Associate Professorship – Oxford University

Job Description and Selection Criteria

PostAssociate Professorship (or Professorship) of Engineering Science (Civil Engineering – Fluid Mechanics)
DepartmentEngineering Science
DivisionMathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
CollegeWorcester College
Contract typePermanent upon completion of a successful review. The review is conducted during the first 5 years.
SalaryCombined University and College salary from £48,114 to £64,605 per annum plus additional benefits including housing allowance of £9,594 per annum or access to college accommodation, and access to private healthcare scheme, as detailed below. An allowance of £2,804 p.a. would be payable upon award of Full Professor title.
Vacancy number148629

Overview of the post

Applications are invited for the post of Associate Professor of Engineering Science (Civil Engineering – Fluid Mechanics) to be held in the Department of Engineering Science, with effect from 1st October 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter. The successful candidate will also be appointed to a Tutorial Fellowship at Worcester College.

This appointment will add further strength to the Department’s internationally-renowned research in Civil Engineering and its applications. Candidates with a strong research background in Fluid Mechanics as applied to civil engineering or a cognate subject are welcome to apply.

The successful candidate will conduct original research in civil engineering fluid mechanics. They will be expected to apply for and obtain external funding to support the development of their programme of independent research as well as to develop links with colleagues in the Department of Engineering Science and in other departments across the University and elsewhere as appropriate.

To assist in setting up new research activities, the Department will provide an equipment dowry and an annual support fund, and access to Departmental and University research support funds (which must be bid for). Further funding for the set-up costs of experimental facilities can be made available, and laboratory and office space will be provided. In addition, the group has recently made a major investment in a wave and current high flow quality research flume to support its experimental research. The appointee will be given help to apply for grants from research councils, for example through the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and from industry.

The successful candidate will also assist in the teaching of their subject at both undergraduate and graduate level. Undergraduate teaching in the department may include lectures and practical classes, and the supervision of undergraduate design and project work (see 
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/engineering-science). The subjects taught at undergraduate level would be expected to be in the general field of civil engineering, mathematics, and other areas of engineering, depending on the interests of the appointee and requirements of the college. Graduate teaching will involve supervision of MSc and Doctoral students.

The University of Oxford is a member of the Athena SWAN Charter to promote women in Science, Engineering, Technology and Medicine. The University holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award at institutional level. The Department of Engineering Science holds a Departmental Bronze Athena award in recognition of its efforts to introduce organisational and cultural practices that promote gender equality in SET and create a better working environment for both men and women. Feel free to contact equality@admin.ox.ac.uk for further information about Athena SWAN at the University of Oxford.

If you would like to discuss this post and find out more about joining the academic community at Oxford, please contact the Department on academic.recruitment@eng.ox.ac.uk or (0) 1865 273003. All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence and will not form part of the selection decision.

The role of Associate Professor at Oxford

Associate Professor is the main academic career grade at Oxford with a focus on research and teaching, spanning the full range of professor grades in the USA. Associate Professors are appointed jointly by a University department or faculty and an Oxford college, and you will have a contract with both.

Associate Professors are full members of University departments and college governing bodies, playing a role in the democratic governance of the University and their college. You will join a lively, intellectually stimulating and multi-disciplinary community which performs to the highest international levels in research and teaching, with extraordinary levels of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

There is considerable flexibility in the organisation of duties, with three 8-week undergraduate teaching terms and generous sabbatical leave to balance teaching and research (please see the Benefits, Terms and Conditions section for further details of sabbatical leave). There is the potential for temporary changes to the balance of duties between College and University to enable a focus on different aspects of work at different stages in your career.

Oxford offers many opportunities for professional development in research and teaching. Associate Professors may apply for the title of full Professor in annual exercises. If the title is conferred, you will also have access to professorial merit pay opportunities. In exceptional cases, the title of full Professor may be awarded on appointment.

Appointments are confirmed as permanent on successful completion of a review during the first five years. The vast majority of Associate Professors successfully complete this initial review.

Duties of the post

The main duties of the postholder for the University are as follows: 
Research

  • to engage in original research in the field of civil engineering fluid mechanics;
  • to secure research funding and engage in the management of research projects;
  • to disseminate their research through publication in scholarly journals, participation in international conferences and seminars, and through other media;
  • to engage in knowledge transfer activities.

Teaching

  • to carry out teaching at undergraduate and graduate level including lectures, classes, demonstrations, and project supervision, under the direction of the Head of Department of Engineering Science;
  • to supervise research students;

Examining

  • to take part in University examining as and when requested to do so.

