Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing

Overview

Permanent Whole Time Post

The School of English and Digital Humanities at UCC wishes to appoint an experienced writer and academic to the role of Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. We welcome applications from published writers in any genre with extensive experience of teaching and administration at university level.

Reporting to the Head of School, the Senior Lecturer will take on a leadership role in relation to UCC’s MA in Creative Writing, including academic direction and student recruitment. As well as overseeing the coordination and delivery of the MA in Creative Writing the successful candidate will have a leadership role in relation to managing and developing Creative Writing offerings at undergraduate level along with contributing to teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The supervision of final year undergraduate dissertations, master's degree theses, and the supervision of doctoral theses in the area of Creative Writing are essential for this post. Applicants can learn more about the School’s programmes at the school website.
 
Applicants must have a distinguished record of publication in any genre of creative writing and substantial experience of teaching creative writing at third level. Experience of coordinating and developing courses and programmes is also desirable. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the School’s research profile by their writing, to show initiative and commitment to developing the discipline, to participate in the normal administrative work of the School and to contribute to the university and the community.  
 
The School of English and Digital Humanities is a vibrant centre of teaching and research across a broad range of areas, genres and methods, from the earliest periods to the present day, with a strong commitment to the field of creative writing.

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 Head of School Dr Orla Murphy. For further information on the School, please visit the school website.

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 appointed 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 English and Digital Humanities.

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 English & Digital Humanities 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 their 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 creative writing and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, participate in research activities and publish the research in appropriate books, peer-reviewed publications, or other venues appropriate to the discipline;
8. Supervise postgraduate research students (particularly PhD students);
9. Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
10. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the research discipline.

Contributions

11. Participate fully in 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.

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 meet the following essential criteria:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate in Creative Writing or a cognate area.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

2. Relevant teaching experience;
3. An ability to contribute across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
4. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in creative teaching;
5. Evidence of an ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment;
6. Experience of research supervision (particularly PhD students).

Desirable Criteria

7. Evidence of an understanding of and willingness to use modern teaching technologies and potential for innovative teaching and curriculum development.

Research

Essential Criteria

8. A record of distinguished publications in any genre;
9. Evidence of appropriate creative achievement as indicated by published work and other outputs appropriate to the discipline;
10. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

11. Potential to attract funding through competitive research grants or other sources as relevant.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

12. Significant administrative experience and evidence of proven ability to contribute to academic administration;
13. Experience in relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate.

Desirable Criteria

14. The potential to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.

Other

Essential Criteria

15. Good communication and interpersonal skills;
16. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.

Desirable Criteria

17. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
18. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
19. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline.

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: €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 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
• Grants and Funding
• Teaching Interests and Abilities
• Teaching Objectives and Methods

Who to contact

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Head of School Dr Orla Murphy. For further information on the School, please visit the school website.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Local Time) on Tuesday, 27 May 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.