Reader in Social Sciences, Education

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Reader in Social Sciences, Education

Located in heritage buildings in the beautiful and thriving capital city of Wales, the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University is looking to appoint a Reader to join the school in the field of education. The post holder will contribute to the research profile of the School through academic scholarship and theoretically informed empirical research in education leading to published work of the highest quality. The successful candidate will also deliver high quality and research-led teaching at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. The School is recognised nationally and internationally for providing a highly supportive research environment and an interdisciplinary learning experience as well as for its collaborative and problem-focused approach, civic contribution and social impact.
With an emerging international reputation in your field, you will hold a strong record of academic research, grant capture and publication.  You will have considerable experience of research-led teaching and an interest in supporting and developing taught programmes (including those with international appeal). You will also be able to demonstrate appreciation and experience of academic leadership.
This is a full time post, 35 hours per week, open ended and available immediately.

Salary: £61,818 - £63,668 per annum (Grade 8)
Responsible to Professor Tom Hall, Head of School

For informal enquiries contact Professor Tom Hall (Head of School), [email protected]   telephone 029 20874848 or Professor Bella Dicks (Deputy Head of School) [email protected] Telephone 029 2087 5231
Date advert posted: Friday, 20 May 2022

Closing date: Friday, 17 June 2022

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”  

Job Description

To deliver research-led teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and contribute to the research record of the School through commitment to carrying out and publishing high quality research. To supervise students and to carry out administrative duties within the work area as required. To pursue excellence in research, teaching and enterprise and to inspire others to do the same.

Research

• To conduct research within the social sciences with a particular specialism in the field of education and training, and contribute to the overall internationally recognised research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs. These include: bidding for research funding, publication in national and international academic journals, international conferences and/or other research outputs, and the recruitment and supervision of research staff and postgraduate research students.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for research including contribution to and/or leading successful bids for funding.
• Play a full and active part in the wider research culture and practices of the School, lead research networks and to secure external funding for research and to take the lead in delivering research outcomes
• In addition,  provide academic leadership to develop and enhance the research culture and agenda of the School by leading one or more of the School’s research groups/centres/clusters, identifying and leading new research, innovation and engagement initiatives. To seek out and exploit synergies between different research groups so as to enhance the School’s research performance and to provide leadership and mentoring of members of the Department who are at earlier stages of their career.
• To give invited presentations to professional meetings and academic conferences at national and international level, building networks to develop research outputs and standing within the area of specialism, making a positive contribution to the profile and international reputation of the School.
• To contribute fully to the management and supervision of postgraduate research.

• Lead on degree and module development and delivery and contribute to subject area pedagogy, delivering lectures and acting as an academic supervisor for undergraduate and masters students – ensuring delivery of a high quality student learning experience, developing and applying innovative and appropriate teaching techniques and material that create interest, understanding and enthusiasm among students.
• To undertake work associated with assessment of student work, including setting and marking papers and the provision of high quality, timely feedback.
• Carry out administration and participate in committee work.
• Supervise the work of individual students at undergraduate and Masters level, also doctoral supervision and acting as a PGR progress review panel member, internal examiner or viva chair,  as required.
• Provide pastoral care through both acting as a Personal Tutor and providing support and guidance to students, building and establishing trust and referring on to support services where appropriate.

• Provide academic leadership by co-ordinating the work of others to ensure areas of teaching and research activity are organised and delivered effectively.
• To be involved in the departmental level strategic planning and contribute to wider strategic planning processes in the University.
• To undertake a line management role as required.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Specialism and seniority in one or more of the following areas:
  • education practice and pedagogy
  • schools and schooling
  • technology and education
  • the sociology of education
  • social mobility and inclusion
• Ability to speak Welsh

The Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable.  Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria.  Where possible you should give examples of how, when and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills and abilities to match those required for this particular job role.

Please ensure that you communicate this fully by creating a supporting statement document, listing all of the criteria and commenting against each one as to how you meet them.  This will need to be completed before you begin making your application on line as you will be required to upload it. 

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you put your name and the  vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for NAME XXXXBR.’

The desirable section contains a list of skills, qualifications and experience that it would be beneficial for the jobholder to have.

All short-listing decisions will be based initially on essential criteria, with desirable being used to further select or deselect candidates as appropriate. 

We interview those candidates who are the closest match to the identified criteria.

Additional Information

Job Description continued
Other

• Engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional, national and international profile.
• Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance in the role of Reader.
• Participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
• Undertake and lead operational administrative responsibilities as requested by senior management, and contribute to and/or lead bids for consultancy and additional funds.
• To abide by University policies on Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity and Data Protection.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role, as directed by Head of School.

The School of Social Sciences is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching across a range of subject areas, including social policy, sociology, criminology, education, social psychology, and social work.

Over 220 staff (including over 30 professors and 60 researchers) are involved in a substantial programme of research - both fundamental and strategic - funded by ESRC, AHRC, MRC, charitable foundations, the European Union, Central Government departments and agencies and voluntary associations. Since its creation in 1999, the School has received over 25 million pounds for funded research. 

The School has a large student population, with almost 1000 undergraduates, and 300 postgraduates (including 100 doctoral students).  The School has ESRC recognition for doctoral training in the fields of Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology, Education, and Science, Technology and Innovation. Our taught and postgraduate research programmes welcome students from around the world.

The School hosts a number of research centres and institutes, including the Universities’  Police Studies Institute (UPSI), now part of the University’s Crime & Security Research Institute; Wales Institute for Economic Research & Data (WISERD); Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer); Cardiff Unit for Research and Evaluation in Medical and Dental Education (CUREMeDE); and the Seafarers’ International Research Centre (SIRC). Many of the School’s research centres will soon be housed in the Social Science Research Park (SPARK), which is currently being developed as part of Cardiff University’s new Innovation Campus.

Further details of the School’s activities can be found on our home page: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/social-sciences  

Cardiff University School of Social Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in academia. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We actively encourage women to apply. We will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.

Job Category

Academic - Teaching & Research