Professor – Children and Young People

To lead our continuing growth as a global research and education institution, we are committed to expanding our professoriate across areas of research strength. If you have the ability, confidence, and determination to drive groundbreaking research in your area, this is your chance to join us within the area of Children and Young People studies, build a research portfolio that matches your vision, and to achieve real-world impact. Join over 50 academics at Manchester Met whose research and practice aims to reduce child inequalities and deliver better outcomes and futures for children and young people.

About Manchester Met  

With over 5,100 staff members across the university, and around 41,000 students – including some 6,000 choosing to study for a postgraduate qualification – we are a big institution with even bigger ambitions. We are proud to be at the heart of one of Europe’s most diverse and vibrant cities, and with shared traditions of industry, innovation and inclusivity, our impact reaches around the globe. 

We are committed to providing excellent education to transform our students’ lives, and to delivering high quality research with powerful real-world impacts and benefits, as evidenced by our highly successful REF outcome: 30% of our research, across more than 740 academics, has been rated as world leading. And 91% of our research impact is world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021). 

About the opportunity 
We conduct interdisciplinary research that informs policy and practice, promotes social justice and challenges social and economic inequalities to transform young people’s lives.

There has been significant growth in demand for and use of children and young people research, particularly post Covid-19. The combination of rising demands from complex issues being faced by children (poverty, mental health, education disparities, social/health/economic inequalities), and Manchester’s global reputation as a place committed to the future of its children, all provide an opportunity to grow and develop high-quality research and evidence that increases positive outcomes for children and young people in the city-region, nationally and internationally.

In REF 2021, we ranked in the top twenty for the power of research in Education, both Allied Health Professionals and Social Work and Social Policy. Our research in Education is in the top 150 QS world university rankings for 2022, and we’re 13th for research quality in Childhood and Youth Studies in the Complete University Guide 2023.

We have won national awards for the impact of our work in Education and Youth including a Times Higher Education award for the best knowledge transfer initiative for a project on youth justice.

You will have the freedom to tailor your development and build your academic reputation. Alongside expanding on your own vision and expertise, you will play a key role in mentoring others, promoting a cooperative, intellectually curious research culture and, as a member of the leadership community, supporting our long-term research strategy to enrich students’ lives while having a positive effect on our world. You can count on our full support; from the financial backing you need to the collegiate atmosphere and extraordinary quality of life that Manchester Metropolitan can offer.  

For more information, please visit our website.

About you 

As an inspiring and driven researcher, you are full of ideas and excited about having the scope and support to build on them. With in-depth understanding of your subject, we would expect you to be building an international reputation as a thought leader in your field. You should also be able to demonstrate the skills and potential to lead and mentor research teams and staff, to provide innovative teaching and learning, and to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.  

We are looking to broaden and deepen our expertise and impact with new appointments that share our vision and aspiration to conduct research that transforms the lives and futures of children and young people.

Whilst we are excited to be growing our community of research-focused professors, we would still love to hear from you if your career path has taken an education-focused route. 

Interview Date - Monday 15 July 2024

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, women and disabled people, who we recognise are underrepresented in this area. 

We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this throughout the application process.