Salary
The starting salary will be from £43,482 to £53,301 on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience.
Package
Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).
Job category/type
Academic
Date posted
24/09/2025
Job reference
Q08832
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
This full-time, permanent post is available from January 2026 in the Department of Communications, Drama and Film, in HASS.
Summary of the role
Established in 2021, Communications at Exeter is one of the fastest growing centres for the study
of media and communications in the UK, currently home to over 300 undergraduates on its BA
programmes, two successful MA programmes, and a flourishing cohort of MPhil and PhD researchers. As a key area of strategic growth for the university, we will continue to evolve in innovative and exciting ways long into the future, attracting top-class students and new staff from around the globe, developing innovative degree programmes, producing world-class research, and delivering research-led teaching excellence.
Communications sits within the vibrant Department of Communications, Drama and Film: a creative and supportive community of more than 60 staff active in a wide range of research, pedagogy, and
professional practice. The department is home to several research centres, including: the Centre for International Creative Industries, Interdisciplinary Screen Studies, Contemporary Creative Practices, Performance Histories and Cultures, the Centre for the study of Gender, Media, and Sexuality (GEMS), and Critical AI Centre (CrAIC), and the Digital Majority Centre (DMC). We are committed to teaching, practice and research that makes a positive change in the world. Students are supported by excellent purpose-built facilities and unique research resources such as a state-of-the-art Digital Experience Lab, the world-renowned Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, and the Digital Humanities Lab. Staff in Communications have established working relationships with various bodies across the university, including the Business School, the Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2), and the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI), and are all active in global research networks.
The post will contribute to extending the research profile of Communications at Exeter, particularly in areas related to Promotional Media and Public Relations. You will teach on existing Communications modules and lead the development of new modules in their areas of expertise.
You will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
* Strategic communication
* Reputation management
* Crisis management
* Communication planning, strategy, and tactics
* Data analytics
* Sentiment analysis
* Social media engagement analytics
* Media and communications theory
About you
The successful applicant will have an independent research programme that will strengthen and
complement the existing team at the University. They will be able to demonstrate the following qualities and characteristics:
* Hold a PhD in Media and Communications or a related discipline
* A strong record in attracting funding for research or demonstrate potential to attract future funding
* Experience of delivering and developing high quality undergraduate and/or postgraduate modules, as well as enthusiasm to engage in curriculum development and PhD supervision
* The potential to make strong connections and funded projects with business and community partners, and potential to participate and lead projects which have impact
* A commitment to equality and diversity within an organisation and a commitment to helping create an inclusive culture
* FHEA status or be committed to gaining this award within 18 months of appointment
* Teamwork skills to work in collaboration with existing group members
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
What we can offer you
* Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research
* Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
* An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
* Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career
* A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy
* A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.
With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.
We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.
Further information
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor Neil Ewen, Head of Communications