Association of British Orchestras

Head of Research

The Royal College of Music £65,843 – £75,979 per annum pro-rata Closing date 07 March 2022
The Royal College of Music (RCM) is one of the world's greatest conservatoires. Our excellence was recognised by the 2021 QS World University Rankings, in which we ranked as the top institution for performing arts in the UK for the sixth consecutive year, and top in Europe for second year running.

Research at the RCM embraces the creative, cultural and scientific study of music. The main areas of research activity are:

• practice-based artistic research in composition and performance
• historical musicology since c.1500
• performance science, including the role of music in physical and mental wellbeing, and technological approaches to elite performance
• music education in both institutional and community settings

The RCM had the highest percentage of world-leading research of all London conservatoires in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The RCM also ranked highly for the impact of its research, with 90% of its activity rated as world leading in this area.

We are seeking an outstanding individual to provide strategic leadership for this vital area of the College’s work. The postholder will also coordinate all aspects of the RCM doctoral programme, including representing the RCM on the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP).

You will be a well-qualified, versatile musician and academic with the vision and imagination to realise the College’s ambitions to become an internationally renowned centre for interdisciplinary research in music. This will include responsibility for the College’s REF strategy and submission.

An active researcher, you will have a track record of producing world-leading or internationally excellent research. You will have a record of achieving external research funding and will be well-placed to mentor the design and development of new, ambitious research bids. You will have outstanding communication skills, with the ability to identify and develop research potential in our staff, especially in the area of practice research.

The College is committed to advancing equality and inclusive practice in all areas including staff and student recruitment, our teaching and artistic programme, research activity, and our working environment. We especially welcome applications from Black, ethnically diverse and female researchers for this leadership role.

This post is offered on a permanent, 0.6 – 1.0FTE basis and is available from 1st September 2022.

Contact details

recruitment@rcm.ac.uk

Annual Conference

The next ABO conference will take place in Gateshead,
hosted by The Glasshouse ICM, from 5-7 February 2025.