Lecturer / Assistant Lecturer (Teaching)

Job Title: Lecturer/ Assistant Lecturer (Teaching) in Sport, Health and the Environment / or Sport and Exercise Psychology

Department: Sport and Exercise Sciences
Working arrangements: To be confirmed upon release of the teaching timetable for 23-24
Closing date:
Potential interview date: August 2023

This role is 0.3fte and fixed term for 24 months, it is not anticipated at this time that the post will be extended beyond this fixed term. Successful candidates will ideally be in post for 1 September 2023.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.
Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and Department
The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is a global leader across a range of sport and physical activity domains. We have been named Sports University of the Year by @thetimes and we are proud to be ranked 2nd in the UK, in the Complete University Guide 2023. We have recently moved to new premises in Durham City, where we enjoy a brand new suite of offices, flexible meeting and research spaces, and a new laboratory.

The Role

The Department seeks to appoint an exceptional Lecturer / Assistant Lecturer (Teaching) for a period of 24 months, to convene and teach modules in Sport, Health and the Environment and / or Sport and Exercise Psychology, and supervise final year dissertation projects. Sport, Health and the Environment is offered as an optional module to our Level 2 students. It aims to provide students with knowledge of the bi-directional relationship between climate change and sport, along with a critical awareness of the complex relationship between nature, health and wellbeing through current developments in greenspace and bluespace research. Our Sport and Exercise Psychology modules are taught across all three levels of study. We anticipate the successful candidate potentially contributing to these modules at levels one and two.

The role of Lecturer / Assistant Lecturer (Teaching) provides the opportunity to contribute to and deliver outstanding teaching within an inclusive and supportive environment that is staffed by world class colleagues. The primary focus of this role is on teaching and it will involve a significant teaching load, which may extend into the summer period. There may be related scholarship and the opportunity to engage in wider citizenship within the University and the opportunity for administrative duties which relate to education and pedagogy.

Key Responsibilities for appointment at Grade 6 Assistant Lecturer (Teaching):

To undertake duties relating to teaching on both Undergraduate BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity and BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences programmes, administration and citizenship as required by senior colleagues and appropriate to your grade of employment.

· Teach existing modules/sessions as required, demonstrating an understanding of the subject materials and the use and value of appropriate learning technologies;

· Demonstrate the ability to manage own teaching and design, plan and write teaching materials for a variety of delivery methods including online and blended delivery;

· Demonstrate an increased awareness of different approaches to and methods of teaching and learning support;

· Take on board feedback on teaching and engage with others in CPD;

· Set student assessments, assess students’ academic work and provide feedback throughout the year;

· Deal with students’ queries about the content and delivery of a module;

· Build internal contacts and participate in networks to exchange information;

· Make an active contribution to an inclusive community in which diversity is embraced and celebrated;

· Undertake effectively and efficiently any administrative role allocated by your line manager.

· To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.

· To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.

· To engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses.

Key responsibilities for appointment at Grade 7 Lecturer (Teaching):

