School of English, Drama and Creative Studies, University of Birmingham (UK)

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Position Details

School of English, Drama and Creative Studies

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,485 to £55,295 with potential progression once in post to £62,098

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 13th January 2025

International travel may be required for this role

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 Department of Linguistics and Communication

The Department of Linguistics and Communication is a world-leading centre of excellence for both teaching and research with students based in Birmingham as well as in over thirty different countries. It forms a central part of the School of English, Drama, Creative Studies, within the College of Arts and Law. The Department has an excellent track record in teaching and an active research culture with productive collaboration within and beyond the University, and wide-ranging public engagement. Staff in the department research and teach across the full range of English Language and Applied Linguistics, including Corpus Linguistics, Cognitive Linguistics, Stylistics, Discourse Analysis, New Media and English Language Teaching. The Department is home to the Centre for Corpus Research (CCR) which highlights the strong cross-disciplinary reach of corpus linguistics at Birmingham with particular focus on the links between cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics and stylistics. CCR provides access to a range of corpora and has a dedicated computer suite with specialist resources as well as an eye-tracking laboratory.

The School of English, Drama and Creative Studies (EDACS)

The School of English, Drama and Creative Studies is a vibrant and thriving school situated within the College of Arts and Law. It hosts a community of academics and students researching and learning together in areas including Linguistics, Media and Communication, Film Studies, English Literature, Creative Writing and Drama and Theatre Arts. Many of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes combine academic scholarship with creative practice and offer students opportunities to learn from industry experts and partners in the Creative Industries. One of the School’s strengths includes the study of Shakespeare both on the Edgbaston Campus and at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. EDACS encourages inter-disciplinarity and intellectual collaboration both in teaching and research.

Equal Opportunities

The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunities employer. The School of English, Drama and Creative Studies recognises that strength and success comes from diversity and strives to maintain a flexible and supportive environment that enables all staff and students to flourish. The School holds a Silver Athena SWAN award.

Interview format/requirements

Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend for interview and deliver a presentation. Further information will be given to shortlisted candidates.

There will be an on-line drop-in session with Dr Joe Spencer-Bennett and Professor Ruth Page from the Department of Linguistics and Communication on 10 December 2024 between 11am and 12pm for people who might wish to ask a question in person rather than via email. If you would like to book a short slot, please email Dr Joe Spencer-Bennett (J.A.Bennett.1@bham.ac.uk).

Role Summary

As part of strategic growth and investment in Digital Media and Communications, the School seeks to recruit an Assistant Professor with effect from 1st April 2025 to be based on the University’s Edgbaston campus. The post holder will demonstrate particular expertise in language and new media, and be able to evidence experience of teaching and research in this subject area.

The post holder will contribute high quality teaching to our suite of successful programmes which includes the BA in Digital Media and Communications launched on the University’s Edgbaston campus in September 2023, the MA in Digital Media and Creative Industries launched on the Edgbaston campus in September 2024, and the MA in Digital Media and Communications to be launched on the Edgbaston campus in September 2025. The post holder will also play an active role in the development of our Digital Media and Communications provision on the University’s Dubai campus, including optional travel opportunities to that campus. 

Research excellence will include initiating, conducting and disseminating original research. The post holder’s research will have measurable outcomes reflected in growing national (and ideally international) reputation.

In addition to delivering excellence in teaching and research, successful candidates will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all colleagues and students.

Management and administration is likely to involve contributions at Departmental and School level, and/or making an important contribution to some managerial/leadership activities (e.g. working groups) within the University. This may include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, school’s outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

Education 

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;
  
• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
  
• 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 College and University;
  
• devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work. 
  

Research

Planning and carrying out research, including (as appropriate):

• planning and publishing high quality research, including winning financial support;
  
• project managing research activities, and/or supervising other research staff;
  
• presenting findings in publications and conference proceedings;
  
• effectively supervising and mentoring PhD students or early Career Researchers;
  
• providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline;
  
• participating in research-related enabling activities such as adding value to a cross disciplinary network;
  
• applying knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding;
  
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of benefit to the College and the University, including ensuring that the impact of your activities is realised fully and the impact is documented.
  

Management/Administration

Contributing to Departmental/School administration, including:

• contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the Department/School;
  
• 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 major contribution to some 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;
  
• actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour;
  
• ability to work with stakeholders outside academia in order to develop employability elements of taught programmes and potentially Impactful research.
  

Citizenship 

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• 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

• A higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD);
  
• Extensive research/teaching experience at HE level and scholarship within subject specialism;
  
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/research;
  
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels;
  
• Ability to work with stakeholders outside academia in order to develop employability elements of taught programmes and potentially Impactful research;
  
• Ability to play an active role in the development of new modules and programmes on the University’s Edgbaston and Dubai campuses.
  

Teaching

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes;
  
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching, and advising colleagues;
  
• Ability to work with stakeholders outside academia in order to develop employability elements of taught programmes and potentially Impactful research;
  
• Experience and success in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience;
  
• Experience of teaching and supporting international students;
  
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative software, and ability to support students with its use. 
  

Research

• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation;
  
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results;
  
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods;
  
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity.
  

Management and 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 enquiries to Dr Joe Spencer-Bennett, Head of Department, email: J.A.Bennett.1@bham.ac.uk 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.

Job Identification: 6124

Job Category: Academic Non-clinical

Posting Date: 12/09/2024, 01:18 PM

Apply Before: 01/14/2025, 12:59 AM

Job Schedule: Full time

Locations: Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TT, GB