Overview

Lecturer x 2 in Planning, Fixed Term Whole Time Posts (duration 2 years)

UCC wishes to appoint two professionally qualified planners to the role of Lecturer in Planning, reporting to the Head of Department, to complement and expand the Department’s existing research and teaching interests in this area. The successful candidate(s) for this lectureship will teach in our flagship programme, the Masters of Planning and Sustainable Development (MPlan), as well as mentor and supervise postgraduate students. The successful candidate(s) will also perform core administrative duties within the Department.
 
Applications are invited from candidates with a track record in professional planning practice and / or a background in scholarly, research-based work in the planning discipline will be welcome to apply. In addition, candidates with experience in inclusive approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in Planning are encouraged. A relevant masters and / or doctorate degree is required along with corporate membership of the Irish Planning Institute (MIPI) or chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), or an equivalent level of membership of an internationally recognised professional planning institute.

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 Dr. Dan McCarthy, Email: danmccarthy@ucc.ie

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Sustainability Institute

What is UCC Futures – Sustainability Institute

UCC Futures Sustainability Institute builds on strong foundations of research excellence in sustainability coupled with significant societal impact. The University has invested significantly in sustainability and environmental research over the last two decades including the establishment of the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) in 2000. UCC is currently recognised as a global leader in sustainability research. Three of UCC’s academic leaders are the highest cited globally in offshore wind energy, electro-fuels and energy modelling. In addition, UCC provide leadership within the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programmes on energy systems modelling and biogas and in European research projects on offshore renewable energy.

The AACSB accredited Cork University Business School, established in 2015, has a mission ‘to shape leaders for a sustainable future’ and the investment in inter-disciplinary research will see advances in sustainable business across all disciplines. UCC’s QS 100 Ranked Law School has a track record of research excellence and engagement in its ERI-affiliated Centre for Law and the Environment, and in wider areas of corporate and social governance.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Government of Ireland has identified a shortage in the number of planning graduates being produced to meet the changing needs of the profession and the planning system in this country. In line with this, the UCC Department of Planning now wishes to appoint two professionally qualified planners to join its core team and help to consolidate / expand its teaching, research and outreach activities. The appointees will have key roles in delivering the M.Plan (along with the department’s other teaching functions), as well as contributing to the research profile of the discipline, and in engaging with the wider profession, with communities and with other stakeholders.

The department is especially interested in candidates with a wide generalist experience in planning practice, planning research and / or planning education.  Successful candidate(s) should demonstrate a flexible capacity to take on any teaching tasks required to deliver the M.Plan (including theory-based, practice-based and skills-based planning teaching) and other relevant modules in the calendar’.

A masters or doctorate degree is required along with a capacity for high quality teaching within the planning discipline as well as a capacity for securing research and funding opportunities.  At the time of their appointment successful candidates must be corporate members of the Irish Planning Institute (MIPI) or Chartered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), or an equivalent class of membership of an internationally recognised professional planning institute.

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 Department of Planning.

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

• Contribute to and assist in the delivery of research led teaching, assessment and examining on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and where appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
• Supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;
• Undertake the development and regular evaluation of modules with reference to content, delivery and assessment;
• Participate in the development of new curricular initiatives;
• Demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of the Human Environment and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
• Contribute towards the maintenance of academic standards within their discipline

• 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 postgraduate research students (particularly PhD students);
• Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
• Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the research discipline.

Contributions

• Participate in the recruitment of students to the M.Plan nationally and internationally and to the promotion of the Department as widely as possible;
• Contribute to securing and maintaining the professional accreditation of the M.Plan by the IPI and RTPI and other professional bodies where required;
• Participate in the administrative activities of the department/school and the academic life of the College and University;
• Act as a member of such committees as may be required by the University;
• Develop professional education and practice links with planning practitioners, professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
• 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 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:

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

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate or a masters degree in a relevant subject along with a willingness to undertake doctoral studies in the discipline on appointment;
2. Corporate membership (MIPI) of the Irish Planning Institute and/or chartered membership (MRTPI) of the Royal Town Planning Institute and/or a matching level of membership of an equivalent international professional planning institute. Such membership(s) shall have been acquired on or before the date of signing the contract of appointment.

Experience

3. A strong portfolio of post-qualifying professional experience in the field of planning or a well-developed post-qualifying track record in planning research and teaching;
4. A minimum of three years post-qualifying experience in a relevant planning body, a public body or a private sector planning practice, a research institution or an academic department;
5. A range of skills and competencies within the field that would complement the overall profile of the core team within the department and one or more of the following:

• Experience of planning practice within the public, private of non-governmental sectors;
• Experience in planning research and publishing;
• Specialist experience in one or more aspects of planning;
• International planning experience.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

6. Relevant teaching experience or evidence of teaching potential;
7. An ability to contribute across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
8. A flexible capacity to take on any teaching tasks required to deliver the M.Plan (including theory-based, practice-based and skills-based planning subjects as required as required);
9. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research led teaching;
10. Evidence of an understanding of and willingness to use modern teaching technologies and potential for innovative teaching and curriculum development;
11. Evidence of an ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment.

Desirable Criteria

12. Experience of examining and/or carrying out performance reviews to a high standard of professionalism and rigour.

Research

Essential Criteria

13. A demonstrable interest in applied and scholarly research in planning;
14. Potential to attract funding through competitive research grants or other sources as relevant;
15. Experience of or potential for research supervision (particularly PhD students);
16. Evidence of other relevant scholarly activity;
17. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

18. Evidence of appropriate research achievement as indicated by published work and other research outputs appropriate to the discipline.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

19. Administrative experience or evidence of ability to contribute to academic administration;
20. Experience in or potential to participate in relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate;
21. The potential to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.

Other

Essential Criteria

22. Good communication and interpersonal skills;
23. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
24. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
25. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
26. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

27. An enthusiasm for breaking new ground in planning education and research in Ireland;
28. A capacity for innovation in the planning field.

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

Appointments may be made on the Lecturer Salary Scale:
 
1x Above the Bar: €79,976 - €103,575 (Scale B) / €79,091 - €98,394 (Scale A). 
1x Below the Bar: €42,602 - €73,177 (Scale B) / €44,669 - €69,631 (Scale A).

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 - Sustainability 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 - Sustainability 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 Dr. Dan McCarthy, Email: danmccarthy@ucc.ie 

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.

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.