Associate Lecturers in the School of Engineering and Innovation

Unit : Associate Lecturers/Part time tutors

Salary : £37,099 Pro Rata

Location : Various locations

Please quote reference : STEM_T192

Part-Time: 0.2 – 0.4 FTE (Full Time Equivalent), Permanent

Closing Date : 26 June, 2024 – 12:00

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The role

We are looking to recruit several Associate Lecturers in the area of general engineering and engineering mathematics, in the School of Engineering and Innovation at the Open University.

The position is part-time (0.2 – 0.4 FTE, approximately 1.0 – 2.0 days per week) and would involve teaching one or more modules. In particular, there are immediate teaching needs on T192 Engineering: origins, methods, context; T193 Engineering: frameworks, analysis and production; and T272 Core Engineering B. Please be advised that only one application form is required to be considered for all modules.

The position is home-based and has no fixed core hours. It is permanent, with a probation period of two years. The annual salary and workload are fixed, but there are significant workload peaks and troughs, mainly linked to providing marking and assessment feedback. This is likely to include exam and end of module marking tasks. Other tasks will be required such as focused student support (individual and forum), peer mentoring and working with the module team on assessment activities and quality improvement. Some evening and weekend work will be required. The appropriate level of FTE will be discussed at interview, and there is the possibility of increasing the FTE later. The starting full-time salary is £37,099 paid pro rata based on your FTE. Although much of the teaching may occur between October and June, the position is paid over the full calendar year.

The contract will start from September 2024.

Person specification:

The person specification for this position should be read in conjunction with the generic person specification for an Associate Lecturer at The Open University. As well as meeting all the requirements set out in the generic person specification, you should have:

• Interest in, and enthusiasm for, teaching engineering and associated mathematics in a predominantly online environment.
• Ability to support students in developing basic study skills and mathematical confidence.
• Knowledge and awareness of the mathematics needs of a professional engineer.
• The ability to explain difficult Engineering concepts.
• The ability to grade assignments accurately and to provide constructive feedback to students.
• Experience of teaching online or an understanding of the pedagogical issues surrounding online teaching.
• Demonstrable ability to encourage students to engage with scholarship and independent study (including awareness of resources).

It would be an advantage to have:

• A higher degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent).
• Expertise and experience of teaching at least one of the following discipline areas: mechanical engineering, electronics, nanoscale engineering, environmental management, energy, student project supervision.
• Recent experience of working in an engineering environment.
• Experience of teaching and assessment via an online environment.
• Evidence of having taken the initiative to deliver better teaching and learning or to take advantage of new technology in teaching.
• Experience of teaching engineering and engineering related mathematics to engineering/science students.
• Experience of supporting students with personal and professional development planning.
• Teaching qualification in relevant subject or HEA accreditation.
• Membership of an engineering institution.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. To ensure they remain up to date with developments in their academic field, Associate Lecturers are allocated 6 days (pro-rata) per annum for AL-led (i.e. self-directed) Academic Currency and 1 day, plus 5 days pro rata, per annum for Agreed Academic Currency and Professional Development.

Benefits include a supportive and friendly working environment, 27 days holiday per annum (pro rata) with variable (pro rata) Bank holidays and an attractive pensions proposition.

Tuition Delivery

For the 24/25 academic year learning events will be delivered online. In future you may need to deliver some learning events face-to-face at a designated learning centre.