ESRC’s National Strategic Director for e-Social Science: New Position

Bill Dutton *OIINEWS, Research and Learning, Shaping the Internet, Social Informatics, Social Science Research

NATIONAL STRATEGIC DIRECTOR FOR e-SOCIAL SCIENCE

BACKGROUND

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) wishes to appoint a Director to lead the development of a co-ordinated national e-social science strategy. This is a key strategic leadership role which will involve working to develop a coherent inter-agency approach, which draws upon various national and international e-social science initiatives to maximize the uptake, use and impact of new e-technologies across the social science community.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop and deliver a national strategic initiative and ensure it has an enduring impact across the social sciences. The post will support one of the Council’s key strategic objectives to take a national lead in driving forward the development of cutting edge methodological, tools, techniques and services to support world class social science research.

The budget for the post is £650K which is expected to cover the salary costs of the Director and support staff. Further funding is currently available to support a range of strategic activities to be identified by the Director.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPLICATION

The post of Director will be a senior appointment based at a UK Higher Education Institution. It will last for a period of 36 months, committing between 50 – 100% time to the post, dependent on other commitments.

Applicants are welcome from any discipline, but must command a strong commitment to innovative, interdisciplinary work which is a central feature of the NCeSS research programme. They must have an appreciation of social science research. Knowledge and skills on the uptake and use of new technologies in social science research is also an important requirement for this post.

Applications for the post should be submitted to the ESRC Office by 4pm on 24 June 2009. Interviews will be held in London in the week commencing 20 July 2009 (date to be confirmed). It is expected that the successful applicant will take up the post on 1st October 2009, or as soon as is practically possible thereafter.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further particulars on this post will be on the ESRC Web site. Google: ‘National Strategic Director for e-Social Science’.

Comments are most welcome