Head of Department for European & International Studies

The Department of European & International Studies (EIS) is recruiting for a new Head of Department to start in post in January 2026. This four-year position may be held at professorial or reader level, with the successful candidate becoming a full-time member of the department when completing their term of office.

EIS is at a crucial point in its development. Moving from an arts-based European studies department into one that embraces international political economy (IPE), it has experienced rapid expansion of its PGT degrees and is about to launch a new undergraduate degree. We are looking for someone to lead EIS to its next stage, keen to seize new opportunities, and acutely aware of the constraints of higher education in a time of fiscal austerity. There is the need to ensure financial sustainability as well as growth in student numbers. At the same time, there is a need to help forge EIS’s identity between IPE and studies of European politics.

The key challenge is being able to work with school and departmental staff and be able to manage upward to the faculty and beyond in a time of change and challenge. The postholder will need to engage in the faculty’s continuing efforts to renew the education offering and ensure that the department leads innovation in teaching practice and delivery. At the same time, there are opportunities to develop research, such as large grants and to support research clusters. The aim is to develop EIS as a place for innovative interdisciplinary research.

These are times of opportunity as the faculty implements a fundamental review of the education portfolio with programme ideas moving into the development stage. This work runs in parallel to the launch of a revised SSPP Strategy 2030, Shaping Global Change. SSPP is also launching a Methods Centre and a faculty wide Platform to support Professional Education, CPD and other forms of third stream education and research. For REF 2029, the faculty will submit to five UoAs and in 23/24 SSPP generated £26m in research grants and taught almost 8,000 students.

The overall purpose of this role is to provide leadership to the Department of European and International Studies (EIS) at a time of change and challenge; to work closely with the school and faculty in driving innovation in teaching and financial management; to stimulate a dynamic interdisciplinary research culture, based on collaboration and attracting external funding; and to sustain and move forward the identity of EIS based on its historic roots in European studies and more recent expansion in international political economy.

For further information please visit the job description and to apply please click the 'Apply' button, above, and submit the specified documentation.

For an informal conversation please contact:

King’s Search Team, kings-search@kcl.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on Thursday 5 June. The selection process will include a rigorous shortlisting and interview process, with first and final round interviews scheduled for July.

The Department of European & International Studies (EIS) supports an inclusive culture and diversity for staff and students. We are committed to encouraging further growth from diverse groups, and we welcome applications from people of all abilities and currently under-represented groups, which we are able to support with our range of flexible and inclusive benefits.

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