Overview

Permanent Whole-time Post

The successful appointee to this role will be a dynamic and forward-thinking senior Germanist whose impact will extend beyond the Department. They will provide leadership to the discipline and will enhance the subject both in teaching and research at national and international level. The appointee will capitalise on opportunities to grow student numbers and will lead the extension of the versatile teaching offerings (language, literature, film, culture and linguistics) across the full range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the discipline and School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures [SLLC].

The research profile of the successful appointee will have a transdisciplinary reach so as to actively engage with Research Clusters in the School’s Centre for Advanced Study in Languages and Cultures, and in complementary signature areas of research in UCC Futures, including the Radical Humanities Laboratory and Collective Social Futures.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Silvia Ross, Head of School.

Further information on the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures can be found on the School website.

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/College. The appointee will assume the role of Head of Department on commencement.

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 and Examining | Contributions

Leadership

1. Demonstrate clear vision and strategy to support the development of German through teaching, research and scholarship;
2. Mentor, support and advise junior staff as appropriate and assist in their academic career development in teaching and research.

Research

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

Teaching and Examining

7. Promote excellence in teaching and learning and support in both the development and the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the Department of German and School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
8. 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;
9. Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
10. Contribute to, and take a leadership role where appropriate in the regular evaluation of curricula, and the development of new curricular initiatives;
11. Perform a significant role in the development of postgraduate studies at UCC;
12. 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 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

13. Enhance the promotion of the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
14. Serve, if required as head of one of the College’s academic units, subject to relevant University regulations, statutes and management requirements;
15. Actively seek to develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
16. 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;
17. Fulfil other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of department or school;
18. 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 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 may 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 | 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 contribute substantially to the development of German within the strategic frameworks of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences and the University;
3. Evidence of leadership potential in both teaching and research;
4. 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;
5. Demonstrable experience of leadership in advancing gender equality.

Research

Essential Criteria

6. International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in the relevant discipline or profession as evidenced through a substantial volume and consistent and continued output of high quality refereed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarship and a strong research funding record, as appropriate to the discipline;
7. Evidence of an international reputation and peer recognition in the applicant’s discipline through research and scholarly activity within the discipline, including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate for the discipline.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

8. Evidence of high quality achievement in and commitment to excellence in research-led teaching and learning in German, at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a willingness to both contribute to and lead in the development of the teaching programmes offered by the academic unit;
9. Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation;
10. 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

11. A familiarity with, and willingness to use modern teaching technologies.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

12. Proven administrative experience and evidence of holding significant positions of responsibility;
13. Ability to participate in, and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.

Desirable Criteria

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

Other

Essential Criteria

15. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
16. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
17. 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

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
• 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 queries 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 Thursday, 29 June 2023. 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 2022 Strategic Plan. 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.