Professor in Climate Law and Sustainability (Research & Education) (

Job Number:

24001141)

Durham Law School

Grade 10: – £70,920 – £84,514 per annum

Open-Ended/Permanent – Full Time

Contracted Hours per Week: 35

Closing Date

: 05-Sep-2024, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable. 

Working at Durham University

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.  

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people’s lives.

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.  

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential.

Our Purpose and Values  

We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.  

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page.

Durham Law School 

Durham Law School is a leading law school. Consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally and Top 50 globally, it has been growing strongly over the past few years and now comprises a community of over 100 academics and professional support staff.

Durham Law School fosters innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to legal research and wishes to attract scholars with strong backgrounds in these areas. The Law School provides a supportive environment for its community of academics, which comprises a very generous sabbatical policy and an infrastructure of high-profile research centres that brings together colleagues for collaborative projects.

The school is housed in the iconic Palatine Centre overlooking Durham Cathedral in the heart of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on the main East Coast trainline connecting to London and Edinburgh and within convenient reach of Newcastle Airport. The school has an extensive network of leading international partner institutions and close ties with the City of London and the Inns of Court. It counts among its alumni two Supreme Court Justices. 

Our top-ranked global law courses are very competitive with an excellent and diverse student population from across the world delivering a cutting-edge, research-led curriculum with a commitment to small group teaching through seminars and tutorials much prized by employers. 

Our School’s strategic objectives put EDI at the heart of everything that we do. We are committed to Equality Diversity and Inclusion and actively develop our policies and procedures to ensure that everyone within our community is treated fairly and is provided with the same opportunities. This applies to our everyday working in teaching, research and administration, including academic progression and promotion processes. Our Law School is also proud to hold the Athena Swan Bronze award. 

A strategic investment in Durham’s Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy: Just Transitions to a Net Zero World (JusTN0W). Your research in our Department and University will contribute to strategically important research objectives as part of Durham’s internationally leading JusTN0W initiative (‘Just Transitions to a Net Zero World’), which is embedded in Durham’s Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy. (CSDLP). The CSDLP was founded in 2022 and operates as a research centre at the University level, with around 50 members from different disciplines. 

The ambitious and interdisciplinary initiative JusTN0W is funded by a £5 million investment that will see seven academic staff appointed to lead Durham’s commitment to a better and fairer world in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Our initiative brings together academic colleagues across Law, Economics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences to advance the knowledge and the implementation of just transitions to net zero at international, national and local levels. The work programme comprises four strands of work. Each strand sets forth a range of objectives, including grant capture activity and engagement with different partners. More information on JusTN0W can be found here (https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/csdlp/justn0w/). 

You will be joining an interdisciplinary team of colleagues at an exciting moment where we are shaping and developing cutting-edge research and impact agenda to attract sustainable research funding and leverage research capacity. We build on existing links into international governance frameworks such as the Conferences of Parties (COPs) under the umbrella of the international climate change regime. By collaborating and harnessing expertise across disciplines, the JusTN0W initiative will support your ground breaking solutions to address the climate crisis.

Professors at Durham 

This position offers the candidate the opportunity to focus on research and grant income generation. All Professors are encouraged to focus on quality and innovation throughout your research and educational activity. But we’ll also look to you to provide genuine leadership and citizenship – not just in your field, but across the University environment, and in the way your department functions administratively. 

Academic colleagues will have the freedom to pursue research that is world leading and world changing, in terms of originality, significance and rigour, and deliver teaching that is research-led. And we’ll support your ambitions to publish internationally significant research in your area of interest, provide resources to enable you to attend conferences and to fund research activity. 

For this specific post, the teaching will be significantly reduced to allow for extra grant capture and research activities. Applicants are expected to provide leadership in securing external funding and to support the activities of the JusTN0W team. It will be expected that the candidate has demonstrable experience in grant capture, project management and successful bid writing. The candidate should have a well-established international network in academia and beyond, which can be used to develop pathways to impact. It is important for the success of JusTN0W that the team grows and works together towards achieving the objectives of the project. 

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of International Law with an interest in sustainability and the transition to net zero, with the ability to take a leading role in the development of the Law School’s research and teaching, and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. Applicants must have demonstrable experience with REF Impact case studies. 

We strive to provide a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.  

Key responsibilities:

• Provide leadership for successful income generation and research grant capture.
• Pursue research that is world-leading, and world-changing in terms of originality, significance and rigour, showing leadership in a research field within and/or beyond the academy which is commensurate with the Department’s continuing emphasis on international excellence.
• To contribute to the leadership team of JusTN0W
• To lead on achieving the objectives of JusTN0W.
• To lead on capacity building and Continuous Professional Development activities.
• To lead the development of successful research project proposals in pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.
• Deliver excellent teaching, offering lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels. Demonstrate leadership and innovation in the design and delivery of high-quality learning environments and curricula.
• Enhance the quality of the research environment in the Department, providing leadership of national and international research groups and networks which is recognised at an international level. Engage in the mentoring of early career researchers;
• To attract and provide excellent supervision to research students, and contribute significantly to the development of PhD programmes. Enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture.
• Contribute significantly to the administrative functioning and collegial environment of the Department and wider University, demonstrating sustained excellence in leadership activities which support the functioning of the Department and wider University.
• To fully engage in, champion and enhance the values of the Department;
• Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.  