Administration and outreach

  • to participate in the administration and outreach activities of the Department of Engineering Science as and when requested by the Head of Department.

The main duties of the postholder for Worcester College, under the direction of the Senior Tutor and in conjunction with the other Fellow in Engineering (Antonis Papachristodoulou), are as follows:

  • to take responsibility for the selection, teaching (including organizing teaching) and pastoral care of Worcester undergraduates in Engineering;
  • to undertake six weighted hours of tutorial teaching1 averaged over the three 8-week terms which constitute the academic teaching year across a range of papers on the undergraduate syllabus, particularly in the fields of structures and energy. In addition, they will be required to share teaching of the “Mathematics for Engineers courses”, and make contributions to other areas of the Engineering core course;
  • to act as pastoral adviser to the College’s graduate students in Engineering (this is a mentoring role and distinct from the supervision of postgraduates which is organized separately by the department) and
  • as a member of the college’s governing body and a trustee of the college, to participate in the governance, intellectual life and academic activities of the College, including outreach activities.

Selection criteria

Your application will be judged only against the criteria which are set out below. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet these criteria.

The University is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions. Members of selection committees will be aware of the principles of equality of opportunity, fair selection and the risks of bias. There will be both female and male committee members wherever possible.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognising that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following. 
Essential

1 Weighted hours: A one-hour tutorial with 2 students is weighted as 1.25 hrs., with three students as 1.5 hrs.

  • A doctorate in civil engineering fluid mechanics, or a cognate subject;
  • Proven research record of high quality at international level in the area of civil engineering fluid mechanics, demonstrated by previous achievements, e.g. publications in recognised journals;
  • Significant research potential in civil engineering fluid mechanics, evidenced by a written research plan of high standard, appropriate to the Department’s research standing;
  • Ability to attract research funding and develop an independent programme of research;
  • Experience of, and ability to teach effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, a wide range of topics within the fields of civil engineering, and other topics in the context of our general Engineering Science course;
  • Ability to supervise graduate students;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills necessary for undertaking teaching and the pastoral care of students;
  • Evidence of the ability, or the potential, to provide excellent tutorial teaching in a range of undergraduate papers in the Engineering Science course;
  • Ability and willingness to undertake the full range of pastoral and administrative duties both within the Department and the College;
  • A firm commitment to undergraduate teaching. 
    Desirable
  • Excellent track record of obtaining research grants;
  • Experience of research collaborations at national and international level;
  • Experience of supervising research students;
  • Experience of or an interest in developing links with Industry.

How to apply

Before applying, you may find it helpful to read the information on the application process here.

To apply, visit the academic vacancies page, click on the relevant post title, then click on the Apply Now button on the ‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a new user or log-in if you have applied previously. Please refer to the “Terms of Use” in the left-hand menu bar for information about privacy and data protection. Please provide details of three referees and indicate whether the University may contact them now.

You should contact all three of your referees before applying, to ensure they are aware of your application and of the requirements for the post, and to ensure that they would be content to write a reference for you for this post, if they were asked to do so. The University will assume that it is free to approach your referees at any stage unless your application specifies otherwise. Therefore, if you would prefer a referee or referees to be approached only with your specific permission or if you would prefer them to be approached only if you are being called for interview on the final shortlist, then you must indicate this in your application.

The University and colleges welcome applications from candidates who have a disability or long-term health condition and is committed to providing long term support. The University’s disability advisor can provide support to applicants with a disability, please see http://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/disability-support for details. Please let us know if you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, including the provision of these documents in large print, audio or other formats. If we invite you for interviews, we will ask whether you require any particular arrangements at the interview. The University Access Guide gives details of physical access to University buildings http://www.accessguide.ox.ac.uk/.

Teaching commitments are mainly concentrated into Oxford’s three 8-week undergraduate teaching terms, making it easier to balance teaching and research. There is considerable flexibility in the organisation of duties, and generous sabbatical leave.

Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description. You will be asked to upload a full CV with publications list, a supporting statement and a research proposal:

  • Given the overall limit of 10 pages (see below), you may not be able to include your complete list of publications, in which case you should select the ones which are most relevant to your application. Whether or not you submit a complete list, you should highlight the five most important publications with an asterisk and explain in each case (in not more than three sentences per publication) why that paper is particularly significant.
  • The supporting statement should explain how you meet the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. This may include experience gained in employment, education, or during career breaks (such as time out to care for dependants).
  • The research proposal should set out your plans and priorities for research over the next five years, should you be appointed to this post.

