Job Description
Job Title:  Senior Lecturer in Visual Computing and Multimodal Intelligence
Posting Start Date:  27/10/2026
Job Id:  3318
School/Department:  Computer Science
Work Arrangement:  Full Time (Hybrid)
Contract Type:  Permanent
Salary per annum (£):  £62,994 - £70,878
Closing Date:  22/11/2026

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

 

Overview

The School of Computer Science at the University of Sheffield invites applications for a Senior Lecturer in Visual Computing and Multimodal Intelligence. Ranked as a top 100 university in the QS World University Rankings and a member of the Russell Group, Sheffield provides a world-class environment for research-led education and innovation. This strategic appointment seeks an outstanding academic to lead research and teaching at the intersection of visual computing, computer vision, 3D computer graphics, spatial intelligence and large multimodal models. Serving as a strategic bridge, the post-holder will connect core computer vision research with adjacent clusters across the school in robotics, speech, natural language processing and machine learning, contributing to a school recognised for research excellence and industrial impact.

The successful candidate will lead a high-profile research programme while delivering excellence across undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, including specialised modules in Computer Vision and 3D Computer Graphics & Image Processing, alongside research project supervision in multimodal AI. We seek an individual capable of bridging fundamental theory and practical implementation, fostering collaborations across the Faculty of Engineering, Sheffield Robotics, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, technology institutes such as Insigneo, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience and the Centre for Machine Intelligence, and national networks like the UK Open Multimodal AI Network. The appointee will play a pivotal role in shaping the school’s strategic growth and maintaining its position at the forefront of computer science innovation. The University's Academic Career Pathways (ACP), grant mentoring, and school support will further support your professional growth.

Main duties and responsibilities

  • Conduct innovative research and scholarship that is recognised internationally in terms of its originality, significance, and rigour.
  • Maintain a successful record of research grant capture from a range of sources, developing funding strategies and managing a portfolio of external income.
  • Disseminate research findings through conference presentations and publications in recognised high-quality journals.
  • Ensure research impact through activities that demonstrate a benefit to the economy, society, culture, or public policy, including patent applications, consultancy, and strategic engagement with policymakers.
  • Lead, manage, supervise, and develop a team of research staff and students within a supportive culture, providing leadership and direction for University colleagues as appropriate.
  • Develop and deliver high-quality teaching while leading the development of teaching policy, strategy, and curriculum design.
  • Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects to a high standard.
  • Carry out significant School, Faculty, and/or University administrative and leadership roles, showing evidence of creativity and innovation to meet institutional objectives.
  • Participate in and develop strategic links with external contacts in academia, professions, or industry to foster complex collaborations.
  • Maintain substantial international recognition through an extensive range of professional activities, such as editing journals, reviewing research grants, external examining, and holding senior positions within professional bodies.
  • Make a full and active contribution to the principles of the “Sheffield Academic”, achieving excellence in applied teaching, research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference to the University.
  • Make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into all leadership and working activities.
  • Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

 

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A PhD in computer science or a relevant subject area (or equivalent experience).

Essential

Application

Established track record of high-quality, internationally excellent research in visual computing and multimodal processing, with a clear future research vision and peer-reviewed outputs.

Essential

Application/ presentation/ interview

Proven track record of generating research income and securing funding in line with disciplinary norms.

Essential

Application/ presentation/ interview

Evidence of generating research impact beyond academia (eg via public engagement, patent applications, consultancy, or industry translation).

Essential

Application/ presentation/ interview

Ability to design and deliver high-quality, research-led teaching programmes that ensure effective student learning.

Essential

Application/ presentation/ interview

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas to diverse audiences and build productive relationships across academia and industry.

Essential

Application/ presentation/ interview

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a high degree of personal effectiveness.

Essential

Application/interview

Proven ability to consistently make accountable, creative, and considered decisions.

Essential

Interview

 

Further Information

 

Grade

Grade 9

Salary

£62,994 to £70,878, with potential to progress to £82,134 through sustained exceptional contribution.

Work arrangement

Full-time, working at least 60% on-site

Line manager

Academic Line Manager

Direct reports

None

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility.  Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.

Our website

sheffield.ac.uk/cs

For informal inquiries about this job contact Dr Steve Maddock, head of the Computer Vision research group, at S.Maddock@sheffield.ac.uk

 

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the first stage of the selection process will take place on Monday 14th December. This will consist of a presentation of your research interests and a mini-lecture, informal discussions with key members of staff, and a tour of the Diamond building. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to this stage in the week commencing 30th November.

The second stage of the selection process will be a formal interview on Monday 11th January. The invited candidates will be notified soon after their presentation.

If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact COM-Recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk

 

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

  • A minimum of 41 days annual leave, including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata), with the ability to purchase more.
  • Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
  • Generous pension scheme.
  • A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
  • A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
  • Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
  • A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes, integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
  • A range of generous family-friendly policies:
    • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
    • access to menopause support in the workplace
    • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
    • and more


More details can be found on our benefits page:
sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 22/11/2026 

 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.