Senior Lecturer in Social Work

Overview

Fixed Term Whole-time Post (anticipated duration 5 years)

UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Senior Lecturer in Social Work, reporting to the Head of the School of Applied Social Studies.

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 Eleanor Bantry White.

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

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 Applied Social Studies.

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.

In the appointment process for all leadership positions (including Head of School ), a requirement of appointment will be demonstrable experience of leadership in advancing gender equality. This will be included as a specific criterion in role descriptions.

Research | Teaching & Examining | Contributions

Research

1. 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;
2. Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
3. Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
4. Undertake other scholarly activities including engaged research relevant to social work  and transdisciplinary research.

Teaching & Examining

5. Demonstrate excellence in research-led teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies in line with the principles of universal design for learning within the School of Applied Social Studies and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
6. Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and, where appropriate, adult and continuing education and continuing professional development courses;
7. Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
8. 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;
9. Perform an active role in the maintenance of academic standards in the development of the curriculum within their discipline;
10. Contribute to the development of postgraduate studies at UCC and take a leadership role in the development of high-quality hybrid and online programmes and modules including work-integrated learning;
11. Ensure alignment of the programme curriculum and assessment with university and external regulatory requirements and take a leadership role in monitoring of programme approvals by external regulatory bodies

• 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

12. Contribute to the administrative duties of the school and the academic life of the University;
13. Participate as a member of such committees as may be required within the academic unit and by the University;
14. Mentor and advise newly appointed and junior academic staff;
15. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies where appropriate;
16. Serve if required as Head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes or management requirements;
17. Contribute to civic and community engagement relevant to the discipline and the research priorities of the School and university;
18. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
19. Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the Head of School;
20. Engage with external stakeholders of social work education and research including community organisations, regulatory bodies and employers.

• 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.

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.

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 | Research | Teaching and Examining | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate and a record of research and publication in the relevant discipline;
2. A professional qualification in social work which is recognised by CORU or be eligible to apply to CORU for registration as a social worker.

Research

Essential Criteria

3. A record of successful achievement and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the discipline;
4. Evidence of consistent and continuing output of research in peer reviewed publications or equivalent outputs appropriate to the discipline;
5. Evidence of active engagement in research and scholarly activities including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing research grant applications as appropriate for the discipline;
6. Experience of leadership or leadership potential in research, in addition to research grant applications, success in achieving competitive research grants or other sources of funding and the ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

7. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research-led teaching;
8. Significant experience in lecturing, examining and supporting students across a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes both within and outside the area of research specialisation;
9. The ability to teach and examine, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and where the opportunity has existed, to undertake postgraduate supervision to doctoral level;
10. Evidence of a contribution to access, diversity, equality and inclusion in education and engagement with teaching and learning methodologies to support diverse cohorts of learners for example, students entering through recognition of prior learning;     
11. Evidence of commitment to innovative methodologies, and digital and online teaching/learning technologies and environments;
12. Evidence of maintaining alignment of curriculum and assessment to the requirements of external regulatory bodies.

Desirable Criteria

13. Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and examining, curriculum design, review and development in both campus-based and work-based/placement settings.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

14. Proven leadership and administrative experience or evidence of ability to undertake academic administrative responsibility including postgraduate programme direction within the School at a high level;
15. An ability and willingness to support mentor and advise junior staff;
16. Strong evidence of positive contribution to fostering inclusivity, equality and diversity.

Desirable Criteria

17. A familiarity with, and willingness to participate in, relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate;
18. The ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
19. Evidence of positive contribution to civic and community engagement.

Other

Essential Criteria

20. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with working alongside and leading a team of committed academic, research, and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
21. Evidence of leading and enabling development of educational, research, and/or engagement initiatives in social work including collaborative engagement with relevant external bodies;
22. Strong track record of student-centred learning, teaching and a commitment to enhancing the student experience particularly those from non-traditional backgrounds;
23. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
24. Evidence of successful delivery in leadership roles.

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 Senor Lecturer Salary Scale: €83,079 - €117,715 (Scale B) / €80,231 - €111,829 (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 - 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 Eleanor Bantry White.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 22 April 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.