Overview

Permanent Whole Time Post

UCC wishes to appoint a highly experienced academic and world-leading researcher to the position of full-time Professor (Scale 2) of French in a flourishing Department of French and School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

The successful candidate will be a highly experienced academic in the field of French studies with an outstanding record in teaching, scholarship and research. We are looking for a world-leading scholar who can provide academic and research leadership both within the Department and the School, and who will also participate actively in UCC Futures at College and University levels. Candidates who provide evidence of teaching, scholarly and research excellence in any area of French studies will be considered. The appointed candidate will be expected to foster collaboration in the delivery of our wide range of high-demand undergraduate programmes, spanning Arts, Business and Law. The appointee will also contribute to and further develop our range of successful Masters programmes, including the MA in Translation Studies, the MA in Applied Linguistics and the new MA in Migration, Mobility and Culture. Upon appointment, the Professor of French will in addition be expected actively to support PhD and Postdoctoral programmes within the Department and the School, and to promote and advance the culture of academic innovation for which the Department is known.

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.

We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position. Informal enquiries about this post can be made in confidence to: Dr Silvia Ross, Head of School.

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Future Humanities.

What is UCC Futures – Future Humanities?

The Future Humanities Institute (FHI) is the new interdisciplinary research institute for the humanities in UCC and represents one of the constituent areas of the UCC Futures initiative. The FHI seeks to promote, build and sustain research excellence in the arts and humanities by forging interdisciplinary relationships across the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, the wider University and beyond. As the home of artistic research, critical methodologies and historical and cultural analysis, the Future Humanities Institute will drive research on the critical societal challenges that face Ireland, humanity and the planet in the 21st century.

The Institute brings together arts and humanities scholars from a broad range of disciplines to pursue transdisciplinary research. While involving researchers, schools and departments and centres from across all four Colleges, from a governance and resource perspective the FHI is aligned with the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.

The Future Humanities Institute is the home of the Radical Humanities Laboratory (RHL), six College-wide research clusters, and will also serve as the umbrella institute for a number of affiliated research centres and institutes. Through the broad spectrum of activities pursued by the various components of the Institute, it will strengthen collaborative humanities research culture building on the dynamic and bottom-up research capacity of CACSSS in tandem with the strategic goals and expertise in the Radical Humanities Laboratory.

The FHI will also be the home of interdisciplinary humanities led projects funded through national and international sources.

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 Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

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 will 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.

Leadership | Research | Teaching & Examining | Contributions

Leadership

1. Demonstrate clear vision and strategy to support the development of French through teaching, research and scholarship;
2. Mentor, support and advise staff as appropriate and assist in their academic career development in teaching and research.
3. Demonstrate experience of leadership in advancing gender equality.

Research

4. Engage in high quality and productive research and scholarship of international standing and contribute to the advancement of knowledge within their discipline and publish their research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
5. Carry out and lead as appropriate, initiatives in generating research income and assist in the co-ordination of research funding activities within the department of French, as appropriate to the discipline, and within the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures;
6. Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
7. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant both to the discipline and the senior level of the post.

Teaching & Examining

8. Promote excellence in teaching and learning and support in both the development and the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
9. Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and where appropriate, adult and continuing education courses and make a significant contribution to teaching at all 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 at UCC;
13. Play a significant role in the maintenance of academic standards and in the development of the curriculum within his/her subject areas

• to give the students attending their ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as they may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as they see fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
• to give instruction to their students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge;
• to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which they are examiner.

Contributions

14. Enhance the promotion of 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 French, subject to relevant University regulations, statutes and management requirements;
16. Actively seek to develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
17. Play a significant role in the administrative duties of the discipline/department/school and 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 Head of School.
19. Carry out other duties which may arise as identified in the University statutes.

• to carry out administrative and other appropriate duties lawfully allocated to them within their School  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.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

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

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A PhD or equivalent in French studies or relevant field;
2. Native or near-native competence in French and English.

Leadership

Essential Criteria

3. The ability to contribute substantially to the development of French within the strategic frameworks of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences and the University;
4. Evidence of successful leadership in both teaching and research (essential);
5. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with playing a significant role within a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment (essential);
6. Evidence of potential to lead competitive research funding applications.

Desirable Criteria

7. Evidence of unit or team leadership with clear outcomes.

Research

Essential Criteria

8. International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in French studies as evidenced through a substantial volume and consistent and continued output of high-quality refereed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarshipand a strong research funding record, as appropriate to the discipline;
9. Evidence of an international reputation and peer recognition in French studies through research and scholarly activity within the discipline, including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

10. Evidence of research that has a transdisciplinary reach.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

11. Evidence of high-quality achievement in and commitment to excellence in research-led teaching and learning in French studies at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a willingness to contribute to and lead in the development of the teaching programmes offered by the Department of French;
12. Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation;
13. The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and to develop and lead postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
14. A familiarity with, and willingness to use modern teaching technologies.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

15. Proven administrative experience and evidence of holding significant positions of responsibility – the successful candidate will be expected to assume the role of Head of French following appointment;
16. Ability to participate in, and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.

Desirable Criteria

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

Other

Essential Criteria

18. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline of French studies;
19. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
20. Evidence of an ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.

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.

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 - Future Humanities 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 - Future Humanities 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.

We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position. Informal enquiries about this post can be made in confidence to: Dr Silvia Ross, Head of School.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 13 February 2024. 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.