Professor in Policing

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 3 years from start date

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

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About the Role

The Open University’s (OU) Department for Policing (DfP) Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) is looking to appoint a Professor of Policing Research. The post will be full time, initially on a three year fixed term contract, working within the Faculty of Business and Law.

The DfP showcases a portfolio of successful accredited and non-accredited police education programmes. Alongside the education profile, the DfP hosts the dynamic Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL). Undertaken in true collaboration between the university and police force members across the UKs four nations, CPRL drives innovation through research knowledge which is co-produced. This approach not only strengthens links to our curriculum offer but also creates practical outputs to ensure research is translated into real-world impact through a strong ethos of bringing research knowledge to impact on practice and policy.

CPRL is distinguished by a multi-tiered approach to collaboration. At the core is the Partnership Advisory and Review Board, bringing together senior police officers, university leaders, independent experts, and other key stakeholders to provide rigorous evaluation and oversight. Alongside this, additional groups support the Centre’s strategic priorities and decision-making processes. As a result, the CPRL has generated significant income and external funding and is widely recognised for its intellectual leadership in policing and its ability to achieve multi-faceted impacts.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidates will be required to:

• Shape the vision of Policing and lead CPRL in line with its core principles and the strategic priorities for policing at the OU with proactive engagement with key internal and external stakeholders, including the police force membership.
• Provide academic leadership to the policing academics across the department to deliver the synergies between research, teaching and learning and knowledge into practice.
• Contribute actively to the leadership within FBL with the executive team, the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, the Associate Dean of Research and Innovation and the Head of Policing department to continue to shape and implement the strategic development of policing at the OU.
• Lead the research and income strategy and work closely with the academics to secure significant research funding to achieve the priorities of policing and REF-able outputs and financial sustainability.
• Develop a research agenda that will shape and address the future needs of policing, with a full understanding of the evolving issues requiring innovation and research in policing and public sectors.
• Develop national and international policing networks and strengthen member engagement through visits and meetings to police forces and agencies advocating for Policing at the OU and the work of CPRL at public events.
• Support professional development for all academics within policing to enhance individuals’ academic profiles and to maximise the impact of their research and teaching.
• Sit on the academic promotions committee within the Faculty.
• Play a full part in the academic life of The Open University’s Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes.

About You

Essential criteria:

• Appropriate academic qualifications in policing-relevant and/or public services related area(s). Minimum academic qualification would be a relevant PhD.
• Experience of collaboratively working with public service professionals, including police.
• A proven interdisciplinary research record evidenced by a series of publications including articles of 3* or 4* quality by REF 2029 standards or equivalent. in internationally recognised journals.
• Successful record of winning research funding and consequent project management.
• A skilled researcher with expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and an ability to apply innovative methods to policing.
• A record of involvement in the wider aspects of research life, such as contribution to academic conferences, membership of academic networks.
• Experience of and aptitude for academic leadership.
• Proven academic credibility within policing field with the ability to influence and shape practice.
• Evidence of working with appropriate external national and international networks, and demonstrable ability to develop strong collaborative links, with, for example, government and public services or industry, policy makers and funders.
• Evidence of ability to innovate and to improve existing practices in organisational settings.
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research.
• Teaching experience, particularly with part-time professionals.
• Experience of successfully supervising PhD students through to completion.
• Previous administrative or leadership experience at Faculty/School/Departmental level.
• Effective communication skills orally, in writing and electronically.
• The ability to work to tight deadlines.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable criteria:

• An ability to undertake research to address innovation in respect to new technologies, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interviews are likely to take place in early to mid-December 2025.

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• Supporting statement of up to 1000 words detailing how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification. 

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.