Lecturer (Education & Research)

Please note that there are two, full-time  fixed term openings available. One post is fixed-term for 12 months and one post is fixed term for 2.5 years.  Successful candidates will ideally be in post by September 2024.

The University

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career while enjoying a high-quality work/life balance. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.  

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. 

Our University Strategy

Our Purpose and Values

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page.  

The Department

The School of Education at Durham University is one of the best in the country and beyond.

The School represents an environment that is conducive to producing research of world-leading quality and enabling outstanding impact, in terms of its vitality and sustainability. This is evidenced by the fact that, for instance, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework exercise (REF 2021), 86.7% of the publications produced by colleagues at the School of Education was considered world leading or internationally excellent in terms of their rigour, significance and originality. At the same time research conducted at the School of Education has a strong impact beyond academia as it changes or benefits the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life (100% of impact case studies submitted to REF 2021 were considered outstanding in terms of their reach and significance).

The School of Education is committed to research-led teaching and diversity in approaches to accommodate needs and potential of student learners. Our current portfolio of teaching ranges from undergraduate programmes (a BA in Education Studies and a BA in Primary Education), through Postgraduate Taught Masters pathways (from MA Education to MA Research Methods) to Postgraduate Research. Overall, we are ranked 5th the Complete University Guide, and have a top 100 ranking in both the QS and THE 2023 World University Rankings by subject.

For more information, please visit our School pages at School of Education - Durham University .

The Vacancy

The school seeks to appoint an academic to support the delivery of our BA Education Studies and MA Education programmes. We welcome applications from candidates with an emerging research profile in the field of education (or an education-related discipline) and aligned to the Schools’ areas of research activity. Successful applicants will be expected to actively contribute to one or more of the School’s Thematic Research Clusters. For more information on these see: www.dur.ac.uk/departments/academic/education/research/areas/

Lecturers (Fixed term) at Durham

The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive. 

The role of a fixed term Lecturer at Durham provides the opportunity to deliver outstanding education and research within an inclusive and supportive environment that is staffed by world class colleagues.  Lecturers will be supported to develop their academic careers by training and financial support in research and education, guided by a designated mentor.

The primary focus of this role is on research and teaching but there will also be the opportunity to engage in wider citizenship within the University and beyond.

The role of Lecturer is fixed term in order to provide cover for a number of academic buyouts. It is not anticipated that this period would be extended beyond the initial fixed term.

Lecturer in Education

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence related to one of the following themes: Durham University Evidence Centre for Education; Higher & Further Education; Intercultural, International & Comparative Education; Pedagogy & Curriculum; Psychology & Education. They should have the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University.  The University provides a working and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

Key responsibilities:

· Pursue research that is, or has the potential to be high quality, excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour;

· Undertake teaching and research supervision, and contribute to ongoing curriculum development;

· Contribute to the citizenship and values of the Department;

· Deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels, with the opportunity to teach more widely within the Department, as well as engaging in related activity such as assessment;

· To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department and University;

· To carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits: 

· 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.  

· The University closes between Christmas and New Year – please include or delete if not applicable. 

· We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

· No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.

· There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. 

· Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.

· On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays.

·  Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).

· The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community

· Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. 

· A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. 

· If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values  and our Staff Code of Conduct.   At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities and people from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

We are committed to equality: if for any reason you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of research outputs, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application.  We also understand that the Covid-19 pandemic will have had differential impacts on different people and welcome information on this if you wish to share it. The selection committee will recognise that this may have reduced the quantity of your research accordingly 

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role 

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

Professor Nadin Beckmann, Director of Education ([email protected])

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected]  

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process 

[email protected]  

How to Apply  

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.  

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.  

Submitting your application 

We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

• a CV and covering letter which details your experience, skills and achievements in meeting (or the potential to meet) the criteria set out below.

Personal research plan.

• Two of your most significant pieces of written work.  Where possible your written work should have been published or submitted in the last five years, however work prior to then may be submitted where candidates have had career breaks.  
• Any further documents as required by the department.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.  

Next Steps 

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department.  The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview, and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days early in the spring.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. 

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.   

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Person Specification

Candidates will normally have recently completed or be concluding their PhD and, while they may have limited direct experience of the requirements for the post, they must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria. 

Research

Candidates must have capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world class or that has world-class potential. 

Essential Research Criteria – Grade 7

1.  Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD in Education or a related subject (which may be completed or under examination).

2.  Outputs - experience, skills and/or achievements which demonstrate experience of or the potential to produce high quality outputs that are recognised as world class or that have world-class potential. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below).  Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.

3.  Personal Research Plan - evidence of a personal research plan which supports and enhances the School of Education’s research strategy.

Teaching

Candidates must demonstrate the development and delivery of high quality teaching that contributes to providing a world-class learning environment and curricula which enables students to achieve their potential. 

Essential Teaching Criteria – Grade 7

1.  Qualification - candidates must be or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/individuals/fellowship/fellow ), which is the national body that champions teaching excellence (or Equivalent).

2.  Quality - Experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrates experience of or the potential to deliver high quality effective and engaging teaching. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching).

3.  Innovation – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to contribute to new programme development and innovate in the design and delivery of high quality teaching or assessment of learning including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment. 

4.  Strategic - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to engage in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led.

Services, Citizenship and Values

Candidates must actively engage in the administrative and collegial requirements of the Department and positively contribute to the University Values and to fostering a respectful environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values criteria – Grade 7

1.  Collegial contribution – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to participate in the collegial/administrative activities or an academic Department, Faculty or University.  (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, engagement with widening participation, involvement in equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).

2.  Communication - candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.