You should therefore upload, within a single PDF document, the following:

  1. Your full CV including your teaching and research experience, career details to date, and awards received;
  2. Your supporting statement as described above;
  3. Your research proposal.

A teaching proposal is not required.

The name of the PDF attachment should be of the form DF21WOR_Surname_Initials.pdf. The total size of the attachment must not exceed 10 pages in a normal font and spacing. Please do not attach additional material to your application, as it will not be considered.

Should you experience any difficulties using the online application system, please email recruitment.support@admin.ox.ac.uk. Further help and support is available from https://hrsystems.admin.ox.ac.uk/recruitment-support. To return to the online application at any stage, please log back in and click the “My applications” button on the left hand side of the page.

The deadline for applications is Monday 25 January at noon.

Should you have any queries about matters that are not addressed in this document, please contact the Department on academic.recruitment@eng.ox.ac.uk, or telephone: +44 (0) 1865 273003. Please quote DF21WOR/148629 in all correspondence.

All applications will be acknowledged after receipt and will be considered by the selection committee as soon as possible after the closing date. Please note that you will be notified of the progress of your application by automatic emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk mail regularly to ensure that you receive all emails.

All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed it is anticipated that this will take place online. Candidates will be asked to give a short presentation to the committee as part of the interview process which are expected to take place on Friday 19 March 2021. The interview process for the final short-listed candidates is expected to be as follows:

Morning: Each candidate will present a 30-minute seminar on a suitable topic from their current research (25 minutes presentation plus 5 minutes of questions). The seminar will be presented online and attended by members of the Selection Committee, and other interested members of the Department (only some of whom will be experts in the specialist field of the appointment).

Afternoon: The formal interview by the Selection Committee will be held online. This will last about 45 minutes, and will include discussion of research interests and directions, teaching interests and expertise and experience, including undergraduate projects and other aspects of the post. Candidates will be asked to undertake a short teaching exercise in the course of their interview.

During the time they are not giving their seminar or attending their interview, shortlisted candidates will have an opportunity to meet virtually with academics from the Civil Engineering Group as well as with one or more senior members of the College. Neither of these meetings constitutes any part of the selection process.

If covid restrictions have lifted significantly and we are able to hold these interviews in person, arrangements will be discussed with the shortlisted candidates with sufficient notice.

The Department of Engineering Science

Engineering teaching and research takes place at Oxford in a unified Department of Engineering Science whose academic staff are committed to a common engineering foundation as well as to advanced work in their own specialities, which include most branches of the subject. We have especially strong links with computer science, materials science, medicine and also the Said Business School. The Department employs 120 academic staff (this number includes 13 statutory professors appointed in the main branches of the discipline, and 25 full professors); in addition, there are nine visiting professors. There is an experienced team of teaching support staff, professional services and administrative staff and technicians. The Department has well-equipped laboratories and workshops, which together with offices, lecture theatres, library and other facilities have a net floor area of about 25,000 square metres.

The Department is ranked second in the world in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings for Engineering & Technology. Further information about the Department is available at www.eng.ox.ac.uk.

Teaching

We aim to admit 170-180 undergraduates per year to take a 4-year course leading to the MEng degree in Engineering Science. The course is accredited at MEng level by the major engineering institutions. The syllabus has a common core extending through the first two years. Specialist options are introduced in the third year, and the fourth year includes further specialist material and a major project.

Research

Research in the Department is particularly strong. We have approximately 600 research students and about 250 postdoctoral researchers. Direct funding of research grants and contracts, from a variety of sources, amounts to an annual turnover of approximately £70m.

According to the results of the six-yearly UK-wide assessment of university research, REF2014, published on 18th December 2014, the Department of Engineering Science is the best engineering department in the country. Based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) score adopted to produce the rankings, the Department was ranked first out of the 62 General Engineering Departments, ahead of Cambridge, Imperial College and UCL. The impact of the Department’s research was also rated as number one in engineering in the UK.

The research activities of the department fall into eight broad headings, though there is much overlap in practice: Information Engineering (Robotics, Computer Vision and Machine Learning); Control Engineering; Thermofluids; Materials and Mechanics; Civil Engineering; Electrical and Optoelectronic; Chemical and Process; Biomedical Engineering.

Civil Engineering

Current research in Civil Engineering covers three broad themes; fluid mechanics, geotechnical engineering and structures. Within fluid mechanics, our research includes:

  • Metocean engineering including ocean wave mechanics and coastal flooding.
  • Work in porous media and poromechanics, including fundamental aspects of flow, transport, and deformation with applications in soft materials and subsurface engineering.
  • We have an extensive programme in offshore renewable energy, including offshore wind, wave and tidal stream energy. This includes farm and resource modelling as well as turbine fluid mechanics and the development of novel designs.

