Department for Public Leadership & Social Enterprise
Closing Date: 4 January 2026
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 3 years from start date
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 Faculty of Business and Law is one of the four faculties of The Open University. It brings together two Schools – The Open University Business School and The Open University Law School – and has a strong reputation as a high-quality and innovative provider of management and legal education. Our courses and qualifications are studied by a wide range of people from all backgrounds – we are proud to promote opportunity and social justice by making higher education open to those unable to attend a more traditional campus-based university.
Our students return some of the highest satisfaction scores in the National Student Survey – they have ever since the NSS began.
The Open University Business School is seeking to appoint a Senior Lecturer in the area of social entrepreneurship to add to our vibrant team of academics teaching and researching in the areas of entrepreneurship, sustainable and social enterprise. The successful candidate will participate in and lead a range of teaching activities and will have a strong research track record with the motivation to maintain a continuing research contribution. Applications will be welcome from a candidate with both teaching and research experience and interests aligned broadly with the research interests of those within the Department of Public Leadership and Social Enterprise . Researchers in the department have specific expertise in the field of social enterprise/innovation and sustainable enterprise. You will be expected to contribute to the development of teaching materials for undergraduate, postgraduate, as well as micro-credentials and continuing education related to entrepreneurship as well as interdisciplinary modules on a range of qualification as required.
You will have relevant research expertise, ideally with international experience within the field of entrepreneurship and a strong track record of bidding for funding. You will contribute to a growing group of research active academics and build on our record of academic excellence through publications, PhD supervision and research grants.
You will be a skilled communicator and able to engage effectively with policymakers and practitioner communities to increase the public impact of your research.
As part of The Open University we have a distinctive practice-based and largely online pedagogy that places the student at the heart of learning. Contribute to the creation of online teaching modules (undergraduate, postgraduate taught, executive education and micro-credentials) together with other colleagues.
Contribute to the presentation of teaching modules (undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research, executive education and micro-credentials) together with other colleagues, including setting and overseeing of assessment.
Tutor at face-to-face residential schools or their online equivalents, or other forms of direct student contact, for at least ten days per year.
Undertake research and publications relevant to Faculty and University research, scholarship and enterprise strategies.
Supervision of PhD students.
Contribute to income diversification to support research and teaching.
Participate in external engagement events and promotion opportunities to enhance the Business School’s profile.
Contribute to monitoring of the quality of tuition, assessment and online student support.
Play a full part in the academic life of the Business School, which is located on The Open University’s Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes.
A PhD or Professional Doctorate in a relevant academic discipline.
Experience of teaching at an HEI either face to face or online, with an interest in online teaching and virtual learning environments.
Evidence of innovative approaches to pedagogy including an effective contribution leading to the enhancement of the quality of tuition, assessment and student support.
A grasp of current national and international developments in Higher Education.
The ability to become part of, and develop, academic networks and capable of leading a team.
Experience of research supervision at PhD level and bidding successfully for research funding.
The ability to travel throughout the UK and internationally.
A willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and/ or Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and/ or academic membership of the CIPD.
Experience of academic module design and development.
Experience in online distance teaching
International teaching experience.
Experience of using ICT and VLEs in teaching and learning.
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Working Location: It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be one day per week, but this could be more often if business needs dictate. There will also be the requirement to travel as part of the role.
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance.
