Overview

Permanent Whole Time Post

UCC wishes to appoint an experienced academic to the role of Professor in the School of Public Health, reporting to the Head of School of Public Health. We are seeking an established and innovative academic leader to join the School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork as Professor of Public Health. This role is designed for an exceptional candidate who possesses a robust track record in public health research, education, health policy and community engagement. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of public health education and research, fostering collaborations across disciplines, and mentoring the next generation of public health professionals.

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 Ella Arensman, email: ella.arensman@ucc.ie 

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

What is UCC Futures – Future Medicines 

UCC Futures - Future Medicines combines a multidisciplinary team of renowned world leading scientists, engineers and clinician investigators at University College Cork and affiliated hospitals to deliver high-impact, transformational, next generation medicines and medical technologies. 

It leverages the expertise and infrastructure across multiple Schools in UCC’s College of Medicine & Health, in addition to UCC Research Centres and Institutes including APC Microbiome Ireland and our flagship Tyndall National Institute. This unique translational environment will become a magnet for small & medium enterprise and  multi-national corporation investment in the region particularly across the biopharma, healthcare and medtech sectors. 

UCC Futures - Future Medicines is creating step-change advancements in earlier detection, faster prognosis and targeted treatments to reduce the global health burden and improve quality-of-life for patients with chronic conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and inflammatory diseases.

Duties and Responsibilities

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 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 Head of the School of Public Health. 
 
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, statutory provisions will 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 | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions

Leadership

• Demonstrate clear vision and strategy to support the development of Public Health through teaching, research and scholarship;
• Mentor, support and advise junior staff as appropriate and assist in their academic career development in teaching and research.

Teaching and Examining

• Promote excellence in teaching and learning and support in both the development and the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Public Health 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 significant contribution to teaching at all levels;
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate 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;
• 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 his/her ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as s/he may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as s/he sees fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
• to give instruction to his/her students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge;
• to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which s/he is an examiner;

Research

• Engage in high quality and productive research and scholarship of international standing and contribute to the advancement of knowledge within their discipline and publish their research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
• Carry out and lead as appropriate, initiatives in generating research income and assist in the co-ordination of research funding activities within the within the discipline/department/school, as appropriate to the discipline;
• Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
• Engage in other scholarly activities relevant both to the discipline and the senior level of the post.

Contributions

• Enhance the promotion of the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
• 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 duties of the discipline/department/school and act as a member of such committees as may be required within the University;
• Fulfil other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the Head of School;
• 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 department or other academic unit;
• if a member of the Academic Council, to attend its meetings;
• to serve upon all the committees to which s/he 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;

The above listing is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake duties as can reasonably be expected. All staff are required to be flexible, co-operative and professional within the needs of the post and the Discipline/Department/School, College and University. The University is undertaking a major reform of its internal structures which may necessitate possible future changes in the organisation of its activities.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have the following criteria:

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

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate and appropriate professional qualification and a significant record of research and publication in the relevant discipline.

Leadership

Essential Criteria

2. The ability to contribute substantially to the development of School of Public Health within the strategic frameworks of the College of Medicine and Health and the University;
3. Evidence of leadership in both teaching and research;
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with playing a significant role within a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment nationally and internationally.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

5. Evidence of high-quality achievement in and commitment to excellence in researchled teaching and learning in Public Health, 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;
6. Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation, including online teaching;
7. The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and a strong track record in postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
8. A familiarity with, and willingness to use modern teaching technologies.

Research

Essential Criteria

9. International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in the relevant discipline or profession as evidenced through a substantial volume and consistent and continued output of high-quality refereed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarship and a strong research funding record nationally and internationally, as appropriate to the discipline;
10. Evidence of an international reputation and peer recognition in the applicant’s discipline through research and scholarly activity within the discipline, including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate for the discipline.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

11. Evidence of significant participation in relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate.

Desirable Criteria

12. Ability to participate in, and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
13. Proven administrative experience and evidence of holding significant positions of responsibility.

Other

Essential Criteria

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

Desirable Criteria

17. Recognition for teaching excellence (e.g., awards, fellowships, peer-reviewed teaching outputs);
18. Experience leading programme accreditation or quality-assurance processes;
19. Ability to attract and support international students and partnerships;
20. Ability to contribute to strategic planning, research strategy, or institutional development;
21. Experience with knowledge translation, implementation science, or impact evaluation;
22. Established relationships with public health agencies, NGOs, government bodies, or international organisations (e.g., WHO, UN);
23. Experience providing expert advisory roles, media commentary, or public engagement.

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

Appointment may be made on the Professor Salary Scale: €144,298 - €182,426 (Scale B) / €137,083 - €176,166 (Scale A).

Applications for this post

How to apply

Perrett Laver are supporting UCC in this appointment and to make a full application for this role please visit the following link Perrett Laver - Application Portal.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Ella Arensman, email: ella.arensman@ucc.ie

Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to Erik Hafner (Email: Erik.Hafner@perrettlaver.com), quoting the job title.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 21 April 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.