Senior Lecturer in Midwifery

Overview

Permanent Whole-Time Post

UCC wishes to appoint a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery. The appointees will be expected to contribute to teaching and learning, assessment and programme development and administration at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as engage in high quality research relevant to midwifery.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery was established in 1994 and since then a wide range of programmes have been developed at both undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels. In addition, the School has a growing suite of Continuing Professional Development modules supporting life-long learning. Currently the School has over 1,300 students and is one of the largest in the University; in addition, the School also has a growing body of international students.

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.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

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

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

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 Nursing & Midwifery.

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

1. Demonstrate excellence in research-led teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Nursing and Midwifery and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
2. Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and, where, appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
3. Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
4. 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;
5. Perform an active role in the maintenance of academic standards in the development of the curriculum within his/her discipline;
6. 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

7. 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;
8. Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
9. Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
10. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the discipline.

Contributions

11. Contribute to the administrative duties of the discipline/department/school and the academic life of the University;
12. Participate as a member of such committees as may be required within the academic unit and by the University;
13. Mentor and advise newly appointed and junior academic staff;
14. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies where appropriate;
15. Serve if required as head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes or management requirements;
16. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
17. 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 meet the following essential criteria:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. Have a doctorate degree in midwifery or equivalent area or be undertaking on a doctorate;
2. A professional qualification in midwifery;
3. Hold registration (or be eligible to register) as a midwife with the Nursing & Midwifery Board Ireland;
4. Evidence of previous/current employment in a direct-facing clinical role;
5. Evidence of having worked as midwife with an identified specialty;
6. Qualification in teaching and learning.

Desirable Criteria

7. A qualification in leadership and/or management.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

8. Recent relevant teaching experience in Midwifery within a higher education institute;
9. Recent relevant teaching and learning experience in the design, planning, delivery and evaluation of curriculum;
10. An ability to contribute across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside specialty;
11. An ability to develop and produce evidence to demonstrate research-led teaching;
12. Evidence demonstrating ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment;
13. Evidence of an understanding and adaptation of digital technology and its potential for innovative teaching and curriculum development including online modules and programmes.

Research

Essential Criteria

14. Evidence of research publications and other research outputs appropriate to the discipline;
15. Evidence of a research strategy with a plan to apply for funding through competitive research grants or other sources as relevant relative to stage of career;
16. Evidence of other relevant scholarly activity;
17. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline;
18. Evidence of ability and willingness to develop collaborative research with Health Service Providers.

Desirable Criteria

19. Experience of research supervision at Bachelor, Master level [Essential] and Doctoral Level [Desirable].

Contributions

Essential Criteria

20. Administrative experience or evidence of ability to contribute to academic administration;
21. Evidence of membership and activity in academic or professional associations/bodies as appropriate;
22. The potential to actively participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
23. The potential to take a leadership role in the planning and delivery of simulation and clinical skills-based teaching and learning programmes.

Other

Essential Criteria

24. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
25. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
26. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
27. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
28. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline;
29. Willingness to travel to clinical sites external to UCC to link with students and the multidisciplinary team.

Note: As the university continues to expand and evolve, it is likely that flexibility in regard to the allocation of specific duties will be necessary. Accordingly, the list of duties specified above is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive; duties may be added or withdrawn but any such alteration will take place after consultation with the appointee.

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 Senior Lecturer Salary Scale: €81,450 - €115,407 (Scale B) / €78,658 - €109,637 (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 - 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 - Children 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 Patricia Leahy-Warren, Tel: 021-4901462/1553

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Local Time) on Tuesday, 25 March 2025. 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.