Early Career Academic, Public Services

Job details

Responsible to

Head of Discipline

Location

All Derby Sites

Salary

£36,024 per annum

Closing date

Sunday 21 April 2024

Contract type

Fixed term contract 12 months

Post type

Full-time

Adaptive working type

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

Reference

0141-24

About the role

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.  

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.  

We have committed to nurture and encourage research excellence across all our disciplines and career stages, recognising the strong link between excellent research and an excellent student experience.   

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.   

We have entered a new and exciting era at the University, making investments in our students, staff and research infrastructure to help us achieve our overall aim of producing research that is high in quality and impacts, national and internationally. This ensures that knowledge created at our University informs our curriculum and supports industry, policy makers, international partners and the wider research community.  

Our 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission showed significant increases in our metrics, supported by a dedicated research and knowledge exchange office and enhanced governance processes.  Our doctoral cohort has increased by 63.4% since 2014 and we now have over 450 doctoral students. Investment in our research facilities has continued at pace and in March 2022 we opened our Facility for Omics Research in Metabolism (FORM). Our Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) outcome positioned us in the top 10% for working with business. Our Research Council funding and collaborative research income, from funders such as Innovate UK continues to rise, engaging our academics with both multinationals as well as small and medium size enterprises.   

It’s an exciting time to be joining us and to play a role in supporting the University’s ambitions as we begin our preparations for REF 2029. The University, proud of its achievements in growing Innovation and Research, is embarking on the next step change to drive academic performance. We are focussing our investment into 3 areas of academic excellence:   

• Zero Carbon
• Business Economic and Social Policy
• Public Services

Our Early Career Academic (ECA) appointments are a pivotal opportunity for our University to develop these themes with high quality talent and knowledge. These one year postdoctoral positions will be awarded to outstanding individuals who have the potential to progress to permanent academic roles at the University of Derby.  

As an ECA, you’ll contribute to the work of the Colleges, engaging in a full academic role including high-quality teaching and enhancing our research profile by producing high-quality publications; contributing to a vibrant, supportive and collaborative research environment; and impacting positively on policy, practice and debate within your area. 

The roles cut across traditional structural boundaries and you’ll work across disciplines to address real world challenges, whilst being supported to grow your research and teaching skills through a dedicated development plan.  Candidates are expected to have completed their PhD or be pending award of their doctorate.  

The intended start date for the ECA programme is 9th September 2024. 

About the Public Services Theme 

At the University of Derby, our research in the Public Services theme is interdisciplinary and has impacted on theory, policy and practice in the fields of education, psychology, wellbeing, therapeutics, nursing, health, social care, criminal justice and policing.  

This year we are seeking to appoint three early career academics to our Institute of Education. Successful candidates will have completed or will be close to completing a PhD in an area aligned to at least one of the following: 

• Special Educational Needs and Disability
• Careers Education and Employment
• Race equality and education

What you can expect from us 

Join us for rewarding start you to your Academic Career, as an Early Years Academic you will be given an exciting induction programme to set you up for success. This will include deep dive workshops on specific learning, teaching and research elements as well as business engagement and networking opportunities with our existing Early Career Research Teams. You will be provided with a skilled Mentor to guide you through your first year with us as well as being supported with your research and teaching students. We like to give responsibilities early on as part of the Early Career Academic Scheme to provide opportunities for you to show your leadership and expertise whether this be lecturing, lesson planning or broadening knowledge with research.   

Benefits 

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 35 days + bank holidays + 4 days concessionary leave
• Coaching and development in role
• Teacher’s Pension Scheme
• Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance with BUPA
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision, and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Discounted access to Devonshire Spa

Ready to make a difference? 

If you’re looking to kick-start your academic career in an encouraging and rewarding organisation, we would love to hear from you. 

Key contacts 

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Professor Deborah Robinson, Professor of Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) and Theme Lead, Public Services via [email protected]  

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team on [email protected] . 

Principal accountabilities

Engage in high quality individual research in a field that is consistent with one of the six areas of academic excellence for the University.

Collaborate both internally and externally to identify innovation and research opportunities relevant to the area of academic excellence and contribute to effective cross College/University working.