Members of the group have strong links with industry, particularly in the renewable energy and offshore engineering sectors. The fluids group has strengths in theoretical, numerical and experimental work and has recently made a major investment in a wave and current high flow quality research flume to support our growing experimental activities.

The Civil Engineering group is a partner in the Wind and Marine Energy Systems and Structures (WAMESS) CDT, a joint doctoral training programme with the Universities of Strathclyde and Edinburgh. Within the CDT the Oxford Civil group provides leadership in fluid mechanics and geotechnics research and teaching for Offshore Renewable Energy devices. The Civil Engineering group is also a core partner in the UK’s Supergen hub in Offshore Renewable Energy, through which it helps to provide national leadership in offshore renewables.

Civil Engineering academics contribute to the teaching of core engineering topics in the first two years of the Engineering Science course, and take the lead in the delivery of the specialised Civil Engineering options in the third and fourth years; these are consistently among the most popular of the options offered.

For more detailed description of the current research, please refer to department website https://www.eng.ox.ac.uk/our-research/

More information on the group’s activities can be found at https://eng.ox.ac.uk/efm/.

The Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division

The Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division is one of the four academic divisions of the University. Oxford is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading science universities and the MPLS Division is home to our non-medical sciences, with 10 academic departments that span the full spectrum of the mathematical, computational, physical, engineering and life sciences, and undertake both fundamental research and cutting-edge applied work. Our research tackles major societal and technological challenges – whether developing new energy solutions or improved cancer treatments, understanding climate change processes, or helping to preserve biodiversity, and is increasingly focused on key interdisciplinary issues. We collaborate closely with colleagues in Oxford across the medical sciences, social sciences and humanities, and with other universities, research organisations and industrial partners across the globe in pursuit of innovative research geared to address critical and fundamental scientific questions.

The disciplines within the MPLS Division regularly appear at the highest levels in world rankings, with Oxford’s Mathematical, physical and life sciences research judged best in the country according to the 2014 REF assessment exercise carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

MPLS is proud to be the home of some of the most creative and innovative scientific thinkers and leaders working in academe. Our senior researchers have been awarded some of the most significant scientific honours and we have a strong tradition of attracting and nurturing the very best early career researchers who regularly secure prestigious fellowships and faculty positions. MPLS continues in its work to support diversity in its staffing, seeing that it will bring benefits to all, and we are pleased to note that all academic departments in the Division hold Athena Swan Awards.

We have around 7,000 full and part-time students (including approximately 3,500 graduate students) and play a major role in training the next generation of leading scientists. Oxford’s international reputation for excellence in teaching is reflected in its position at the top of the major league tables and subject assessments. MPLS academics educate students of high academic merit and potential from all over the world. Through a mixture of lectures, practical work and the distinctive college tutorial system, students develop their ability to solve diverse mathematical, scientific and engineering problems.

MPLS is dedicated to bringing the wonder and potential of science to the attention of audiences far beyond the world of academia. We have a strong commitment to supporting public engagement in science through initiatives including the Oxford Sparks portal (www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk) and a large variety of outreach activities; these are crucial activities given so many societal and technological issues demand an understanding of the science that underpins them. We also bring the potential of our scientific efforts forward for practical and beneficial application to the real world and our desire, aided by the work of Oxford University Innovation and Oxford Sciences Innovation, is to link our best scientific minds with industry and public policy makers.

For more information about the MPLS division, please visit: www.mpls.ox.ac.uk

Worcester College

More information about the college can be found at: www.worc.ox.ac.uk.

There are 39 self-governing and independent colleges at Oxford, giving both academic staff and students the benefits of belonging to a small, interdisciplinary community as well as to a large, internationally-renowned institution. The collegiate system fosters a strong sense of community, bringing together leading academics and students across subjects, and from different cultures and countries.

Worcester College occupies the site of Gloucester College, founded in 1283 for monks from the Abbey of St Peter, Gloucester. It was re-founded as Worcester College in 1714, following a benefaction by Sir Thomas Cookes, Bt., from Worcestershire.

The original Benedictine site was large, and eighteenth- and nineteenth-century additions to it have resulted in the College occupying some 26 acres. The gardens were laid out to include a lake in the early nineteenth century, and the adjoining sports field was reclaimed from drained water meadows in the late nineteenth century. The mixture of architectural styles, set amongst landscaped, wooded gardens and grounds, make Worcester one of the most attractive colleges in Oxford.

