Assistant Professor in Public Health - Education or Research and Education - Applied Health Research - 98200 - Grade 8

Position Details

Institute of Applied Health Research

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £42,149 to £50,296, with potential progression once in post to £56,587. 

Grade 8 

Full Time/ Permanent

Closing date 2 November 2021

Summary of Role

The Institute of Applied Health Research (IAHR) is seeking to expand and develop its portfolio of Public Health and related teaching and research through the recruitment of a series of posts, including this one, to support existing programmes and to assist in the development of innovative new modules and programmes. This is an exciting time to join the Institute; over the last year, the Institute has benefited from over £22m research funding and now employs over 300 members of staff. The Institute is a key part of the PHRESH consortium, which has been successful in joining the NIHR School for Public Health Research, and is developing close research and educational links with Public Health in Local Authorities (principally Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council).

The Institute makes a significant contribution to the development, delivery and assessment of the Medicine (MBChB) programmes at the University of Birmingham. In addition, it is responsible for the delivery of the Population Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities (PoSH) suite of intercalated programmes and a series of highly successful postgraduate taught programmes, including the longstanding Masters in Public Health (MPH) programme, recruiting over 60 international and home students each year. The Institute is actively exploring options to further expand its undergraduate and postgraduate offer, including the use of innovative hybrid and blended approaches and programmes located at the university’s Dubai campus.

The Medicine (MBChB) programmes at the University of Birmingham comprise (i) a 5-year undergraduate degree course; and (ii) a 4-year graduate-entry programme.  The two entry cohorts come together at the end of Year 2 (5-year programme) and Year 1 (4-year programme) to form a single cohort of approximately 400 students who are taught together for the remaining three years of their programme.  In addition, every year approximately 50 medical students choose to undertake an additional year of study to complete an intercalated PoSH degree.

You will contribute to a range of research, teaching and administration.  In addition you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others can carry out theirs.

You will contribute to the whole range of teaching and administration on the MBChB, PoSH and/or MPH programmes in line with your experience and specialist expertise. Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development (including programme/module review) and delivery of teaching and assessment; and (b) enhancement of the student experience and/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. You will be expected to advance the practice of teaching in modules and/or programmes, take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic support.  You should deliver excellent teaching that inspires students and is informed by discipline-based research. 

Rsearch will involve initiating, conducting and disseminating original research in line with the overall Institute Research Strategy.  The research will have measurable outcomes and be reflected in a growing national reputation and often an incipient international reputation. 

You will also be expected to contribute to management and administration at Institute level and/or make an important contribution to management/leadership (e.g. working groups) within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences (MDS) and 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 IAHR/MDS level or further within the University.  You will be expected to take on a lead role within the Institute that reflects their educational portfolio, such as the lead for undergraduate MBChB teaching or deputy lead for the MPH programme. This may require you to be a member of the Institute Executive Committee (IEC) or deputise for others as appropriate.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

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, outreach 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

•    Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications
•    Extensive research/teaching experience 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

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 (for those employed on a Research and Education contract)
•    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
•    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
 

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