Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Computer Science - School of Computer Science - 81985 - Grade 8/9

Position Details

School of Computer Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £41,526 - £77,108 (Lecturer salary from £41,526 - £49,553 a year with potential progression to £55,750 a year). (Senior Lecturer salary from £51,034 - £59,135 a year with potential progression to £77,108 a year).

Grade 8/9

Full Time

Permanent

Closing date 21 April 2021

Summary of Role

The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham seeks to recruit outstanding computer scientists for the role of Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Computer Science.

Research in the School of Computer Science is organised around five themes:

• Artificial Intelligence & Data Science
• Theoretical Computer Science
• Cyber Security
• Human Centred Computing
• Computational Life Sciences

We encourage applications that either complement our existing strengths or open-up new areas with strong potential for collaboration. Candidates are welcome from both early career and established stages with an emphasis on a growing international reputation. We would ask that you specify your area of expertise in your application to aid the selection process.

We provide an inclusive environment and are committed to a recruitment process free from discrimination. We believe that supporting a variety of career trajectories is vital for world class computer science to flourish.

The postholder will create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research, through publication and by seeking external funding, and through developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in computer science related disciplines. Candidates might also demonstrate non-academic impact, recognising the importance of Computer Science to society. There is an expectation that successful candidates will also contribute to the School's operation through management, leadership and enterprise activities, and other events which contribute to a thriving and collegiate academic environment.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Research

Postholders at all levels will be expected to plan and carry out the highest quality research, using appropriate methodology and techniques. This will include contributing to all of the following:

• Pursue research at the highest level, including developing research ideas and winning competitive research funding
• Present research findings in high quality journals and conference proceedings
• Supervise and examine PhD students, both within the institution and externally
• Manage research activities and/or supervise other research staff
• Provide expert advice to staff, students and collaborators, both within the discipline and across other subject areas
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of benefit to the university

Research

(Lecturer)

In addition, appointments at Lecturer level will need to demonstrate a sustained contribution to research, teaching and administration over a number of years:

• Make a major contribution to the management of research activities
• Lead successful funding bids which develop and sustain research support
• Publish leading research that results in a sustained, highly respected reputation of international quality in the subject area
• Provide expert advice internally and externally
• Provide leadership of research that contributes to the progression of the discipline
• Referee and peer review articles for peer reviewed academic journals, and grant applications for research councils and/or other major funding bodies
• Lead sustained high value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that is of manifest benefit and: a) makes a significant contribution to policy development at a national and international level; and/or b) involves development of industrial links and comparable networks and initiatives.

Learning and Teaching

Post Holders at all levels will be expected to contribute to some or all of the following:

• Teach and examine courses at a range of levels
• Plan and review one's own teaching approaches and act as a mentor to encourage others to do the same
• Develop module proposals and make substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely in the School, and as appropriate use appropriate approaches to learning and teaching in your field to disseminate appropriate practices through suitable media
• Develop and advise others on learning and teaching tasks and methods
• Undertake and develop the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and is of manifest benefit to the College and University
• Demonstrate a high level of student satisfaction
• Devise and supervise projects, student dissertations and practical work
• Contribute to innovative new cross-disciplinary education programmes

(Senior Lecturer)

In addition, appointments at Senior Lecturer level will be expected to contribute at a senior level on a sustained basis in learning and teaching. Where appropriate for the discipline, this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:

• Lead the development of new and appropriate approaches to learning and teaching. This may be underpinned by research and evaluation of teaching methods and systems
• Act as adviser for teaching and learning methods through excellent practice and mentoring other colleagues
• Lead the design and/or co-ordination of programmes or equivalent activities across the School
• Contribute to the development of teaching and learning policy, methods and standards, more widely than the in the School
• Contribute to debate nationally about policy, methods and practices through publications, conference activity and roles that advance quality in the discipline
• Lead the development and management of assessment strategies within the School
• Lead substantial and sustained high-value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or employability and is of manifest benefit to learning and teaching in the College and the University. This may include the development of industrial links and comparable networks and initiatives
• Lead the development of innovative new cross-disciplinary education programmes

Management/Administration

Post Holders at all levels will be expected to contribute to some or all of the following:

• Contribute to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the School
• Advise on personal development of staff and students
• Make a sustained contribution to widening participation, outreach and/or public understanding of the discipline
• Contribute to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups)
• Develop and manage staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching activities
• Participate in activities relating to the recruitment of students, for example Open Days and Offer Holder Days

(Senior Lecturer)

In addition, appointments at a Senior Lecturer level will be expected to chair and/or lead activities in the School and represent the School on University committees or working groups. Where appropriate to the discipline, this is likely to include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below.

• Make an important contribution to the development and running of the School, for example, leading activity on teaching assessment and/or on research
• Develop and manage staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching activities
• Make important contributions to the development of the School's research strategy and/or learning and teaching strategy
• Lead/project manage a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive)
• Contribute significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with a sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University.

Person Specification

(Lecturer)

• Normally, a higher degree (usually PhD) in computer science, engineering, mathematics or a closely related field, or equivalent qualifications or experience
• Significant research experience and scholarship
• Evidence of the ability to attract PhD students, to secure external grants from research councils, academic charities or industries, or to consult and work with industry
• A demonstrated ability to balance long-term fundamental research with short-term applied projects would be beneficial

Research

• A growing international research record in computer science (or related interdisciplinary areas), evident from publications in leading international conferences and journals, is required
• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing international reputation
• 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/or similar activities

Teaching and Learning

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes
• Experience 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

Management Administration

• Ability to contribute to School 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 one's own work area

(Senior Lecturer)

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications
• Demonstrated competence in Research; Learning and Teaching; and Management and Administration; and excellence in at least two of these areas.

Research requirements

An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through significant original research work and a clear record of impact. Evidence of success under the following headings, as appropriate to the discipline:

• High level peer esteem as evidenced by
  
  • Excellent reputation in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high-quality output, level of innovation, impact on subject and recognition
  • An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications
• Successful and sustained supervision of doctoral students to completion
• Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through research grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding
• Sustained high value impact knowledge transfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the College and University

Learning and teaching requirements

An excellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impact and quality. The teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by an appropriate level of scholarship. Evidence of success under the following headings:

• High national reputation for the development of teaching and learning excellence within the discipline
• Successful and sustained use of a range of appropriate teaching methods, and assessment strategies that promote high quality learning, including learning that is flexible, distinctive and current and stimulates learners' natural curiosity
• Significant and sustained contribution to one or more of the following: strategic development of new programmes; approaches to learning; the development of learning resources
• High quality and sustained contributions to fostering excellence in teaching activities more widely, i.e. in the Department/School or College and/or externally
• Track record of substantial and sustained high value impact on the enhancement of the student experience, and/or employability
• Mentoring and expert advice which develops the skills of colleagues in teaching and in fostering learning

Management and administration-related requirements

Demonstrated significant achievement in management and administration-related activities, which may include leadership of activities/initiatives. Evidence of success under the following headings

• Successful and sustained performance in significant administrative/managerial role (s) (e.g. exams officer)
• Significant and sustained high quality innovative contributions to the management/administration of the Department/School/College or University
• Successful and sustained contribution to the corporate life of the School/College/University, displaying willingness to contribute actively to committees, collaborative teaching and administrative tasks
• Actively promotes equality and diversity to internal and external stakeholders
• Able to use data to identify equality and diversity issues
• Experience of developing interventions to address equality and diversity issues

Informal enquiries can be made to Mark Lee, email: M.G.Lee@bham.ac.uk

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community