Lecturer in Interior Design (Part Time/Full Time)

Job Summary

We are pleased to advertise an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join the academic team of Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment, contributing to teaching, research, and consultancy, and to the future development of the school. This post offers considerable opportunity for a dynamic, collaborative, innovative, and adaptable individual to play a leading role in management and coordination of our Interior Design undergraduate degree course.

As an experienced professional with substantial academic or industry experience, you will augment the school’s academic team through the provision of expertise in the areas of Architectural design and Interior Design, both set within the context of sustainable practice.

In addition, you will have an opportunity to contribute to other areas of curriculum development and delivery across Architecture and the Built Environment, especially with respect to collaborative and interdisciplinary learning. The school performs a central role in many important external networks and it is expected that new appointments will further extend these in supporting the growth of collaborative and income generation possibilities. You will actively participate in the commercial activities.

As a developing academic, you will be expected to participate in the research culture of the school. The research activity of the school, to which new appointments are expected to contribute, is considered central to its success as a progressive, informed, and collaborative academic community. The University has four research themes: Environment, Energy & Sustainability, Living in a Digital World, Health & Wellbeing, and Inclusive and Creative Societies.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week, but you must be in a position to deliver teaching on campus to meet the requirements of the course. You also will benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave, onsite nursery, sports centre & as well as a range of voluntary health & travel benefits.

Although advertised as part-time (21 hours), we will also consider applicants looking to work up to and including full-time (35 hours). Please indicate your preferred hours/working pattern within your application.

If you have any questions, or would like to arrange an informal conversation, please contact the Dean of School - Dan Allen at d.allen1@rgu.ac.uk 

Grade 7 Salary Scale: £39,906 - 46,049 (pro rata)
Grade 8 Salary Scale: £47,389 – 56,535 (pro rata)

Salary on appointment will be dependent upon experience. Robert Gordon University also offers Course Leader responsibilities as a progression opportunity for all academic staff, with a £2,000 per year performance related award.

Candidates with limited or no prior experience as an academic will be placed on the first point of the Grade 7 scale. Consideration will be given to offering an Academic Attraction Payment (adjusted annually) for those candidates who have specific industry knowledge, skills or, expertise which are required for the position.

Please see the job attachments for further information regarding the Grade 7 and Grade 8 criteria. Further guidance on Academic Attraction Payments can be found here.

As per the UKVI immigration rules, this role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship under this route is dependent on factors specific to the applicant and if tradeable points can be used under the rules.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Designated Member of Senior Team

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No supervisory responsibility

PURPOSE OF POST: To contribute to undergraduate & postgraduate teaching across the School’s programme of Architecture & Built Environment courses.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• Actively contribute to the implementation of teaching and learning, research, and income generation plans and strategies, and positively participate in relevant staff development activities.
• Play an active and constructive part in:
• Actively contributing to course provision through preparation and delivery of materials, conducting assessments, and liaising with students, staff, employers and mentors as necessary.
  (Please note that Master's awards and courses delivered as part of the University’s Graduate Apprenticeship programme require aspects of delivery throughout the summer months.)
• Carrying out other designated teaching (e.g. via lectures, seminars, tutorials, open and distance learning, workshops, field trips, studio work, etc.) and assessment duties in areas of expertise, or as otherwise required by the Course Leader, Line Manager, or Dean of School. This applies to Undergraduate, Postgraduate, or Corporate delivery, and includes activities such as:
  • Curriculum design and review.
  • Planning and implementing innovation in teaching & learning to include a high level of digital skills and knowledge.
  • Planning and implementing novel assessment strategies.
  • Preparing for / actively participating in QAA and professional body accreditations.
  • Preparing for / actively participating in Subject reviews.
  • Ensuring that the Course / Module design and delivery achieve KPI targets and appropriate quality standards through effective Course / Module leadership (i.e. National Student Survey, Student Achievement Rates, Student Evaluation Questionnaires, and Employability statistics).

• Liaising with the School Leadership Team, Principal Lecturer, and key team members as necessary to:
  • Identify and proactively address areas where current provision needs revision or improvement, with particular regard to maintaining ‘currency’ relevant to the student cohort(s) and professional requirements.
  • Respond positively to day-to-day student feedback and modify approaches to delivery where appropriate.
  • Set, mark and assess student coursework &; examinations, &; provide feedback to students to agreed deadlines using a variety of methods.
• Supervise student projects, field trips and, where appropriate, placements.
• Attend and contribute to open days, schools liaison activities and other marketing and outreach activities, some of which may be timetabled outside of core hours.
• Participate in developing, preparing, and reviewing teaching materials, and provide tutorial and personal guidance for students.
• Contribute to the research culture of the school and actively pursue opportunities for research informed teaching and publication.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• First Degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or equivalent Design discipline.

Knowledge and skills

• Comprehensive, contemporary knowledge of the practice of related subject and its context within the creative industries. Understanding of the concepts of research and its application within architecture and design practice.
• A high level of digital competency in core design software (CAD, Photoshop, InDesign, Sketchup – or equivalents).
• Knowledge of sustainability agendas, discipline-specific practices and approaches to support curriculum developments and changes of practice.
• Knowledge of course development and curriculum design.
• Commitment to the values of the University.

Experience

• Experience of ‘practice’ within a professional context.
• Experience of planning, developing and delivering teaching materials to a range of students. Some experience of using web-based teaching approaches to support studio delivery.
• Experience of supervising and assessing students within a studio.
• Experience of maintaining professional relationships.
• Experience of participation in research and or consultancy / commercial projects.
• Strong digital skills at discipline level and evidence within teaching delivery.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

• Membership of, or in process of working towards, the Higher Education Academy.
• Membership of recognised professional body in Architecture, Interior Design, or associated Design Discipline.
• Masters/PgDip/PhD in related area.

Knowledge

• Understanding of Higher Education and its processes encompassing quality assurance and the student experience through to widening participation and enhancement of teaching.
• Understanding of the key factors affecting national and international markets, trends and forecasting, and emergent technologies

Experience

• Experience of, or the ability to develop and lead course curriculum design.
• Established record of research and / or consultancy.
• Experience in the management and organisation of projects, academic courses, or commissions related to the discipline.
• Experience of collaborative working, and contributing to a dynamic, collegiate, positive working environment.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication – Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner.

Behaviour 2: Pastoral Care and Welfare – Experience of calming and reassuring those with work/study related problems who may be experiencing distress, dealing with difficult welfare situations or confidential matters and providing support for those in considerable distress or requiring long-term complex support.

Behaviour 3: Teaching and Learning Support – Experience of providing standard information or delivering teaching or training, designing content or learning materials within existing frameworks and developing innovative approaches to learning experience and the curriculum.

Behaviour 4: Service Delivery – Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customer’s expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards.

Behaviour 5: Liaison and Networking – Experiences of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships, leading and developing internal networks to pursue a shared interest and leading and building external networks to enhance the work of the organisation.

Behaviour 6: Analysis and Research – Experience of identifying or designing data gathering and analytical methods appropriate for each investigation, and producing reports that identify key issues and findings.