Assistant Professor in Ethics of Non-Violence (Research and Education) - School of Philosophy, [...]

Position Details

School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,735 to £55,755 with potential progression once in post to £62,728

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 28th April 2025

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

Background

With the generous support of philanthropists in the Jain communities in the US and the UK, the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham launched the Bhagavan Dharmanath Programme in Jain Studies. The programme includes a full-time post in the Ethics of Non-Violence, strengthening our research and teaching excellence in Ethics and Applied Ethics.

The School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion is a leading centre for research excellence in the country. Its constituent departments were ranked first and fourth in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Both ethics and political philosophy are areas of strength and focus within the Department of Philosophy, specifically including environmental sustainability, environmental ethics, political justification, bioethics, human rights, metaethics, and ethical theories. We intend for the successful candidate to play a key role in broadening these areas of research and teaching, whilst retaining connection and dialogue with our existing areas of strength in research and teaching.

We are the ideal home for ambitious and forward-thinking students, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, and provide a dynamic and friendly community of staff and students, committed to agenda-setting research and an innovative education provision. We offer four single honours undergraduate programmes (BA Philosophy; BA Theology and Religion; BA in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics; and a BA in Politics, Religion and Philosophy), with two more coming (BA Philosophy, Politics and Law; BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics). We collaborate with departments across the university on a range of joint honours programmes including English, Classical Civilisation, Mathematics, and History. We have a variety of postgraduate taught programmes, including several distance learning programmes, and a postgraduate research community including a large number of doctoral researchers.

The remit of the post covers research, impact, and education; the priorities for the post holder will be in all areas. They will pursue creative and high-quality research and benefit from an excellent research infrastructure to support external funding bids. They will develop their research into external impact, with a focus on policy change and implementation, again supported by the University’s infrastructure. The successful candidate will design and deliver research-aligned teaching on established courses and develop new teaching for undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development, with appropriate responsibility for programme management. This may include collaborative design and co-teaching work.

Equal Opportunities

The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunities employer. The School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion recognises that strength and success come from diversity and strives to maintain a flexible and supportive environment that enables all staff and students to flourish.

Interview format/requirements

Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend for interview and deliver a presentation. Further information will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Nikk Effingham, Head of Department of Philosophy – n.effingham@bham.ac.uk.

For people who might wish to ask a question in person rather than via email, please book a short video call with Professor Nikk Effingham, Head of Department of Philosophy via email - n.effingham@bham.ac.uk.

Role Summary

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.

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 or employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, (b) supervising and examining PhD students, and (c) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

Research is likely to involve initiating, conducting, and disseminating original research. Your research will have measurable outcomes reflected in your growing national (and ideally international) reputation. Impact will involve identifying and exploring potential avenues of impact, with a focus on influencing national and international policy and/or engagement with enterprise and business.

Management and administration is likely to involve contributions at Departmental and 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 Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

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 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 managing 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

• 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