Lecturer in Hydrogeology - Teaching Focused - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Position Details

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £41,526 to £49,553, with potential progression once in post to £55,750

Grade 8

Full Time

FTC for up to 12 months to cover maternity leave from July 2021

Closing date: 1st June 2021

Background

Hydrogeology education within the School is principally covered by two undergraduate modules and an MSc course. The MSc course is one of very few groundwater-oriented MSc courses in the UK and a small number internationally, and is unique in its syllabus, the latter being reviewed periodically by a panel of industry professionals. It is presently in its 50th year and has very close links with industry, typically around 40 external organisations being involved each year in its delivery. More details of the MSc course can be found at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/gees/hydrogeology.aspx.

One of the specialist groundwater teaching-focussed staff, a Lecturer in Hydrogeology, will be on maternity leave during 2021-22. Cover is required in order: (i) to allow continuing delivery of the groundwater education and related areas; (ii) to facilitate the return to work of the present post incumbent, and (iii) to enable development of new groundwater educational initiatives.

Summary of Role

A teaching-focused post-holder will usually contribute to the whole range of teaching and administration.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development (including programme/module review) and delivery of teaching and assessment at postgraduate and undergraduate levels; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

Teaching-focused role-holders should advance the practice of teaching in their modules within the school, take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic support. They should also deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research.

Management and administration may involve contributions at 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, schools' outreach, or similar activities at School level or further within the University.

A Lecturer reports to the Head of School, but is also expected to collaborate with colleagues teaching on the same programmes (i.e. specific degrees) and with those academic and professional colleagues with administrative or technical responsibilities.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and be expected to work to create environments that are inclusive of under-represented groups; demonstrate through their research, teaching, and/or public engagement multiple perspectives as the foundation of a rich learning experience; integrate diverse experiences into instructional methods and research tools; and/or provide leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse populations and interests.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching focused Lecturer role-holders will normally:

• Contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal; and
• Develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are innovative to the subject area or institution; and
• Advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment; and
• Deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes; and
• Advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support; and
• Frequently update their own subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance their own teaching and learning processes; and
• Typically carry a higher teaching load than those staff who carry out both teaching and research; and
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of manifest benefit to the School and the University.
• Work closely with other teaching staff to deliver an integrated educational experience for the students.
• Engage sensitively with students in pastoral roles.

Given the temporary nature of the advertised post, it is recognised that some aspects of the list above may not be possible to complete within one academic year, but there may be opportunities to contribute to all aspects.

Further Details: Learning and Teaching

To use a variety of methods teaching and advising individuals and groups of postgraduate or undergraduate students. This will or may include:

• Teach and examine courses at a range of levels.
• Plan and review own teaching approaches and act as a mentor to encourage others to do the same.
• Develop programme proposals and make contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely in the School, as appropriate.
• Where appropriate, undertake and develop the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining (including summative assessment, assessed work contributing to the final award - as a mark or as credit - such as unseen examinations, essays dissertations or presentations).
• Use appropriate approaches to learning and teaching.
• Disseminate appropriate practices through suitable communication media.
• Develop and advise others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.
• Devise & supervise projects, student dissertations and practical work.
• Develop and make contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and is of manifest benefit to the College and the University.

Further Details: Management/ Administration

To contribute to School administration. This may include:

• Contribute to the administration/management of teaching across the School.
• Lead and/or manage a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive).
• Advise on personal development of colleagues and students.
• Make a contribution to some administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups).
• Manage enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities that are of manifest benefit to the College and University.
• Develop and make contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, outreach to schools.
• Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
• Undertake health and safety risk assessment and management where appropriate, challenging any inappropriate behaviour.
• Undertake ethics assessment and management for student projects.

Person Specification

• A substantial knowledge of / experience in groundwater science / engineering; this would normally include a higher degree in a relevant subject.
• An enthusiastic and committed approach to education and teaching.
• Experience of, or the potential for, successfully designing, delivering, assessing and revising teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Potential for guiding students in the successful delivery of projects.
• Ability to devise, advise on and manage learning.
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels.
• An ability to work with colleagues collaboratively in delivering both education and management roles.

Teaching

Attributes likely to be required include:

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes and/or their components.
• Ability to develop appropriate approaches for learning and teaching and advising colleagues
• Ability in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that could enhance the student experience or employability.

Management Administration

Attributes likely to be required include:

• 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.
• Ability to champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, and procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.
• Ability to be able to assess hazard and risk assessments.
• Ability to be able to assess ethics review assessments, including those relating to commercial confidentiality.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working