Sustain and enhance the reputation of the University by publishing in appropriate high-quality journals and presenting at scholarly activities such as workshops, conferences and other similar events.

Develop and maintain contacts and relationship with relevant professional, research and industrial organisations.

Attract funding by engaging in writing bids for externally funded innovation and research projects.

Support the development of the PhD community and contribute to PhD supervision.

Ensure that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching, as well as extending it to appropriate external activities such as knowledge transfer activities.

Undertake inspiring and innovative teaching and assessment in the relevant subject area and deliver an outstanding student experience.

Support cross university activity such as marketing and student recruitment as required.

Contribute to the development of the subject area and related programmes of study.

Provide an appropriate level of pastoral care to students, referring when necessary to other colleagues or services that can provide further support.

Undertake relevant administrative duties in areas such as admissions, timetabling, examinations and assessment of progress and student attendance.

Observe and implement University policies and procedures.

Perform any other duties commensurate with the job grade as reasonably required from time to time.

There will also be a requirement to attend training courses in teaching methods and course design; this may be waived by exception if an existing relevant qualification such as a PGCHE is held. The post holder will be required to plan and review their own approach to teaching, and to supervise research projects at Masters level.

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

• PhD (or submitted and awaiting examination)
• Honours degree or equivalent

Experience

• Experience of undertaking high quality innovation and/or research in a discipline aligned to the academic themes.
• Experience of generating high-quality research outputs (either in preparation or published).
• Recognised authority in your own discipline and able contribute to the development of new knowledge and understanding within the field.
• Experience of working collaboratively and independently across disciplines to address research and innovation challenges.

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Demonstrable skills and knowledge in one or more area closely related to academic themes.
• Able to demonstrate potential to attract research funding.
• Able to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including networking and relationship building skills both across the University and externally.
• Able to demonstrate both independent self-management and team working.
• An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications to aid student learning.
• Able to work with competing priorities and to tight deadlines.
• Demonstrates competences, core behaviours and supplementary behaviours that support and promote the University’s core values.
• Committed to continual enhancement and a high-quality student experience.
• Committed to a high-performance culture, fostering continuous improvement and driving quality.

Business requirements

• Able to take a flexible approach to work.
• Travel between sites and occasionally overseas for research or teaching.
• Some evening and occasional weekend teaching.
• Attendance at Open Days, Graduation, University events etc.
• A commitment to own professional development and to engaging fully with the ECA development scheme.

Desirable Criteria
Experience

• Developing international profile of research and scholarly activity.
• Experience of bidding for and obtaining external research funding.
• Experience of successfully applying discipline to income generation activities, including consultancy, industry-based applied research and KTPs.

Benefits

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

Find out more about pay and benefitsFind out more about pay and benefits

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

• Apply online Apply online
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• Advice on completing your applicationAdvice on completing your application

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

Important information

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Whilst this role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route, we recommend that you assess your individual eligibility before applying for this position.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa for more information.

To be eligible for sponsorship you must provide evidence that you hold all essential qualifications listed on the job description. Please note, equivalent experience will not be accepted as evidence of the essential qualifications.

DBS check

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The post for which you are applying is exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 requiring any spent convictions to be declared. Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

What is Adaptive Working?

Adaptive working is about enabling a high-performing, flexible, and responsive work culture where the place, time, and manner of working are tailored to the specific work activity. This approach ensures that the working environment, including both physical and social surroundings, supports employees to perform at their best and meet the university’s evolving needs.

In addition, adaptive working involves intentionally designing workspaces to support a range of activities and disciplines, providing the right environment for meaningful in-person connections and effective collaboration. This includes ensuring that employees have access to the necessary equipment and resources from their first day at the university.

Adaptive working encompasses different modes of working such as site-based, remote or hybrid working. It is a broad framework within which all staff can operate effectively according to their role.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

A university that celebrates youA university that celebrates you

Further details

Download Early Career Academic, Public Services job descriptionDownload Early Career Academic, Public Services job description

Why join Derby?

Challenging, interesting and constantly changing, the University of Derby is an extraordinary place to learn and an incredibly rewarding place to work.

Find out more about working at the UniversityFind out more about working at the University

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody’s concern.