Overview

Permanent Whole Time Post

University College Cork wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy. Reporting to the Head of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, the successful candidate will provide academic leadership in teaching, research and professional engagement across Occupational Therapy. They will contribute strategically to the continued development of the Department through excellence in education, research, postgraduate supervision, interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with healthcare providers, policymakers and professional bodies.

The successful candidate will have an established international research profile, an excellent record of publication and success in attracting competitive research funding. They will demonstrate excellence in university teaching and curriculum leadership, have experience supervising postgraduate research students, and contribute to the University's strategic priorities through interdisciplinary collaboration and research aligned with the ambitions of UCC Futures.

We welcome applications from candidates with expertise across the breadth of Occupational Therapy, Occupational Science and related disciplines. Applicants whose research and teaching strengthen the Department's existing strengths and contribute to future strategic priorities are particularly encouraged to apply.

This appointment offers an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and research-intensive Department with a strong commitment to excellence in occupational therapy education, impactful research and meaningful engagement with healthcare services and communities nationally and internationally.

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 Margaret McGrath (Email: margaretmcgrath@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.

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.

Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions

Teaching and Examining

• Demonstrate excellence in research-led teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Clinical Therapies 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;
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
• Contribute to and take a leadership role, where appropriate, in the regular evaluation of curricula with reference to content, delivery and assessment and the development of new curricular initiatives;
• Perform an active role in the maintenance of academic standards in the development of the curriculum within their discipline;
• Contribute to the development of postgraduate studies at UCC

• 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 productive research and scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, participate in research activities and publish the research in appropriate; peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
• Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
• Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
• Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the discipline.

Contributions

• Contribute to the administrative duties of the discipline/department/school and the academic life of the University;
• Participate as a member of such committees as may be required within the academic unit and by the University;
• Mentor and advise newly appointed and junior academic staff;
• Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies where appropriate;
• Serve if required as head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes or management requirements;
• Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
• Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of discipline/department/school

• 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 | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A professional qualification in Occupational Therapy;
2. Current CORU registration, or eligibility for CORU registration;
3. A PhD in Occupational Therapy, Occupational Science or a closely related discipline;
4. Significant postdoctoral academic experience appropriate to appointment at Senior Lecturer level.

Desirable Criteria

5. A postgraduate qualification in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education;
6. Fellowship of Advance HE (or equivalent recognition of teaching excellence).

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

7. Demonstrated excellence in university teaching;
8. Evidence of leadership in curriculum development and programme enhancement;
9. Extensive experience supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research;
10. Evidence of innovative approaches to teaching and assessment;
11. Ability to teach across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate Occupational Therapy programmes.

Desirable Criteria

12. Experience leading programme accreditation or quality enhancement processes;
13. Experience fostering interprofessional education and collaborative learning;
14. Experience mentoring academic colleagues.

Research

Essential Criteria

15. An internationally recognised programme of research;
16. Sustained record of publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals;
17. Success in attracting competitive research funding;
18. Successful supervision of postgraduate research students, including PhD candidates;
19. Evidence of research leadership and collaboration

Desirable Criteria

20. Leadership of major interdisciplinary or international research programmes;
21. Evidence of research translation that has influenced policy, practice or service development;
22. Research aligned with one or more UCC Futures thematic areas.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

23. Demonstrated academic leadership and administrative experience;
24. Experience contributing to the strategic development of academic programmes;
25. Evidence of engagement with professional and regulatory bodies relevant to Occupational Therapy;
26. Ability to contribute to the wider intellectual life of the University.

Desirable Criteria

27. Leadership roles within national or international professional organisations;
28. Editorial or peer-review leadership within the discipline.

Other

Essential Criteria

29. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
30. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and lead academic teams;
31. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion;
32. An understanding of, and commitment to, supporting student success and wellbeing;
33. Commitment to the continued advancement of Occupational Therapy education, research and professional practice.

Desirable Criteria

34. Evidence of influencing health policy, professional practice or service innovation;
35. Experience building strategic partnerships across academia, healthcare and the wider community.

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 - Future Medicines 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 - Future Medicines initiative.

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

• Publications,
• Research Interests,
• Grants and Funding,
• Teaching Interests and Abilities,
• Teaching Objectives and Methods.  

Who to contact

We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position. 

• Contact: Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Margaret McGrath (Email: margaretmcgrath@ucc.ie).

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 03 November 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.