Principal Lecturer or Teaching Fellow in Graphic Design & Illustration

Salary Range

£57,696 - £64,914 per annum

School/Department

Liverpool School of Art and Design

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.

The School of Art and Design is a friendly, inclusive, and supportive community of illustrators, designers, and researchers, with studio culture at the centre of our approach. We encourage traditional methods to flourish side-by-side with new technologies, nurturing play and experimentation, and embed research into practice in the belief that design and creativity can be used to make positive changes in the world around us.

Situated within the School, our Graphic Design and Illustration programme has been a central component for over 40 years and is made up of four overarching and intersecting themes: Identity & Society, Climate Crisis, Emerging Technology and Responsible Practice. It offers an established and distinctive approach that provides students with the opportunity to explore a variety of skills and knowledge whilst supporting them to develop into independent and creative thinkers with the capacity to make an impact in and beyond the creative industries. The programme is committed to a civic agenda and strives to ensure that all students are empowered to genuinely explore their interests and identities.

Being a studio-based programme, it places emphasis on the importance of a studio culture in which students engage with their studies on-site and develop a meaningful, ongoing dialogue with tutors and peers. It has maintained a strong reputation over the years for producing graduates who have become creative forces both nationally and internationally and has provided opportunities for all students to work with leading arts organisations, encouraging experimental and creative practice.

We are now seeking a Principal Lecturer or Principal Teaching Fellow and Programme Leader in Graphic Design and Illustration to join our team. Reporting to the Head of Art and Design, and the Director of School, you will have responsibility for the operational leadership of the programme and the line-management of the staff that work within the team. You will guide the management of the current portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, as well as inspire new developments in programmes, international recruitment, collaborative partnerships, and external engagement.

We are looking for a highly creative and inspirational leader with a broad range of experience in visual communication and a specific focus in illustration practice, theory, and scholarship to lead the BA Hons course. The successful applicant will have a strong critical understanding of visual communication and illustration and have proven experience in a teaching and leadership role in a higher education environment (or similar context).

You will lead the team to develop an understanding and integration of practice and theory and support our students in communicating their work to a range of audiences. Specifically, you will lead on positioning the programme at the forefront of the changing disciplinary landscape, demonstrating strong critical understanding of the relationship between graphic arts, one or more of the overarching themes highlighted above, and the wider industry. You will also be expected to undertake significant creative practice/research (Principal Lecturer) and scholarship (Principal Teaching Fellow) and contribute to the academic life of the School, Faculty and University.

In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction, and development support as well as family-friendly policies.

This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do.

If you feel that this is the role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.

We are currently under-represented with regards to staff from a Black, Asian, and other Minority Ethnic backgrounds and is actively promoting diversity in its workforce. We welcome applications from all eligible applicants, however, would like to encourage applicants from the Black, Asian, and other Minority Ethnic communities. Appointment will be based on merit.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Joasia Krysa, Head of Art and Design, Liverpool School of Art and Design at: [email protected]

Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.