE Bristol however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

Further information

If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact

Dean & Head of School of Architecture & Environment Dr. Matthew Jones on: Matthew32.Jones@uwe.ac.uk

This is a full time, permanent post. This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part time.

UWE Bristol is a campus-based University and it is important for our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus based for all of your time, but when not teaching you can work more flexibly.

We are able to sponsor qualifying candidates for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. Please read our Skilled Worker Guidance to assess if you will be eligible to be sponsored under the criteria.

Please also refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist which provides details of which documents are acceptable to prove your right to work in the UK. Should you be shortlisted you will be asked to produce your right to work documents at your interview.

Any candidates wishing to apply who are subsequently appointed to this role without current Right to Work in the UK can be supported to obtain the Global Talent Visa (Academics and Researchers). This will involve a self-application which is a two stage process and we recommend you read the information about each stage on the following links: www.gov.uk/global-talent-researcher-academic.

You may also wish to explore other visa options which you are eligible for which will allow you to work in the UK.

Please note that UWE does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.