Job Description

Job id: 074146. Salary: \xc2\xa351,174 - \xc2\xa360,221 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 05 September 2023. Closing date: 10 September 2023.

Business unit: Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Department: Theology & Religious Studies.

Contact details: Professor Ben Quash. ben.quash@kcl.ac.uk

Location: Stand Campus. Category: Research.

Job description

King\'s College London is seeking to appoint a full-time Research Fellow to the Visual Commentary on Scripture project team. The VCS is an interdisciplinary research project whose online publication, TheVCS.org, incorporates the work of an international network of theologians, art historians, and biblical scholars.

Following Dr Jennifer Sliwka\'s departure to be Keeper of Western Art at the Ashmolean Museum, we would like to appoint a scholar with a PhD in Art History, or a closely related discipline. The appointee will need to demonstrate understanding of the theological dimensions of the project as set out in its \'Principles\' ( ).

The responsibilities of the role will include:

• Providing advice, development, and support in the specialist area of the History of Art, in line with the wider scope of this interdisciplinary project; ensuring quality control of the art-historical content of the VCS.
• Continuing to develop the VCS\'s international reputation as a resource for art galleries, schools, and the HE sector, and in particular taking initiatives to extend the VCS\'s impact in the museum sector.
• Writing commentaries for the VCS as it works to meet its target of comprehensive coverage of the Christian canon of Scripture by end-2027.
• Coordinating and teaching two MA modules (co-taught with the National Gallery as part of the MA in Christianity & the Arts) for the duration of the project, and supporting this with active research.
• Contributing to decisions about the design and functionality of the VCS website and advising on the presentation of individual exhibitions.
• Contributing to the project\'s quarterly and annual reports for the VCS Foundation (who established and who support the project at KCL), and managing the twice-yearly meetings of the VCS team with the Foundation.
• Uploading content to the VCS website.
• Helping manage the project\'s communications strategy and continuing to build the project\'s subscription base, to help maximize its reach and range of users.

The postholder will be a full member of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies ( ) in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities ( ). The postholder will work with the project Director (Professor Ben Quash), in a team including another full-time Research Fellow (Dr Michelle Fletcher), and the staff of Cogapp, our web developers.

KCL welcomes application from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Equality Act.

This post will be offered on an a full-time, fixed-term contract for up to 4 years and three months (until 31/12/27), depending on start date.

Key responsibilities

• Providing advice, development, and support to the VCS in the specialist area of Art History, in line with the wider scope of this interdisciplinary project; ensuring quality control of the art-historical content of the VCS.
• Continuing to develop the VCS\'s international reputation as a resource for art galleries, schools, and the HE sector, and in particular taking initiatives to extend the VCS\'s impact in the museum sector.
• Writing new commentaries for the VCS as it seeks to meet its target of comprehensive coverage of the Christian canon of Scripture by end-2027.
• Coordinating and teaching two MA modules (co-taught with the National Gallery as part of the MA in Christianity & the Arts).
• Managing the twice-yearly meetings of the VCS team with the VCS Foundation.
• Helping manage the project\'s communications strategy and continuing to grow its audience.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. A PhD in Art History or closely-related discipline.

2. Ability to devise course material and teach students at undergraduate and PGT levels.

3. Understanding of and articulacy about role theology can play in the study of art.

4. Professional curatorial experience, or experience of work in (or close collaboration with) art museums.

5. Ability to be creative, and to take initiatives to help develop the project.

6. A record of academic publication.

7. Excellent organizational and administrative skills.

8. Excellent IT and communication skills.

9. A cooperative approach to working with others in a team.

10. Ability to work independently as well as to respond to direction from senior colleagues.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of building international networks.

2. Experience of working with philanthropic supporters of research activity.

3. Experience of communicating academic ideas to non-specialist audiences to awaken interest and enthusiasm.

King\'s College London