Academic Developer (Research Culture & Evaluations Focused)

About Us

The Centre for Higher Education Practice (CHEP) provides support for Academic staff at the University of Southampton. The Centre is located with Southampton’s Faculty of Social Sciences but serves the whole University. CHEP was created to provide comprehensive world-leading professional development for all staff and doctoral researchers at all stages of their career development across the life course. We are one of only a few institutions in which the support for all academic activity (Education, Research and Knowledge Exchange & Enterprise (KEE)) is provided from the same central team and we have expanded the team that supports Research and KEE. We play a pivotal role in supporting the realization of the University of Southampton’s Strategy and our set up means we are ideally suited to support the Triple Helix approach of our strategy. This role will particularly focus on achieving the action plans in support of our Research and People strategic plans.

Applications are invited for an academic development post within the team to focus on supporting, co-ordinating, evaluating and reporting on multiple activities developed and funded through UKRI research culture funding. These include a range of activities such as writing retreats, externally provided staff development and coaching to research projects looking at academic workloads. The individual will work alongside a team of academic developers within CHEP with a range of expertise and skills spanning education, research, KEE and evaluation.

About You

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced academic developer, evaluator or enhancement project lead to join our friendly and supportive team and use their knowledge and expertise to help expand and enhance our institution-wide implementation and evaluation of research culture enhancing activities. The post-holder will contribute to the design, development, delivery and mixed methods evaluation of professional development and strategic major project activities offered by CHEP to support the realisation of the University of Southampton’s Strategy (in particular, the People & Research strategies). The role focuses on activities to support research culture and research activities of staff at all stages of their career, however there may be opportunities to contribute to the wider Academic Practice remit of the Centre.

All academic development posts within our Centre are academic appointments within the education focused aspect of our ERE pathway (because they support the learning of staff in all aspects of their academic practice) and as such they come with the common title of academic developers within our team (‘Senior Teaching Fellow in Academic Practice’). However, please note this role will support enhancement activities primarily aimed at research staff and are not focused on supporting staff with their education activities. We welcome applications from non-PhD candidates with equivalent professional qualifications and/or experience to apply for the role. If you are in any doubt whether or not this role is for you, please do get in touch.

The appointment is fixed term (ending July 31st 2024).

On appointment your title will be Teaching Fellow

This opportunity is available at level 4 and as a full-time or part-time role. We are interested in applications from individuals from 0.5 FTE and above. Please indicate in your application if you are interested in the role as a part-time appointment.

Informal enquiries can be made at any time to either the Director (Prof Shelley Parr), or a member of the existing team. Please contact CHEP@soton.ac.uk or S.J.Parr@soton.ac.uk

What we can offer you

Since CHEP promotes academic professional learning for every member of University staff, we aim to role model good practice by providing staff within our team with a range of professional development opportunities. We actively support staff within our team to join local and national networks and to attain recognition and/or qualifications relevant to their role.

Committed to supporting our staff we are open to a flexible working approach. With an understanding that there is a need to be on campus for some duties we are open to a hybrid approach. We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly, including part-time, and those who have taken a career break. Proud to be a founding signatory of the Athena Swan gender equality charter, we hold an institutional Silver Award.

As well as additional benefits that will make your life easier, such as a generous holiday allowance and additional university closure days, we will support your long-term future with access to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts.

As a university we aim to create an inclusive environment that attracts, supports and retains the best students and staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences from across the world. We are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work.

To find out more about the Centre for Higher Education Practice visit our website or get in touch and arrange an informal chat with the Director or one of the existing team members (Centre for Higher Education Practice | University of Southampton or CHEP@soton.ac.uk ).

For applicants interested in a Part Time role, please note: this role is unlikely to support a Certificate of Sponsorship with a part time salary amount (a Certificate of Sponsorship is required to obtain a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK).

Further details:

• Job Description and Person Specification