The Governing Body, which is responsible for overseeing the running of the College and the management of its endowments, comprises the head of College (the ‘Provost’) and fifty Fellows. A further sixteen Research Fellows are not members of the Governing Body. There are about a hundred members of non­academic staff. The college has about six hundred undergraduate and postgraduate students in a wide range of subjects. The college admits up to six undergraduates a year to read Engineering Science and currently has 13 research students in engineering related disciplines.

In 2017 the Governing Body of Worcester College made a formal commitment to building a more socially and culturally diverse academic community. As part of our diversity strategy, we are actively seeking excellent candidates from groups which are under-represented on our academic staff: disabled candidates, black and minority ethnic candidates, and women of all ethnicities.

Worcester College has two tutorial fellows in Engineering. The person appointed will join Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou whose research interests are in Control Engineering with applications in biological and technological networked systems.

The Tutorial Fellowship at Worcester College comes with benefits, which are described in detail at a later section in this document.

About the University of Oxford

Oxford’s departments and colleges aim to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Oxford’s researchers engage with academic, commercial and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts.

Oxford’s self-governing community of international scholars includes Professors, Associate Professors, other college tutors, senior and junior research fellows and over 2,500 other University research staff. Research at Oxford combines disciplinary depth with an increasing focus on inter-disciplinary and multi­disciplinary activities addressing a rich and diverse range of issues.

Oxford’s strengths lie both in empowering individuals and teams to address fundamental questions of global significance, and in providing all staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that supports everyone to develop and do their best work. Recognising that diversity is a great strength, and vital for innovation and creativity, Oxford aspires to build a truly inclusive community which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.

While Oxford has long traditions of scholarship, it is also forward-looking, creative and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe’s most entrepreneurial universities. It consistently has the highest external research income of any university in the UK (the most recent figures are available at www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/finance-and-funding), and is ranked first in the UK for university spin­outs, with more than 130 spin-off companies created to date. Oxford is also recognised as a leading supporter of social enterprise.

Oxford admits undergraduate students with the intellectual potential to benefit fully from the small group learning to which Oxford is deeply committed. Meeting in small groups with their tutor, undergraduates are exposed to rigorous scholarly challenge and learn to develop their critical thinking, their ability to articulate their views with clarity, and their personal and intellectual confidence. They receive a high level of personal attention from leading academics.

Oxford has a strong postgraduate student body which now numbers over 10,000. Postgraduates are attracted to Oxford by the international standing of the faculty, by the rigorous intellectual training on offer, by the excellent research and laboratory facilities available, and by the resources of the museums and libraries, including one of the world’s greatest libraries, the Bodleian. For more information please visit www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation.

University Benefits, Terms and Conditions

More information on benefits available to all University staff is available on page 14. Salary

The successful candidate will be appointed on the Oxford scale for associate professors, as shown in the table in the annexe.

Those appointed below the top of this salary range will receive annual increments to the University component of the salary until they reach the top point. There is also an annual ‘cost-of-living’ review. In exceptional cases, the Departmental/Faculty board may propose the awarding of additional increments within the substantive scale to an Associate Professor at any time during their appointment.

Additional remuneration may be paid for graduate supervision, examining and some tutorial teaching. Those holding administrative appointments within the department/faculty may be eligible for additional payments.

Pension

The University offers generous pension provision. Associate Professors are usually offered membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Details are available at http://finance.web.ox.ac.uk/uss
Sabbatical leave

You will be eligible for sabbatical leave to allow you to focus on your research. In general, one term of leave is available for each six terms worked. This leave may either be taken as one term of leave after 6 terms of service, or accumulated and taken as one year of leave after 6 years of service.

Outside commitments

You may apply to spend up to 30 working days in each year on projects outside your employment duties, such as consultancy, spin-out activity and membership of research councils and other bodies. There is no limit to earnings from these activities without deduction from salary. Details of the approval process may be found athttp://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/holding-outside-appointments.

Guidance is also available on: ownership of intellectual property https://governance.admin.ox.ac.uk/legislation/council-regulations-7-of-2002 and managing conflicts of interest http://researchsupport.admin.ox.ac.uk/governance/integrity

Membership of Congregation

Oxford’s community of scholars governs itself through Congregation which is its “parliament”. You will be a voting member of Congregation.

See www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/governance and http://governance.admin.ox.ac.uk/legislation/statute-iv-congregation for further details. Family support

The University offers generous family leave arrangements, such as maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave. Details are available at http://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/family-leave-for-academic-staff. You will have considerable flexibility in the day-to-day organisation of duties in the Associate Professor role. Requests for flexible working patterns will be accommodated as far as possible.

