Unit: Associate Lecturers/Part time tutors Salary: £38,784 pro rata
Permanent - Belfast
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.
Join Our Team as an Associate Lecturer in Social Work!
The School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at The Open University is seeking passionate educators to inspire the next generation of social workers. We have several part-time opportunities available for Associate Lecturers to teach one or more modules—starting with an immediate need on K355 .
Flexible working: No fixed core hours, with a mix of home-based work and face-to-face teaching.
Permanent role: Includes a two-year probation period.
Competitive pay: Starting full-time salary of £38,784 (pro rata based on FTE).
Work-life balance: Teaching mainly runs February–August, but you’ll receive pay across the full year.
Collaborate with module teams on assessments and quality improvements.
Expect some evening and weekend work during peak periods.
If you’re ready to make a real impact in social work education, we’d love to hear from you!
The person specification for this position should be read in conjunction with the for an Associate Lecturer at The Open University. Experience of teaching online or an understanding of the pedagogical issues surrounding online teaching.
Demonstratable ability to encourage students to engage with scholarship and independent study (including awareness of resources)
The Northern Ireland regulator requires teaching staff to have a Social Work qualification, be registered in Northern Ireland with NISCC or be eligible to register on part 1 of the register and have at 3 years post qualifying experience in social work practice in Northern Ireland.
A working knowledge of the legislation and policy in social work in Northern Ireland.
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.
Teaching qualification in relevant subject or HEA accreditation.
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 (ie. 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.
The University is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role as per the requirement laid out the UK Visas and Immigration regarding Right to Work in the UK.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS check or equivalent for their nation of residency.
The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
