Founding Professor and Head of School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences

The University of Essex is seeking to appoint a Founding Professor (full time permanent) to lead its new School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences. This School is being formed by the merger of academic provision in sports and exercise science, sports therapy and physiotherapy, combined with significant new investment to support its growth into a distinctive world leading group. Combining the expertise of these areas will facilitate the development of new opportunities to understand and explore the diverse activity needs of both individuals and communities along a continuum, ranging from the healthy child to the frail older adult with long term conditions.

Sport and Exercise has played a key role in the history of the University. The Centre for Sports and Exercise Science (CSES), established in 2000, coordinates and facilitates the University’s academic programmes, educational services, and active research in this area, and has an excellent reputation for both teaching and research. The CSES and the Physiotherapy team (currently located within the School of Health and Human Sciences) have received national and international recognition in areas of sport, exercise and rehabilitation. The Physiotherapy team is recognised internationally for innovation in education, having responded to new regulations by developing a new accredited course (the first of its kind in the UK) allowing a wider range of clinicians to deliver ultrasound-guided injections. This lead to the team being invited to deliver a Post-Graduate Certificate in Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal Interventions in Melbourne, Australia, for members of the Australasian Sonography Association. The Sports Therapy team has established an accredited B.Sc. programme, doubled their recruitment and developed a successful sports therapy clinic on campus within the last three years. The new School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences will integrate the programmes, academic staff and facilities associated with Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy and the Centre for Sports and Exercise Science.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in the establishment of a new School, driving forward the University’s vision for the expansion of research activity and the continued development of teaching delivery. The appointee will be expected to provide strategic leadership to establish the School as a successful, integrated and internationally-recognised School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences. S/he will also provide leadership in research, education and entrepreneurial / professional activities, supporting the School’s growth and development to enhance the University’s reputation and make a substantial contribution to its international profile. In addition to a permanent professorial appointment, the successful candidate will be appointed Head of School for a 3-year term (1^st August 2017 – 31^st July 2020), with the possibility of a second three year term. The post will be based in Colchester, Essex.