Overview

Senior Lecturer in Law (Privacy & Data Protection Law), School of Law

Permanent Whole Time Post

UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Senior Lecturer in Law in the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law to contribute to the development of the School’s research, programmes and engagement ambitions. Knowledge of Intellectual Property Law, while not essential, would be an advantage. The School is currently ranked 94th in the world (QS 2025 Subject Rankings). The postholder will be expected to be research active, building on existing areas of research strength in the School. They will also be expected to make a full contribution to the School’s programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level as appropriate. The postholder will report to the Dean of the School of Law. 

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 Conor O’Mahony, Dean of Law, email: conor.omahony@ucc.ie

For further information on the School of Law, visit the school website.

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics.

What is UCC Futures – Artificial Intelligence & Data Anlaytics

The staggering expansion and influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics in our daily lives is a defining feature of the 21st century. With a complementary relationship, AI and Data Analytics are rapidly becoming two of the most important technologies in the world today. Their impact is transformational, disrupting society and industry alike. Over the last decade alone, the availability of vast amounts of digital data, the availability of powerful computing architectures, and advances in AI techniques such as machine learning have led to major advances across multiple sectors. There have been significant AI-enabled and data driven developments in smart manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, home/service robots, education, cybersecurity, to name but a few.

Fundamental scientific advances in automated reasoning, Boolean satisfiability, and complex problem solving, have brought within reach a variety of intractable AI tasks that arise in scheduling, diagnosis, model-based reasoning, security, verification, and planning. Building on the legacy of Professor George Boole at University College Cork, UCC Futures – AI & Data Analytics promotes interdisciplinary collaboration at the cutting edge of AI and Data Analytics.

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 Law.

The School of Law offers several undergraduate modules in the field of Privacy, Data Protection and Intellectual Property Law as well as an LLM in Law, Technology and Innovation. Furthermore, the School of Law has a strategic partnership with Matheson focussed on the area of Law, Innovation and Technology.

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

• Demonstrate excellence in research-led teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Law and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
• Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and, where, appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
• 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;
• Perform an active role in the maintenance of academic standards in the development of the curriculum within their field of Privacy and Data Protection Law;
• 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 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 an examiner.

Research

• 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 field of Privacy and Data Protection Law;
• Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
• Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law;
• Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law.

Contributions

• Contribute to the administrative duties of the School of Law and the academic life of the University;
• Participate as a member of such committees as may be required within the academic unit and by the University;
• Mentor and advise newly appointed and junior academic staff;
• Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies where appropriate;
• Serve if required as head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes or management requirements;
• Promote the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
• Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of 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. A doctorate or appropriate professional qualification or a significant record of research and publication in the field of Privacy, Data Protection and Intellectual Property Law.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

2. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research-led teaching;
3. Significant experience in lecturing, examining and supporting students across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
4. 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 undertake postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
5. Evidence of a significant contribution to innovation in the area of teaching and examining, curriculum design, review and development.

Desirable Criteria

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

Research

Essential Criteria

7. A record of successful achievement and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law;
8. Evidence of consistent and continuing output of research in peer reviewed publications or equivalent outputs appropriate to the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law;
9. Evidence of active engagement in research and scholarly activities including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing research grant applications as appropriate for the field of Privacy and Data Protection Law;
10. Experience of leadership or leadership potential in the area of Privacy and Data Protection Law, 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 field.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

11. Proven administrative experience or evidence of ability to undertake academic administrative responsibility within the discipline of Law at a high level;
12. The ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
13. An ability and willingness to support mentor and advise junior staff.

Desirable Criteria

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

Other

Essential Criteria

15. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with working alongside a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
16. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
17. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
18. A commitment to the long-term development of the field of Privacy, Data Protection and Intellectual Property Law.

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: €83,910 - €118,893 (Scale B) / €81,033 - €112,948 (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 - AI & Data Analytics 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 Conor O’Mahony, Dean of Law, email: conor.omahony@ucc.ie 

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Local Time) on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.

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.