Job details
Responsible to
Head of Discipline of Engineering
Location
Markeaton Street, Derby Campus
Closing date
Monday 30 June 2025
Salary
£38,249 to £55,755 per annum
Job grade
HE Lecturer/Senior Lecturer
Reference
0070-25
Contract type
Permanent
Post type
Full-time
Adaptive working type
Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.
About the University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the College/Department
Here at University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths: the STEM skills that are essential to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too.
Engineering at Derby has a bold vision to deliver an outstanding learning experience to our students, further develop and expand our research capacity and increase our industry engagement in the region and beyond to fulfil targets for Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Excellence Framework (KEF) as well as provide the best opportunities to our graduates. The discipline area is located in the University’s STEM annex in Markeaton Street, where staff offices and lab facilities are co-located. Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing. The discipline area is actively engaged in knowledge exchange projects and has an active applied research agenda.
About the role
We have identified significant opportunities with regional businesses in the area of automotive and motorsport engineering, which aligns with the direction of our motorsport engineering degree. Hence we are seeking to appoint a motivated and knowledgeable individual to join our team as a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Motorsport/Automotive Engineering to help us fulfil our ambition.
As Lecturer/Senior Lecturer you will develop and deliver flexible, high-quality teaching materials that enhance student experience and employability, while actively engaging in research that informs practice and supports the University’s REF strategy. You will build on your growing international research reputation and knowledge exchange to influence leading edge practice, inform and inspire the research-led curriculum and teaching, and contribute to continuing subject expertise.
Anticipated interview date: 21st July 2025
About You
The ideal candidate will hold a PhD (or be near completion) in a relevant subject, or have the equivalent professional achievement, with a commitment to ongoing development. You will have expertise in motorsport/automotive engineering, and will be able to contribute to both teaching and research in areas such as vehicle dynamics, powertrain, combustion processes, alternative fuels and composite materials. Experience in higher education and being confident using a variety of delivery methods, along with excellent communication skills, to engage and inspire students is essential.
You will demonstrate a strong foundation in your subject area, evidenced by active research or practice-based outputs contributing to the REF and aligned to the University’s research strategy.
Principal accountabilities
Learning / Teaching
- Effectively teach and facilitate learning on a range of subjects / modules within the subject area on undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and post-experience programmes.
- Ensure that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching, as well as extending it to appropriate external activities such as knowledge transfer activities.
- Ensure that module / programme design and delivery comply with the quality standards and regulations of the University.
- Participate effectively in the assessment process, including the setting, marking and moderation of student work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring it is in accordance with quality assurance procedures.
- Participate in the continuing review and development of module/programme delivery, incorporating innovative study modes, learning environments and pedagogic practices to engage and stimulate students, deliver effective learning outcomes and develop the skills and attributes of the ‘Derby Graduate’.
- Take on relevant module leader and/or programme leader responsibilities, including associated marketing, recruitment, delivery and ongoing programme development activities.
Research / Scholarship
- Engage in individual research and collaborate both internally and externally on research projects that are consistent with the College, and contribute to influencing leading edge practice in the University and contribution to the REF.
- Sustain and enhance the reputation of the University by publishing in appropriate quality journals and presenting at scholarly activities such as workshops, conferences and other similar events.
- Develop and maintain contacts and relationship with relevant professional, research and industrial organisations.
- Contribute to writing bids for externally funded research projects.
Other
- Act as a personal tutor, supporting and mentoring students as appropriate.
- Provide pastoral care to students, referring when necessary to services that provide further support.
- Support marketing and student recruitment activities as required.
- Develop external links in order, for example, to support student recruitment, secure student placements, facilitate outreach work, generate income or build relationships for future activities.
- Be responsible for administrative duties in areas such as admissions, timetabling, examinations and assessment of progress and student attendance.
- Contribute to effective cross College / University working.
- Observe and implement University policies and procedures.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
- Good Honours Degree in relevant subject discipline or equivalent
- Fellowship of the Advanced HE (HEA) or willingness to work towards
- PhD (or submitted and awaiting examination) or equivalence accepted in a relevant subject area, for example by publication or through appropriate professional achievement or willingness to work towards within an agreed timeframe
- Subject specific qualifications / knowledge
Experience
Learning / Teaching
- Experience or knowledge of quality assurance and validation of Higher Education (HE) modules / programmes
- Experience or knowledge of higher education and ability to use a range of delivery techniques to inspire and engage students
Research / Scholarship
- Demonstrable experience in motorsport/automotive discipline to enable the development of new knowledge and understanding within the field
- Experience of research / enterprise activity in one or more of the following areas: (a)Vehicle Dynamics; (b) Powertrain (including hybrid and electric); (c) Combustion Processes; (d) Alternative Fuels; and (e) Composite Materials
- Evidence of active publishing in high quality journals or other outputs in research or practice that will contribute to the REF or other areas identified in the College / University Research Strategy
Skills, knowledge and abilities
- An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications which aid student learning
- Ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups
- Proficient in using IT to support own work and for application to technology-enhanced learning / teaching and research activities
- Excellent written and oral communication skills including networking and relationship building skills, both across the University and externally
- Able to demonstrate both independent self-management and team working
- Able to work with competing priorities and to tight deadlines
- Demonstrates competences, core behaviours and supplementary behaviours that support and promote the University’s core values
- Demonstrates professionalism in learning / teaching and the values of the UK Professional Standards Framework for HE
- A sound understanding of the current higher education environment and its implications for the student learning experience
- A sound understanding of the employability agenda and its relevance to learners and the curriculum
- A sound understanding of internationalisation and its relevance for learners and the curriculum
- Flexible to the needs of others
- Innovative and creative
- Committed to continual enhancement and a high-quality student experience
- Committed to a high-performance culture, fostering continuous improvement and driving quality
Business requirements
- Able to take a flexible approach to work
- Travel between sites and occasionally overseas for research or teaching
- Some evening and occasional weekend teaching
- Attendance at Open Days, Graduation events etc.
- A commitment to own professional development
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
- Teacher’s Pension Scheme
- Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
- Discounted onsite gym
- Cycle to Work scheme
- A flexible working environment
- A commitment to personal and professional development
Find out more about rewards and benefitsFind out more about rewards and benefits
Key contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Martin Sole, Interim Head of Discipline of Engineering via m.sole@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
Important information
Visa Sponsorship Eligibility
This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£38,700 per annum).
If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:
- Your job is on the Immigration Salary List
- You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
- You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
- The role you are applying for is a postdoctoral position
Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.
For more information, visit Applying from Overseas.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.
We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.
Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.
When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.
The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.
However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.
For more information on equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby, please visit our website.
A university that celebrates you
Environmental Sustainability
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
Environment and sustainability
Achieve your academic ambitions, apply today at University of Derby.
