Professor of Private Law

Overview

Permanent Whole-time Post

UCC wishes to appoint a Professor (Scale 2) of Private Law, ideally with a focus on the Law of Obligations (either Contract Law or Tort Law or both). The Professor (Scale 2) appointment is part of a strategic initiative to continue the development of UCC as a very significant centre of Private Law scholarship building on the existing strength in the School. The Professor (Scale 2) appointment is designed to facilitate disciplinary and interdisciplinary research in key areas of Private Law, ideally in the Law of Obligations, promote high quality research partnerships, secure prestigious research grants and attract excellent PhD students.
 
The Professor (Scale 2) will be required to provide research leadership in the area of  Private Law including securing ERC funding, engage as appropriate with the UCC Futures programme, and, under the direction of the Dean of the School of Law, contribute to all School activities including teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level as appropriate.
 
Reporting to the Dean of the School of Law, the postholder must demonstrate research leadership, a very significant record of research output and excellence in teaching in an area of Private Law. Applicants with expertise in Private Law and particularly in Contract or Tort Law or both are welcome.

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 Mark Poustie, Dean of the School of Law, Tel: +353 (0)21 4902531.

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures.

What is UCC Futures – Collective Social Futures

UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures is re-imagining and addressing the complex and intertwined societal, environmental and political challenges faced across the world. These include social and gender-based inequalities, geopolitical shifts, migration, health and climate change and the urgent need to foster a more caring and liveable world for all. The imperative to develop more collective and social visions of the future is more pressing than ever. By driving innovative, critical, theoretical, participatory and community-engaged research, UCC Futures – Collective Social Futures will foster excellence in social research to understand, re-envision and enact our collective social futures.

Duties of the post

UCC wishes to appoint a Professor (Scale 2) of Private Law, ideally with a focus on the Law of Obligations (either Contract Law or Tort Law or both). Reporting to the Dean of the School of Law, the postholder must demonstrate research leadership at both national and international level, an outstanding record of research output and securing research funding in Private Law and excellence in teaching in Contract Law or Tort Law or both of those fields.

In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research-led institution, the duties of all academic staff include research, teaching and contributions to the university, the discipline and the community. The professor will undertake research leadership activities commensurate with the appointment, teach and examine, undertake administrative duties and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Dean of the School of Law.

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 take precedence. 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 | Research | Teaching & Examining | Contributions

Leadership

1. Demonstrate academic leadership in the development of Private Law (ideally Law of Obligations) through research, advanced teaching and scholarship, and in any other appropriate manner;
2. Undertake both formal and informal leadership roles within the School, College and University as appropriate including potentially the role of Dean of the School of Law;
3. Mentor, support and advise junior staff as appropriate and assist in their academic career development in teaching and research and foster the research and scholarship of other individuals and groups within their academic unit and the University.

Research

4. Demonstrate research leadership, engage in productive research and scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge within the field of Private Law (ideally Law of Obligations) and publish their research in appropriate internationally recognized peer- reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
5. Undertake substantial initiatives in generating significant research income and assist in the co-ordination of research funding activities within the School, as appropriate;
6. Attract and supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
7. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the discipline.

Teaching & Examining

8. Promote excellence in teaching and learning and encourage the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Law and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
9. Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the Law of Obligations and other fields as appropriate and, where appropriate, adult and continuing education courses and make a distinguished personal contribution to teaching at all levels but particularly at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
10. Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
11. Contribute to, and take a leadership role where appropriate in the regular evaluation of curricula, and the development of new curricular initiatives;
12. Perform a significant role in the development of postgraduate studies in the School;
13. Lead in the maintenance of academic standards and in the development of the curriculum within his/her 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.

Contributions

14. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
15. Serve if required as head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes and management requirements;
16. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
17. Contribute to the administrative duties of the School taking on leading roles as appropriate to a professorial appointment, and to act as a member of such committees as may be required within the university;
18. Fulfil other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the Dean;
19. Carry out other duties as 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 they 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.

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.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

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

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

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

Leadership

Essential Criteria

2. The ability to provide vision and leadership in the development of Private Law within the strategic frameworks of the School, the College of Business and Law and the University;
3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with leading and supporting a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment.

Research

Essential Criteria

4. International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in a field of Private Law as evidenced through an outstanding contribution to its advancement through research outputs including peer reviewed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarship and a significant research funding record, including ERC funding or at least the capability to secure ERC funding, as appropriate to the discipline;
5. A record of successful leadership and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the field of Private Law, including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate for the discipline. 

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

6. Evidence of significant achievement in and commitment to excellence in research-led teaching and learning in Private Law, at undergraduate and postgraduate level, an ability to teach either Contract Law or Tort Law or both, and a willingness to both contribute to and lead in the development of the teaching programmes offered by the academic unit;
7. Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation;
8. The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and where the opportunity has existed, to develop and lead postgraduate supervision to doctorate level.

Desirable Criteria

9. A familiarity with and willingness to use modern teaching technologies. 

Contributions

Essential Criteria

10. Proven senior administrative experience and the capacity and willingness to act as head of an academic unit;
11. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline;
12. Ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large including significant contribution to public and law and policy debates.

Desirable Criteria

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

Other

Essential Criteria

14. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with working alongside and leading a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
15. Evidence of ability to work flexibly and on own initiative;
16. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students.

A requirement of appointment will be demonstrable experience of leadership in advancing equality and a strong commitment to the successful delivery of initiatives which drive improvements in equality, diversity and inclusion in their widest sense.

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 - Collective Social Futures 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 - Collective Social Futures 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

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 Mark Poustie, Dean of the School of Law, Tel: +353 (0)21 4902531.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard 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.