You will be eligible to apply to use the University nurseries (subject to availability of places). For details of the nurseries and how to apply for places, please see http://childcare.admin.ox.ac.uk/home.

The University subscribes to My Family Care, a benefit which allows staff to register for emergency back­up childcare and adultcare services, a ‘speak to an expert’ phone line and a wide range of guides and webinars through a website called the Work + Family Space.

For more details, please see https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/my-family-care

The Oxford University Newcomers’ Club is run by volunteers, whose aim is to help the newly-arrived partners of visiting scholars, of graduate students and of newly appointed academic and administrative members of the University to settle in and to give them opportunities to meet people in Oxford. Further information is available at www.newcomers.ox.ac.uk/.

Welcome for International Staff

One of Oxford’s great strengths is its truly international body of research and teaching staff from over 140 countries, and we welcome applications from academics across the world. We can help international staff and partners/families make the transition to Oxford. Information about relocation, living and working in the UK and Oxford is available at welcome.ox.ac.uk.

If you require a visa, we have a dedicated Staff Immigration Team to support successful applicants through the immigration process (for Global Talent and Skilled Worker visas) from job offer through to arrival in the UK. This is subject to the eligibility criteria being met for the respective visa routes.

Relocation

Subject to UK tax regulations and the availability of funding, a relocation allowance may be available.

Promoting diversity

The University is committed to recruiting and retaining the best people, whoever they are, to ensure equality of opportunity. The Vice Chancellor’s Diversity Fund provides resources for innovative projects to promote diversity.

The Equality and Diversity Unit promotes good practice across the University by developing policies and offering training, and runs a range of support networks for staff. It works closely with Colleges, the Oxford University Student Union and external campaign groups.

Please see https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/home for details. Other benefits and discounts for University employees

The University has a range of facilities and benefits for its staff, including discounted health insurance, sustainable travel schemes, and discounts in local shops and restaurants. Details are available at:

https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits 
https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/discounts

Pre-employment screening

Your appointment will be subject to the University’s standard pre-employment screening. This will include right-to-work, proof of identity, references, a pre-employment health declaration, and any other checks as applicable to the post. We advise you to read the notes for applicants at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/pre-employment-checks

Length of appointment

Appointments to Associate Professorships at Oxford are confirmed as permanent on successful completion of a review during the first five years.

The University operates an employer justified retirement age for all academic posts, for which the retirement date is 30 September immediately preceding the 69th birthday.

The justification for this may be found at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/the-ejra

For existing employees, any employment beyond the retirement age is subject to approval through the EJRA procedures. Further details can be found at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/the-ejra

Data Privacy

Please note that any personal data submitted to the University as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation. For further information, please see the University’s Privacy Notice for Job Applicants at: https://compliance.admin.ox.ac.uk/job-applicant-privacy-policy.

The University’s Policy on Data Protection is available at: https://compliance.admin.ox.ac.uk/data-protection-policy

College Benefits, Terms and Conditions

The College component of the salary will be on the scale for Associate Professors, (£7,761 – £10,421 per annum). The combined College and University salary will be on a scale up to £64,605 per annum. Tutorial Fellows appointed below the top of this range will receive annual increments to their College stipend until they reach the top point.

Worcester College

  • To allow fellows to establish themselves in the challenging Oxford housing market, for the first five years of a fellowship (the probationary period), we offer the option, in return for sacrifice of the Housing Allowance (see (ii) below), of residence, rent-free, in a 2- or 3-bedroom house within walking distance of the College, the aim being to give fellows time to build up a deposit for a house of their own. This option is subject to availability of suitable housing. In cases where suitable housing is not available initially, Fellows have the option to take housing allowance and then switch to five years in a College house at a later date when one becomes available.
  • A taxable and pensionable housing allowance (currently £9,594 per annum) for a Fellow not living in College accommodation.
  • Full college dining rights: lunch and dinner at the Common Table in term and vacation (except when the kitchens are closed).
  • Reimbursement of book or research expenses of up to £1,752 per year.
  • Sole use of an office in the College.
  • Computing equipment (or equivalent IT facilities).
  • Access to private healthcare. Membership is on a voluntary basis and premiums are recovered through monthly salary.
  • Family leave arrangements similar to those offered by the University (see above).
  • One term of sabbatical leave for every six terms of qualifying service.