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups. 

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.  

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.  

Person Specification

Candidates must demonstrate research excellence in the field of international law in relation to sustainability, climate law/environmental law and related areas, with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. 

Research 

Candidates will demonstrate world-leading and world-changing research, and leadership in a research field within and / or beyond their institution(s), with research outputs consistently recognised as internationally excellent. 

Essential Research Criteria

• Qualifications – a good first degree and a PhD in international law in relation to sustainability, climate law/environmental law and related areas.
• Income Generation – evidence of leadership of successful research projects and / or quality research grant proposals with evidence of income generation.
• Outputs – evidence of research outputs which are consistently recognised as internationally excellent with some output being evaluated as world class. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.
• Personal Research Plan – two pages max, covering next five years – which supports and enhances JusTN0W and the Department’s research strategy.
• Research Leadership – leadership of national / international research groups and networks, with an internationally recognised contribution to the development of research fields, as well as leadership of research groups and / or mentoring of early career researchers. Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to and engagement with significant external events, engagement with international networks or projects, serving on advisory boards, review bodies or commissions, external PhD examination.
• PhD Supervision – a significant contribution to the development of PhD programmes and / or groups, including successful recruitment and excellent supervision of PhD students and examination of research degrees.
• Research Impact – demonstrable leadership of research that has significant impact beyond the Candidate’s institution(s).

Education 

Candidates will be able to evidence excellence in the development and delivery of teaching. They will demonstrate leadership, distinction and innovation in the design and delivery of high-quality learning environments and curricula, including curriculum development, that enables student to achieve their potential. As part of our strategic research initiative, you will have a significantly reduced teaching workload for the first few years of the investment to allow for additional research and grant capture activity. 

Essential Education Criteria 

• Qualification – candidates must evidence substantial and sustained educational leadership demonstrated by: Evidence of at least one example of co-ordination, support, supervision, management and/or mentoring of others in relationship to learning and teaching, or;
• Quality – evidence of excellence in the development and delivery of high-quality and distinctive teaching, at least at a nationally competitive level. Evidence of training, educating and mentoring other teachers in the department and/or the University in relationship to learning and teaching. Candidates may choose to provide MEQ scores and / or peer reviews of teaching.
• Innovation – leadership and influence in in curriculum/new programme development and the development of innovative teaching and the design of learning environments/curricula that provide high quality teaching and student experience at an internationally competitive level including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment.
• Strategic – demonstrating leadership and influence in the design and delivery of excellent teaching activities and the creation of learning environments that enable students to achieve their potential.

Services, Citizenship and Values 

Candidates will demonstrate sustained excellence of leadership in the provision of the administrative and collegial functioning requirements of the Department, Faculty and University, positively contributing to the University Values and to fostering a respectful environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values criteria

• Collegial contribution – evidence of a significant contribution to the collegial work and environment of the Candidate’s Department, Faculty, institution and / or discipline. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, Faculty or University level committees or projects, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, engagement with widening participation, proactive support of the work of professional services colleagues, contributions to departmental programme management and/or strategic development, contribution to equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).
• Leadership – evidence of sustained excellence in leadership activities that support the administrative functioning of the candidate’s Department, Faculty or University and / or which support the development of their discipline. (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).
• Communication – candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

Contact Information  

Department contact for academic-related enquiries  

Petra Minnerop, Professor of International Law, petra.minnerop@durham.ac.uk 

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application  

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk  

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process  

How to Apply  

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What to Submit:

All applicants are asked to submit:  

• A CV
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
• Personal research plan of two pages max covering next five years.
• Two of your most significant pieces of written work. Where possible your written work should have been published or submitted since 2021, however work prior to 2021 may be submitted where candidates have had career breaks.
• An EDI & values statement – (of no more than 500 words) that outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values. I.e. Involvement in quality, diversity, and inclusion activities such as mentoring, volunteering, or attending conferences

Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work. The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links.

Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall.

In the event you are unable to provide accessible links to online hosting of your work, publications should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system.

Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria;

All application documents should be uploaded with your name and document type as PDF files.  

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.  

Referees 

You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s). The majority should be from a University other than your own. 

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process.  

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.

Next Steps 

All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in autumn of 2024, with a preferred starting date of 1st January for the new post.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.  

Applicant Guidance  

For further guidance on your application please see HERE  

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