Professor of Midwifery

Overview

Professor of Midwifery - Joint Appointment UCC/HSE

Permanent joint appointment by School of Nursing & Midwifery, UCC (0.5 FTE) and HSE South/South-West Hospital Group (0.5 FTE)

UCC wishes to appoint an experienced academic to the role of Professor in Midwifery. The post holder will be an academic appointee to the SoNM-UCC. The Professor of Midwifery will be involved in the clinical governance structures and mechanism of both the South West Region Health Services Executive and SoNM- UCC.
 
The post holder will have both academic and clinical research responsibilities by engaging in high quality scholarly activity through research in practice, publications and teaching. He/she will have a key leadership role in working towards achieving agreed objectives of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork (SoNM-UCC) and the HSE South West Region Health Service Executive by engaging in scholarly activity through research and teaching with a primary focus on practice and service development.
 
Within the organizational structure of the HSE South West Region Health Service Executive the post holder will lead clinical research in midwifery in the context of clinical midwifery healthcare, including its design and conduct, as well as its application to midwifery practice development.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process. For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/. The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren, Tel: 021- 4901462/1553, Email: Patricia.Leahy@ucc.ie

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Children.

What is UCC Futures – Children?

UCC Futures - Children brings together University College Cork’s longstanding tradition of pioneering research with and about children and our commitment to scholarship that has a meaningful impact on their lives. This initiative unites research excellence across leading research centres that include the Irish Centre for Maternal & Child Health Research (INFANT), the Institute of Social Science in the 21st Century (ISS21) and the Centre for Children’s Rights and Family Law, and the schools of Sociology & Criminology, Applied Psychology, Education, Law, Medicine, Public Health, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Applied Social Studies and Paediatrics & Child Health.

With the establishment of UCC Futures – Children, our mission is to establish UCC as a globally recognised leader in interdisciplinary research that has a meaningful impact on the lives of children. We commit to a wide-ranging research agenda, from child health to child justice, including the needs of vulnerable and marginalised children. Our vision is to unite UCC’s diverse and collaborative community of researchers, across all disciplines and career stages, around our commitment to innovative, child-centred research that addresses the most pressing social challenges affecting children’s lives.

Our research has impact in local communities, where children live. Through our international collaborations, UCC Futures – Children also has global reach through our extensive network of partnerships with fellow researchers, agencies and funding bodies around the world. At UCC Futures – Children, we aim to develop new specialist graduate programmes, reflecting our research expertise, and to attract leading scholars from around the world to study, visit and work with us.

Duties of the post

The post holder will have both academic and clinical research responsibilities by engaging in high quality scholarly activity through research in practice, publications and teaching. They will have a key leadership role in working towards achieving agreed objectives of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork (SoNM-UCC) and the SSWHG by engaging in scholarly activity through research and teaching with a primary focus on practice and service development. Within the organizational structure of the SSWHG, the post holder will lead clinical research in midwifery in the context of clinical midwifery healthcare, including its design and conduct, as well as its application to midwifery practice development.

The post holder will be an academic appointee to the SoNM-UCC. The Professor of Midwifery will be involved in the clinical governance structures and mechanism of both the SSWHG and SoNM- UCC. The academic staff member shall teach and examine, undertake administrative duties, and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Dean of the School of Nursing & Midwifery. In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research led institution, the duties of all academic staff will include research, research-led teaching and contributions to the university, the discipline, and the community.

The roles and responsibilities outlined below are to be interpreted in the context of the relevant Statutes and where there is any difference arising from interpretation, that statutory provisions take precedent. For the sake of clarity, the relevant elements of the statutes not already incorporated in the numbered sections are appended in italics under each subheading.

Leadership | Research & Scholarship | Teaching & Examining | Contributions | Key Performance Indicators

Leadership

• Demonstrate academic leadership in the development of midwifery practice through teaching, research and scholarship, and in any other appropriate manner;
• Provide advice and support to midwifery leaders in SSWHG hospitals regarding research that will inform best practice and provide an environment in which key national healthcare policy objectives can be realised. For example, the implementation of the HSE’s National Clinical Programmes and Sláintecare programme will provide opportunities for midwifery to drive the agenda of integrated care, excellence in patient care and to promote clinical research in action;
• Contribute to capacity-building in research and practice development in the academic and clinical midwifery contexts;
• Provide research support and advice for staff which will be instrumental to aligning with service vision and drive relevant practice development initiatives;
• Contribute to the body of knowledge on quality and safety in midwifery, in particular identification of frailty, risk assessment, risk avoidance and risk management;
• Provide a clear vision and strategy to support the development of midwifery research, scholarship and, education and clinical practice within the context of midwifery health services;
• Work collaboratively with the SSWHG Director of Midwifery & Dean of SoNM-UCC, and the SoNM Director of Research towards the implementation of strategic objectives with agreed KPIs;
• Take a research lead on the implementation of HSE national policy and strategic initiatives especially relating to health service reform e.g. HSE Clinical Programmes;
• Develop collaborations with other HEIs (including those in the region), Hospital Groups nationally, regional Nursing & Midwifery Planning & Development Units including allied professionals and disciplines towards a ‘joined up’ approach to conducting and implementing research into practice with the goal of promoting excellence in midwifery;
• Expand international collaborations which support engagement in funded research and the development and implementation of evidence-based practice within the region.

Research & Scholarship

• Engage in high quality and productive research and scholarship which advances midwifery practices and health care services, and publish their research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications;
• Carry out and lead as appropriate, initiatives in generating research income and assist in the co‐ordination of joint research funding activities between the SoNM & SSWHG as appropriate to midwifery. Foster a collaborative and joint research culture in the SSWHG services by mentoring and supporting colleagues in the development of their research capacity including their engagement in funded research;
• Supervise students undertaking clinical research projects (especially at masters and doctorate level);
• Publish research in collaboration with clinical and academic colleagues in appropriate peer‐reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to midwifery;
• Engage in other scholarly activities jointly relevant to the SoNM-UCC & the SSWHG.