Probationary period

The appointment is subject to an initial probationary period of up to five years. Satisfactory completion of this period, through demonstration of competence in teaching and research, and reasonable participation in College administration, will result in appointment to retiring age under the College statutes, subject to legislation in place at the time. If the Fellow should vacate the Associate Professorship, or other University office on which the holding of this Fellowship is dependent, the Fellowship must thereupon be vacated.

Offer of employment

Applications for this post will be considered by a selection committee containing representatives from both the Department of Engineering Science department and Worcester College. The selection committee is responsible for conducting all aspects of the recruitment and selection process; it does not, however, have the authority to make the final decision as to who should be appointed. The final decision will be made by the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Divisional Board and the Governing Body of Worcester College on the basis of a recommendation made by the selection committee. No offer of appointment will be valid, therefore, until and unless the recommendation has been approved by both the divisional board and the governing body, and a formal contractual offer has been made.

Benefits of working at the University 
Employee benefits

University employees enjoy generous holiday and pension schemes, travel discounts, and a variety of professional development opportunities. Our range of other employee benefits and discounts also includes free entry to the Botanic Gardens and University colleges, and discounts at University museums. See http://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

University Club and sports facilities

Membership of the University Club is free for all University staff. The University Club offers social, sporting, and hospitality facilities. Staff can also use the University Sports Centre on Iffley Road at discounted rates, including a fitness centre, powerlifting room, and swimming pool. See www.club.ox.ac.uk and http://www.sport.ox.ac.uk/home

Information for staff new to Oxford

If you are relocating to Oxfordshire from overseas or elsewhere in the UK, the University’s Welcome Service website includes practical information about settling in the area, including advice on relocation, accommodation, and local schools. See http://welcome.ox.ac.uk/

There is also a visa loan scheme to cover the costs of UK visa applications for staff and their dependents. Seehttp://staffimmigration.admin.ox.ac.uk/visa-loan-scheme

Family-friendly benefits

With one of the most generous family leave schemes in the Higher Education sector, and a range of flexible working options, Oxford aims to be a family-friendly employer. We also subscribe to My Family Care through The Work + Family Space, a service that provides practical advice and support for employees who have caring responsibilities. The service offers a free telephone advice line, and the ability to book emergency back-up care for children, adult dependents and elderly relatives. See http://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/my-family-care

Childcare

The University has excellent childcare services, including five University nurseries as well as University-supported places at many other private nurseries.

For full details, including how to apply and the costs, see http://childcare.admin.ox.ac.uk/home

Disabled staff

We are committed to supporting members of staff with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further details, including information about how to make contact, in confidence, with the University’s Staff Disability Advisor, seehttp://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/disability-support.

Staff networks

The University has a number of staff networks including the Oxford Research Staff Society, BME staff network, LGBT+ staff network and a disabled staff network. You can find more information at http://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/networks.

The University of Oxford Newcomers’ Club

The University of Oxford Newcomers’ Club is an organisation run by volunteers that aims to assist the partners of new staff settle into Oxford, and provides them with an opportunity to meet people and make connections in the local area. See www.newcomers.ox.ac.uk.

Appendix: The Tutorial Fellowship

General Template of Duties for Tutorial Fellows in Oxford Colleges

  1. Introduction

A Tutorial Fellowship represents the College side of a joint appointment, i.e. an appointment which involves a College component and a University component. The University side is represented by an Associate Professorship. The appointee is selected and funded jointly by the College(s) concerned and by the relevant division of the University. The joint appointment system is an unusual arrangement in research-intensive universities. Its central feature is that academics of major research reputation are attached to particular Colleges as Tutorial Fellows, where they are members of an interdisciplinary community of moderate size. In those Colleges they teach, and arrange teaching for, a small cohort of very able undergraduates in tutorials (teaching sessions with one, two, or three students) and small classes, monitoring their progress individually over the whole of their course. They also have responsibility for advising a certain number of graduate students in their subject area within their College. Tutorial Fellowships thus hold a key place in the intellectual culture of the collegiate University of Oxford. This document, adopted by the Conference of Colleges, aims to set out the main features of Tutorial Fellowships, and the expectations that Colleges will generally have of Tutorial Fellows.

The duties of a Tutorial Fellow are not confined to the College. All have an obligation as members of a department or faculty to contribute to research and teaching, and this will usually include lecturing, class teaching, supervision of graduate students and University examining alongside contributing to an internationally excellent research environment. As Associate Professors, the holders of joint appointments will also be expected to contribute to discussion and governance in their faculty or department, serving on committees, revising teaching syllabus materials and reading lists, and taking on administrative roles as needed. All Tutorial Fellows are also members of Congregation, the sovereign legislative body within the University, and have a right to vote on matters before Congregation.

