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 £46,735 to £55,755 with potential progression once in post to £62,728
Grade: 8
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 27th April 2025
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.
Role Summary
As part of strategic growth and investment in the area of digital media and communications, the School seeks to recruit an Assistant Professor in Creative Practice from 1st September 2025. The post holder will contribute to teaching and research excellence in the School, with particular expertise in some or all of the following areas being desirable:
* Video essays, essay film and/or videographic criticism
* Sound design
* Special FX
* Industry experience of production in a film, television or digital media context
* Eco-cinema and/or sustainable filmmaking practice
* Screenwriting
The new post holder will contribute high quality teaching to our existing suite of programmes which includes the very successful BA in Digital Media and Communications, MA in Digital Media and Creative Industries, the MA in Film and Television: Research and Production and launching from September 2025, the MA In Digital Media and Communications and the MA In Film and Television: Industries and Cultures. 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. Your research will have measurable outcomes reflected in your 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.
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.
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) or equivalent qualifications
* 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
* Experience and success in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability
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
* Experience in practice-based research, as both scholar and supervisor
* 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 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
Desirable
* Experience of teaching and supporting international students
Informal enquiries to Dr Richard Langley, email: R.M.Langley@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.
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