Associate Professor in Real Estate

Recognised as one of the UK's Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

About the School

The Birmingham School of Architecture, Building, Computing and Engineering is an ambitious and evolving academic community bringing together disciplines that shape the environments, technologies and infrastructures in which people live and work.

Within the School, our Department of Architecture and Built Environment is a thriving learning community committed to high-quality teaching, research and industrial engagement. Following sustained growth in student numbers and research activity, the Department is embarking on a significant programme of expansion and long-term investment.

We believe the built environment is never neutral. The infrastructure we design, construct and maintain shapes how people live, move and connect, influencing resilience, sustainability, opportunity and wellbeing. We therefore see civil engineering not simply as a technical discipline, but as a profession with social, environmental and ethical responsibilities.

Role Summary

We are seeking an Associate Professor in Real Estate to provide academic leadership and contribute to teaching, professional practice, research and external engagement across our BSc Real Estate and MSc Real Estate programmes.

You will join a forward-looking academic community built on teaching excellence, critical inquiry, professional responsibility and industry relevance. You will play a leading role in shaping curriculum development, enhancing the student experience, strengthening industry and professional partnerships, and contributing to the School's research, knowledge exchange and civic engagement.

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future direction of Real Estate at Birmingham City University at a time of growth and investment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership across Real Estate provision, contributing to programme strategy, curriculum development and enhancement.
• Lead and develop innovative, research-informed and professionally relevant teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Bring contemporary real estate practice into the curriculum, connecting theory, evidence and professional experience.
• Contribute to the development of student employability, professional capability and industry awareness.
• Provide academic leadership and mentorship to colleagues, supporting teaching quality, innovation and professional development.
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research and applied projects.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with industry, professional bodies and external stakeholders.
• Lead or contribute to research, scholarship and knowledge exchange, developing an established or emerging profile within the field.
• Contribute to research funding, publications, consultancy, professional activity and other forms of external engagement.
• Support the development of live projects, industry engagement and other opportunities that connect students with contemporary professional practice.
• Contribute to student recruitment, outreach and civic engagement activities.
• Champion equality, diversity and belonging and contribute to a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
• Contribute to academic leadership, quality assurance and the wider development of the School and its Real Estate provision.

Essential Requirements

You will bring substantial professional experience in real estate practice together with a reflective, evidence-informed approach to teaching and academic leadership.

You will have recognised expertise in one or more areas of real estate, such as:

• Valuation
• Real estate investment
• Property development
• Asset management
• Planning
• Sustainability
• Housing
• Commercial property
• Property economics

You will be able to connect contemporary professional practice with intellectually rigorous and engaging learning, raising student ambition and developing confidence in the next generation of property professionals.

You will have:

• Chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS or FRICS), or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Significant senior-level professional experience within the real estate sector, including substantial experience in valuation.
• Recognised expertise and professional credibility within one or more areas of real estate.
• Experience of leading or significantly contributing to curriculum development and enhancement.
• Experience of supporting and mentoring colleagues and contributing to teaching quality and student outcomes.
• Experience of teaching, learning or professional education within a higher education or equivalent professional context.
• An established or developing profile in research, scholarship, knowledge exchange or professional leadership.
• The ability to build productive relationships with industry, professional bodies and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and leadership skills.
• A commitment to inclusive, student-centred education and supporting student success.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of programme, course or module leadership.
• A strong record of research, scholarship or professional publications.
• Experience of securing or contributing to research, consultancy or knowledge exchange activity.
• Established relationships with the real estate industry and professional bodies.
• Experience of developing innovative, practice-based or industry-engaged learning.
• Experience of supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
• Experience contributing to professional accreditation, quality assurance or external review.

Further Information

This is an opportunity to join a School experiencing significant growth and investment and to play a leading role in shaping the future of Real Estate education at Birmingham City University.

Our programmes connect academic rigour with professional practice, encouraging students to critically examine the forces shaping property, land and investment and to understand not only how the sector operates, but why its decisions matter and who they affect.

Through research-informed teaching, professional engagement and applied learning, we aim to develop property professionals who can respond intelligently and ethically to the challenges facing the built environment — from housing and affordability to sustainability, investment, development and the changing nature of cities.

You will join colleagues committed to transforming the lives of our students and contributing positively to Birmingham and beyond.

If you are excited by the opportunity to provide academic and professional leadership and help shape the future of Real Estate at Birmingham City University, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Peter Baldwin, Head of Department at peter.baldwin@bcu.ac.uk.

Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University

Why work for us

• Academic and professional leadership – The opportunity to shape Real Estate education, research and external engagement within a growing School.
• Career development – Opportunities to develop your academic, professional and leadership profile.
• Research and knowledge exchange – Support for research, scholarship, consultancy and industry collaboration.
• Work–life balance – Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent).
• Reward and wellbeing – Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits.
• Inclusive culture – A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs.

Visa Sponsorship

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant criteria. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Further Details

Further Details: Job Description - Associate Professor

Use of AI in applications

At BCU, we welcome applications that clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role. AI tools may be used to support you in preparing your application, but the information you provide must be accurate, authentic and based on your own experience. Applications that rely too heavily on AI, appear generic or do not provide specific evidence against the role criteria are less likely to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. For more information, please refer to our candidate guidance; How to Apply - Jobs at Birmingham City University

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential.

Disability Confident Employer

Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.