Job Description

Position Details

College of Social Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £43,414 to £51,805, with potential progression once in post to £58,284

Grade 8

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to February 2024

Closing date: 26th March 2023

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

Background

The MA Character Education, run by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues in the School of Education, is the first and only Masters of its kind in the world. The Programme adopts a multi-disciplinary (predominantly education, philosophy and psychology) approach and focuses on the theory and practice of human flourishing. Students on the Programme come... from a range of sectors; including education (formal, non-formal and professional), voluntary and business. There is a high proportion of students based in the US on the programme.

Role Summary

The Assistant Professor (MA Character Education) will teach, support and advise postgraduate students on the MA Character Education; a three year distance learning Programme. The role will include leading and co-tutoring on modules as well as acting as personal and dissertation supervisor to students. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to and support Jubilee Centre teaching and research-related activities. The post holder will be managed and supervised by the Director of the Programme who has overall responsibility for the design, delivery and assessment of the teaching.

You will contribute to a range of education-related activities. In addition you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others carry out theirs.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment at all levels; and (b) enhancement of the student experience and employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

You will be expected to advance teaching and learning practice in your modules within the school, take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic and pastoral support. You will deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research.

Management and administration is likely to include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

Education

You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:
• lead, teach and tutor on modules in the MA Character Education to postgraduate students - teaching is all distance learning and predominantly through tutorials, facilitating discussion boards and developing / enhancing online learning content;
• contribute and support Jubilee Centre teaching and research-related activities, including contributing to Jubilee Centre research projects and wider activities with external organisations;
• contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal;
• develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution;
• advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment;
• deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes;
• advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support;
• inform your teaching practice by discipline based research;
• frequently update your subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes;
• you may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and co-supervise doctoral students to completion.

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):
• teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content, with particular focus on established distance learning pedagogy;
• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment, with particular focus on established distance learning pedagogy;
• using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
• developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the Jubilee Centre, the College and University;
• devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work.

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental /School administration. This may include:
• contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School;
• where appropriate, leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
• managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;
• promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:
• pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently;
• demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
• demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice;
• willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
• positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
• proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification
• Normally, a higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
• Extensive teaching experience and scholarship within subject specialism.
• Knowledge and understanding of, and an interest in, research into character, virtues, human flourishing.
• Demonstrates a commitment to the principles of character education and a familiarity with the Jubilee Centre’s research and character education programmes.
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning.
• Skills in managing, motivating & mentoring others.

Teaching
• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes; specific experience of distance learning pedagogy and delivery would be an advantage.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching and advising colleagues.
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability.

Management Administration
• Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes.
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Informal enquires to Professor Tom Harrison [email protected]

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working
Birmingham UK

Salary Criteria