• Contribute to the teaching, convening and development of modules on both undergraduate BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity and BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences programmes. A number of modules are team taught, and the successful candidate will be expected to: undertake large and small group teaching, mark assessments and provide feedback for Sport, Health and the Environment and / or Sport and Exercise Psychology modules, and other relevant modules at the direction of the Head of Department, and supervise undergraduate dissertation projects.
• To undertake duties relating to teaching, administration and citizenship as required by your Head of Department and appropriate to your grade of employment.
• Teach existing modules/courses as required, demonstrating an increased awareness of different approaches to and methods of teaching and learning support.
• Develop and design new courses as required, including with online and blended delivery.
• Produce and/or oversee the production of all course/programme materials, including dossiers, lecture notes, reading lists, on-line materials, hand-outs, etc.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage own teaching and prioritise own workload in order to meet deadlines.
• Act as module convener/lead for one or more modules, delivering the module and/or overseeing others in their delivery of the module according to the published format.
• Updating module/course teaching materials on an annual basis, including relevant web pages/links.
• Set and/or oversee the setting of all assessments associated with the module/course, including formative and summative work and examinations.
• Oversee curriculum development for their module(s) in accordance with the University’s timetable.
• Mark and/or oversee the marking of students’ assessments as required by your Department, including formative and summative assignments and providing feedback throughout the year.
• Take on board feedback on teaching and engage with others in CPD.
• Deal with students’ queries about all aspects of a module/course including advising prospective students about the content, delivery and assessment requirements of the module/course and responding to student feedback (as gained through SSCCs and MEQs), ensuring that any action points are implemented.
• Build internal contacts and participate in networks to exchange information including liaison with the moderator(s) of any summative work in order to agree marks.
• Organise and schedule activities and events.
• Make an active contribution to an inclusive community in which diversity is embraced and celebrated.
• Engage in scholarship (the creation, development and maintenance of the intellectual infrastructure of subjects and disciplines) to the extent necessary to support the development of Durham curricula.
• Undertake effectively and efficiently any administrative role allocated by your Head of Department.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• Up to 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year – please include or delete if not applicable.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Contact Information

Department contact for academic-related enquiries

For informal enquiries please contact caroline.dodd.reynolds@durham.ac.uk or cassandra.phoenix@durham.ac.uk, or the Head of Department martin.roderick@durham.ac.uk. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process

e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

How to Apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

• a CV and covering letter which details your experience, skills and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.
• a statement as to your aspirations as a Lecturer /Assistant Lecturer (Teaching)in terms of what motivates you, what you would like to achieve and what your broad approaches to teaching excellence and innovation are (maximum 2 pages).

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Referees

You should provide 2 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s) where applicable. The majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post).

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process.

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.

Next Steps

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in August. Please identify any days that you are unavailable for interview.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Person Specification Grade 6:

Candidates applying for a grade 6 post must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria.

Essential Criteria

1. Qualifications:

a. A good first degree or Masters in Sport and Exercise Sciences and/or disciplines related to our programme modules.

2. Teaching Quality:

a. Experience of teaching and assessment at University level with positive student feedback gained.

3. Skills:

a. Good oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

Desirable Criteria

1. Qualifications:

a. A teaching qualification or equivalent significant experience.

2. Teaching Quality:

a. Experience of contributing to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching and/or assessment of learning, including the design and creation of successful learning environments and curriculum

3. Administration:

a. Demonstrable ability to participate in the collegial/administrative activities of an academic department and/or discipline.

4. HEA:

a. Candidates may have, or should have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of HEA within a 2 year interval of hire.

Person Specification Grade 7:

Candidates applying for a grade 7 post will have recently completed or be concluding their PhD and, while they may have limited direct experience of the requirements for the post, they must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the belowcriteria:

Essential Criteria:

• A good first degree in [Sport and Exercise Sciences and/or disciplines related to our programme modules].
• A PhD (or be close to submission) in Sport and Exercise Sciences or a discipline related our programme modules.
• Emerging experience of teaching and examining, ideally at University level with positive student feedback gained.
• Experience of contributing to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching and/or assessment of learning, including the design and creation of successful learning environments and curricula.
• Demonstrable ability to participate in the collegial/administrative activities of an academic department and/or discipline.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of successfully developing innovative teaching methods for the design/delivery of high quality teaching.
• Experience of successfully working in an administrative role within an organisation or department.
• Experience of providing high quality one-to-one student supervision.
• Evidence of work undertaken (or which would be undertaken) in preparation for teaching and keeping up to date with developments in the subject area, such as:

• active membership and engagement with a professional body;

• demonstrable innovation in educational practice;

• publication in a scholarly journal or relevant professional publication;

• Attending and presenting internal and/or external seminars or at a regional conference; and/or

• Materials/curriculum development for wider use in a department.