Teaching & Examining

• Promote excellence in teaching and learning and encourage the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the SONM-UCC and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
• Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and, where appropriate, adult and continuing education courses and make a distinguished personal contribution to teaching at all levels;
• Supervise undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate students;
• Contribute to, and take a leadership role where appropriate in, the regular evaluation of curricula, and the development of new curricular initiatives;
• Perform a significant role in the development of postgraduate studies at UCC;
• Perform a significant role in the development of links and collaborations with key internal and external stakeholders including partner Health Service Providers;
• Play a significant role in the maintenance of academic standards and in the development of the curriculum within their subject areas

• to give the students attending their ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as they may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as they see fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
• to give instruction to their students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge;
• to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which they are examiner.

Contributions

• Enhance the promotion of the discipline and profession within the University and the Services and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and SSWHG health Services;
• Promote the national and international profile of the SONM-UCC, and the SSWHG;
• Serve, if required as head of one of the College’s academic units, subject to relevant University regulations, statutes and management requirements;
• Actively seek to develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
• Play a significant role in the administrative structures within the SONM-UCC (e.g. Executive, Research Committee, Graduate Studies Committee) and SSWHG (e.g. DON &DOM Group; Practice Development Groups);
• Fulfil other duties appropriate to the post as may be jointly assigned by the head of SONM & the Chief DON-SSWHG;
• Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
• Carry out other duties which may arise as identified in the University statutes

• to carry out administrative and other appropriate duties lawfully allocated to them within their School  or other academic unit;
• if a member of the Academic Council, to attend its meetings;
• to serve upon all the committees to which they may be appointed by the Governing Body or the Academic Council, and to assist and co-operate with the Governing Body in such other reasonable ways as the Governing Body may prescribe, for the maintenance of discipline and good conduct among the students, or for the general business of the University.

Key Performance Indicators

A priority for the relationship between the SONM-UCC and the SSWHG is the promotion of evidence and research-based practice and the generation of new knowledge through collaborative activities, including research training and the conduct of research. While specific and priority Key Performance Indicators linked to the core aspect of the post (i.e. clinical research) will be developed jointly by the SSWHG & SONM-UCC, the following are examples of expected performance:

• Completion of joint strategic plan for clinical research, scholarship and education specific to midwifery services with explicit short and long term objectives (Note this will be part of a broader joint strategic plan for midwifery and health services led by SONM Chair in Nursing & Health Services Research);
• Increase in the number of joint research activities between the SoNM-UCC, and SSWHG as well as with regional HEIs and other service providers;
• Evidence of initiating and completing a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to research on a select number of inter-related projects across the services;
• Providing evidence of impact of research activities on health outcomes for midwifery and on service improvements;
• Successful grant applications and funding for practice and service-oriented research including Scholarship and Fellowship funding for clinical nurses pursuing graduate research and education;
• Providing evidence of dissemination of research outputs, practice development and initiatives.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

Qualifications | Leadership | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions  | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate or equivalent appropriate professional qualification in Midwifery or a related discipline;
2. Registration with or the ability to register with An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland).

Leadership

Essential Criteria

3. The ability to provide vision and leadership in the development of healthcare and services for midwifery, within the strategic frameworks of the College of Medicine and Health and the University and the SSWHG;
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with leading and supporting a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
5. Demonstrable experience of leadership in promoting equality and diversity within healthcare or academic contexts.

Research

Essential Criteria

6. International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in the relevant discipline or profession as evidenced through an outstanding contribution to its advancement through research outputs including peer reviewed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarship and a significant research funding record, as appropriate to the discipline;
7. A record of successful leadership and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the discipline, including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate for the discipline;
8. A record of fostering a culture of research excellence;
9. Evidence of supervision of doctoral students to completion.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

10. Evidence of excellence in practice and service development teaching and learning, and support which traverses both a Higher Education Institution and a Health Service;
11. Evidence of a significant achievement in and commitment to excellence in research‐led teaching and learning in Nursing & Midwifery, at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a willingness to both contribute to and lead in the development of the teaching programmes offered by the academic unit;
12. Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation;
13. The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and where the opportunity has existed, to develop and lead postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
14. A familiarity with and willingness to use modern teaching technologies.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

15. Proven senior administrative experience and the capacity and willingness to act as head of an academic unit;
16. Evidence of participation in relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate;
17. Ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, partner Health Services, the academic discipline and society at large.

Other

18. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
19. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
20. A commitment to the long-term development of discipline.

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post.

Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria as detailed above will not be short listed.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Salary Information

Applications for this post

How to apply

Applications for this post are received through UCC's online application portal. You'll be required to set up a profile (if you don't already have one). 

You can find the posts associated with UCC Futures - Children by selecting 'Academic UCC Futures' in the search by vacancy type field.

Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to uccfuturesrecruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job title.

What to include in your application

Applications should consist of your academic CV and a cover letter demonstrating your academic and research achievements. We would also like to hear about your research ambitions and how your academic and research profile aligns with the UCC Futures - AI & Data Analytics initiative.

Details of the following should also be included, as appropriate:

• Publications
• Research Interests
• Teaching Interests and Abilities
• Teaching Objectives and Methods

Who to contact

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren, Tel: 021- 4901462/1553, Email: Patricia.Leahy@ucc.ie  

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday 07 July 2026. No late applications will be accepted.

Equality statement

University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives.