Overview

Fixed Term Whole Time Post (2 Years)

UCC wishes to appoint an academic the role of Lecturer in Urban Design Futures. Reporting to the Programme Directors in UCC Architecture and Geography and Course collaborators internationally, this Lectureship is focused on the coordination and delivery of the RePIC Master Course. It is anticipated that the post holder would be aware of engaged research and evidence-based practices including City Labs – and capable of overseeing and delivering a curriculum that includes structured project collaboration, digital storytelling techniques, and interdisciplinary design studios.

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 may be made to the RePIC Programme Directors in UCC: Dr Jason O’Shaughnessy, Director (Interim) Architecture: j.oshaughnessy@ucc.ie or Dr Denis Linehan, Head of Geography: d.linehan@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

Working closely with the Programme Directors in UCC Architecture and Geography and Course collaborators internationally, this Lectureship is focussed on the coordination and delivery of the RePIC Master Course. It is anticipated that the post holder would be aware of engaged research and evidence-based practices including City Labs – and capable of overseeing and delivering a curriculum that includes structured project collaboration, digital storytelling techniques, and interdisciplinary design studios.

Foremost, the successful applicant is expected to create a stimulating learning environment that embraces a range of teaching styles and different theoretical and methodological approaches that create visionary possibilities for the transformations of post-industrial cities around new social, ecological, environmental, economic, and cultural vectors. Through the delivery of Studio, Lecture, Lab, and Field based teaching, they will facilitate students in gaining intellectual, practical and transferable skills - such as intercultural and interdisciplinary communication.

They will also lead UCC’s Architecture and Geography disciplinary contributions around the development of scholarly and funded research activities in UNIC’s Centre for City Futures, UNIC CityLabs, and other UNIC related projects. Given the focus of the Programme, the successful applicant is expected to be adopt engaged research methods and be capable of interacting with a range of stakeholders in public private- academic-societal partnerships where they would guide the collective exchange of knowledge between these major actors. Above all, this Lectureship will foster intermodal and interdisciplinary thinking around the development of sustainable urban futures.

In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as 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 Programme Directors.

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 and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Engineering & Architecture and within other academic units in the University related to UNIC’s RePIC, as appropriate;
• Teach and examine on courses at postgraduate level on UNIC-related programmes;
• Supervise research projects for 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 in UNIC;
• Demonstrate strong capacities in developing and supporting Placement opportunities with urban stakeholders relevant to the RePIC Programme;
• Demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Engineering & Architecture and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
• Contribute towards the maintenance of academic standards within the Programme

• 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 RePIC, UNIC CityLabs and other UNIC Courses and enterprises;
• Supervise students undertaking research projects;
• Undertake initiatives in generating research proposals and funded research as appropriate and in collaboration with local, national, and international Partners;
• Engage in other scholarly activities – specifically UNIC related around Centre for City Futures.

Contributions

• Act as the lead point of contact in UCC for the RePIC Marketing Team in Koç University and the Lead Academic Coordinators in Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB, Germany);
• Participate in the administrative activities of the department/school/ UNIC alliance and the academic life of the College and University;
• Act as a member of such committees as may be required by the University – and relating to the UNIC Programmes such as attendance at international Partner events, and local community organisations and UCC’s wider third mission activities;
• Develop links with local community organisations, professional bodies, and external agencies, where appropriate;
• Promote UNIC Programmes 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

• 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 | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A recognised Degree and Qualification in Architecture or cognate discipline (such as Urbanism, Urban Design etc.);
2. A relevant Post-Graduate Qualification (Master or Doctorate).

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

3. Suitable experience of teaching full time on a Multidisciplinary Programme within a Higher Education institution and equivalent Professional experience;
4. An ability to contribute across a range of postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of architecture and urbanism;
5. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research-led teaching;
6. Evidence of an understanding of and willingness to use modern teaching technologies and potential for innovative teaching and curriculum development;
7. Evidence of an ability to inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment;
8. Evidence of an ability to design and deliver Living Labs based on principles of co-design, participatory and immersive teaching and action-based learning frameworks.

Research

Essential Criteria

9. Evidence of relevant scholarly activity around multidisciplinary and experimental urban research practices and including expertise around participatory design;
10. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

11. Evidence of appropriate research achievement as indicated by research outputs around community-facing research;
12. Potential to attract funding through competitive research grants and other sources as relevant;
13. Experience of or potential for research supervision (particularly PhD students);
14. Evidence of achievement through exercising leadership;
15. Evidence of research experience undertaking community-facing and participatory research;
16. Awareness of the needs to achieve equity in society through equity in treatment of colleagues regardless of race, sexual orientation or religion.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

17. Administrative experience or evidence of ability to contribute to academic or research administration working with multiple and international partners;
18. The ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
19. Experience of responsibility for coordinating other academic or research staff and managing the delivery and administration of academic modules or research programmes.

Desirable Criteria

20. Evidence of participation in relevant academic and professional associations/ bodies as appropriate;
21. An ability and willingness to support, mentor, and advise junior staff.

Other

Essential Criteria

22. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with working alongside a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in an international and collaborative environment;
23. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
24. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
25. A commitment to the long term development of the discipline;
26. Evidence of leadership potential.

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 Lecturer (Below the Bar) Salary Scale: €38,662 - €67,426 (Scale B) / €40,689 - €64,159 (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 may be made to the RePIC Programme Directors in UCC.

Dr Jason O’Shaughnessy, Director (Interim) Architecture: j.oshaughnessy@ucc.ie or Dr Denis Linehan, Head of Geography: d.linehan@ucc.ie

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 05 August 2025.

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.