**INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY**
The Department of Sociology will be appointing a number of Assistant Lecturers (ALs) for the academic year 2022-23 to assist with the teaching of our courses and modules for undergraduate students. This is a valuable opportunity for current University of Essex PhD students to gain teaching and marking experience and a teaching qualification. All essential for a career in academia. We are expecting that teaching will take place face-to-face.
Modules that ALs will be invited to teach on include:
Please note that the number of available classes/ posts is subject to change.
Information regarding the content of each of these modules is available from the online Module Directory: www.essex.ac.uk/modules
Purpose of the role
The Assistant Lecturer (ALs) post will contribute to the Department’s teaching programme by providing teaching and tuition to help students meet their learning outcomes.
This post also provides a development opportunity for postgraduate students to develop their teaching skills in preparation for more senior teaching posts in future and to achieve professional recognition. ALs assist academic staff at the University by performing teaching or teaching related duties normally using existing teaching materials.
Assistant Lecturers will receive close supervision and direction from the Module Supervisor, including regular feedback, pastoral support and guidance. The Module Supervisor will give full background on the module and clear direction on the content to be taught and the preparation necessary, and will undertake assessment of teaching. If marking is to be undertaken, it should be in line with the University’s Marking Policy and under the guidance of the Module Supervisor.
Essential Requirements:
Applicants for posts as an Assistant Lecturer must be registered for a postgraduate degree at the University of Essex during all or part of the academic year 2022-23.
Assistant Lecturers will normally be current PhD students in Sociology, but applications are invited from students from other departments as well. We will not normally consider candidates for teaching who are in the first year of a PhD at Essex, unless the student concerned is going on to a PhD after completing an MA at Essex (for example, ESRC 1+3 students), and thus already has some familiarity with the Department and its procedures. We will also consider carefully whether students who are having difficulties with progress on the PhD should be offered teaching.
ALs who have previously taught within the Department, should hold CADENZA accreditation in order to be considered.
A full list of requirements can be found within the attached job description.
Contractual Arrangements
Appointments will normally be issued for a 20-21 week period – which will include up to two weeks in the Summer term for revision (or for 11 weeks in the case of Autumn half option, 10 weeks in the case of Spring half options). The appointment will also include one Academic Support Hour and one hour for administrative duties for every two classes taught. A note on rates of pay, together with a copy of the University Employment Guidance for Assistant Lecturers and a job description, also produced by the University are attached. It is an expectation that teachers are available for all contracted classes and lectures through the duration of the contract.
The appointment will be made at the University rates for Assistant Lecturers, depending on hours agreed, at Grade 7 SP 27 (currently £16.73 per hour) or at Grade 7 SP 28 (currently £17.23 per hour) for those who hold CADENZA.
The posts will be offered as fixed-term employment contracts until the post holder completes or withdraws from postgraduate studies or enters further completion or an extension to completion period.
Although an overarching contract will be in place for the duration of postgraduate studies, ALs will need to apply for individual posts and will have no entitlement to future engagements beyond their initial post. The reason the contract is fixed-term is that these posts provide an opportunity for postgraduate research students to develop interpersonal, communication and practical skills.
Support, Mentoring and Monitoring
All Assistant Lecturers are required to follow the training programme offered by the University and Department. This includes:
Throughout the year, all ALs will have a mentor (normally the Module Convenor) with whom they should discuss difficulties as and when they arise. During the first term of your contract your teaching will be observed by the Module Convenor or the AL Co-ordinator, and you will have an opportunity to discuss the observation afterwards. A copy of this will be kept on the ALs file, along with any comments from the observer. ALs are supported by the AL Coordinator.
New ALs are also required to seek CADENZA accreditation, a HE teaching qualification.
Please visit https://www.essex.ac.uk/staff/professional-development-and-training/cadenza for further information.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via email to the Deputy Department Manager, Catherine Freeman, at sociologyddm@essex.ac.uk. The deadline for applications is 4pm on Monday 30 May 2022.
Applications should include:
Selection Procedure
Selection of ALs and decisions about teaching allocations will be made by the Head of Department, in consultation with the AL Co-ordinator, Department Manager and relevant Module Convenors.
All new applicants who are short-listed will be called for a brief interview. The interview will be conducted by two people – usually the Head of Department and the AL Co-ordinator.
Interviews will not normally be necessary for those short-listed candidates who have already taught in the Department and whose teaching has been monitored.
Interviews are likely to be held in the weeks commencing the 6/13 June 2022.
Contact Dr Helen Rand, the AL coordinator for informal inquires hrand@essex.ac.uk