Overview

Fixed Term Whole Time (Post duration to 21st October 2027)

UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Lecturer (Above the Bar) in Physical Geography with expertise in MetOcean, reporting to the Head of Department. This position will complement and expand the Department's existing interdisciplinary research and teaching, with a lead role in the new PGCert MetOcean for Offshore Wind.

The successful candidate will demonstrate research activity in physical geography with applications to renewable energy, building on existing areas of research strength in the School, with the potential for securing external funding including ERC grants. They will align to relevant UCC Futures Clusters where possible and will be expected to collaborate with research groups within UCC such as the Earth and Ocean Lab, MaREI and the Environmental Research Institute, as well as develop international links.

Candidates with experience in inclusive approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in Physical Geography and a background that bridges academic geoscience with practical applications in the offshore wind sector are particularly encouraged to apply.
 
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 Head of Department, Dr Denis Linehan, Tel: +353 (0)21 4902517, Email: d.linehan@ucc.ie

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures – Sustainability.

What is UCC Futures – Sustainability

The greatest global challenge of our time is finding sustainable solutions for the world’s growing population, balancing the need for economic development with our limited natural resources. Achieving a balance between people, profit and planet requires us to find equitable and just solutions to the problems of climate change, hunger, poverty and social and health disparities among the world’s populations. The complexity of the global sustainability challenge requires experts from multiple disciplines and sectors to collaborate in new and reimagined ways.

UCC believes that to solve these sustainability challenges, we need creative, inter-disciplinary solutions, driven by an innovative and holistic approach. Through our existing programme of transdisciplinary research, we are generating new knowledge, developing technologies and tools and contributing to services and policies that facilitate a just transition that is economically prosperous and socially inclusive, while protecting our natural environment.

We invite you to join us on the next phase of this important and impactful journey of discovery with UCC Futures - Sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Department of Geography wishes to appoint a lecturer in Physical Geography (Above the Bar) with expertise in MetOcean to complement and strengthen the Department’s existing research and teaching interests. The post arises from a project award from Green Tech Skillnet and the successful candidate will take a key role in leading and developing a new PGCert MetOcean for Offshore Wind. The appointee will also contribute to teaching Physical Geography at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in both face-to-face and online formats. In addition, the appointee will be expected to contribute to ongoing development of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the Geography Department. We are seeking an active researcher, with a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and with specialism in Physical Geography. Applicants will ideally have experience of applying for competitive funding and the potential to develop a research programme capable of attracting external funding, notably the ERC.

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 Department.

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. Contribute to and assist in the delivery of research led teaching, assessment and examining on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and where appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
2. Supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;
3. Undertake the development and regular evaluation of modules with reference to content, delivery and assessment;
4. Participate in the development of new curricular initiatives;
5. Demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of the Human Environment and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
6. Contribute towards the maintenance of academic standards within their discipline

• 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 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;
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 in the administrative activities of the department/school and the academic life of the College and University;
12. Act as a member of such committees as may be required by the University;
13. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
14. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
15. 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 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 have:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate in an area of Physical Geography with an emphasis on marine or coastal science, oceanography or meteorology

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

2. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research-led teaching;
3. Experience in lecturing, examining and supporting students in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
4. The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students in a teaching and learning environment that includes in-person and online delivery;
5. Familiarity with modern teaching technologies;
6. The ability to teach and examine at undergraduate and postgraduate level both in the classroom, laboratory and in the field (including offshore).

Desirable Criteria

7. Evidence of innovation in teaching and examining, curriculum design, review and development.

Research

Essential Criteria

8. Demonstrable experience in MetOcean characterisation with an ability to analyse these data;
9. A commitment to active engagement, successful achievement and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the discipline;
10. Evidence of research output in peer reviewed publications with an understanding of how to achieve consistent and ambitious output;
11. Ability to achieve competitive research grants, with the potential for securing ERC grants.

Desirable Criteria

12. Evidence of research supervision and examining;
13. Leadership potential and evidence of a willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

14. Proven administrative experience or evidence of ability to undertake academic administrative responsibility within the Department, School and College;
15. The ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large;
16. An ability and willingness to engage in pastoral care for students.

Desirable Criteria

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

Other

Essential Criteria

18. A working knowledge of the offshore wind sector in Ireland;
19. An ability to foster strong relationships with industry and government bodies to support research and teaching;
20. Good communication and interpersonal skills;
21. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
22. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
23. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
24. A commitment to the long term development of the discipline.

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 Lecturer (Above the Bar) Salary Scale: €78,401 - €101,534 (Scale B) / €74,592 - €96,455 (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 - Sustainability 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 - Sustainability 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

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Head of Department, Dr Denis Linehan, Tel: +353 (0)21 4902517, Email: d.linehan@ucc.ie

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.

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.