  • Research

The Colleges have the same interest as departments and faculties in seeking to appoint to Tutorial Fellowships academic staff whose research is or has the potential to be of international standing, and a Tutorial Fellow will be required by the College to engage in research and publication at the highest level. The Colleges and the University work together to appoint outstanding researchers who are willing and able to engage in undergraduate and graduate teaching, student support and pastoral work, and administrative duties. Colleges offer extensive support for research, funding regular sabbatical leave and providing a system of allowances, together with rooms and library facilities, all within a welcoming, interdisciplinary community.

  • Teaching and support

Those appointed to Tutorial Fellowships are required to perform for the College or for the benefit of the College the stint of undergraduate tutorial teaching specified in their contract or job description, under the general oversight of each College’s Senior Tutor. The timing of tutorials and the exact numbers of students in each tutorial group are usually matters for the individual tutor, though each College will have established conventions, and the Senior Tutor and subject colleagues will provide advice and examples of past good practice including arrangements such as intercollegiate teaching exchanges which are commonly used to provide expert coverage of different aspects of (or subjects within) a discipline. Tutorial teaching is not the same as lecturing: the intention is to engage the students in small groups in intellectual interaction and creative dialogue so as to help them develop an independent, critical, and well-informed approach to their discipline. This approach is underpinned by regularly setting written work, typically weekly essays or problem sheets supported as necessary with recommended reading. Assessment and feedback on that written work is given by the tutors orally during the tutorials as well as by more conventional written comments or marking. Appointees should have the qualities required to relate effectively to students and their academic and personal needs.

Tutorial Fellows are generally assigned sole or joint tutorial responsibility for a defined group of students in their subject area within their College. This work typically involves the following tasks to support the students’ education:

  • arranging tutorial and/or class teaching for each student in each term, whether the teaching is done by the tutor or another, and ensuring that teaching is of an appropriate standard;
  • monitoring students’ progress through termly written reports, and by means of collections (regular tests of performance) and/or assessment of vacation work;
  • pastoral support of undergraduates reading the subject in question;
  • interviewing candidates who apply to read the subject at the College, including arranging for help from other suitable interviewers and making the final selection of who should be admitted;
  • writing references for students, and directing them to appropriate careers advice;
  • recommending and selecting books and online materials for their subject area in the College Library;
  • delegating responsibilities (a)-(f) above when on sabbatical leave, in consultation with the Senior Tutor and subject colleagues.

Tutorial Fellows are supported in these tasks by the administrative staff of the College and by the College Officers.

Tutorial Fellows normally do their tutorial teaching in rooms provided for them in Colleges or in their Departments or Faculties and should be easily contactable through their Colleges during Term (although it is recognised that conferences and other commitments may mean that Tutorial Fellows are sometimes away from Oxford for short periods in Term).

Oxford Colleges offer strong pastoral support to all their students. Here Tutorial Fellows play a key role, not only for their own undergraduates as indicated above, but also by acting as ‘College Adviser’ in College for a number of graduate students in their disciplinary area (this being additional to the formal academic supervision of research students arranged by the University with a suitable expert very possibly from another College). While Tutorial Fellows are often the first point of contact for students who are having difficulties, there are, of course, experts available when professional help is needed. Tutorial Fellows work closely with College Officers and with staff with appropriate medical and welfare training to ensure that students are supported appropriately and referred to professional services if that is necessary.

4: College Governance

Oxford Colleges are self-governing communities with wide responsibilities. Tutorial Fellows are normally members of College Governing Bodies, the sovereign bodies of Colleges. They are usually Charity Trustees as well as employees. In many Colleges, major College Officerships (Senior Tutor, Tutor for Admissions, Tutor for Graduates, Dean) are held by Fellows specially appointed to undertake those roles on a full-time basis. However, in some Colleges, such officerships are taken on by Tutorial Fellows on a full-time or part-time basis for agreed limited periods in return for additional stipend and/or a specified remission of tutorial teaching duties. In these various ways, Tutorial Fellows are expected to contribute to the governance and running of their Colleges, though Tutorial Fellows will not normally be asked to take on significant administrative duties in their probationary period (or in the first five years, if their probationary period is shorter than that).

ANNEXE

PAY SCALE FOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS WITH TUTORIAL FELLOWSHIPS (APTF-U) (with effect from 1 August 2020)

Grade (30S)
Scale 
point
National Pay spineUniversity SalaryCollege SalaryTotal Salary
1152£54,184£10,421£64,605
1051£52,609£10,118£62,727
950£51,081£9,824£60,905
849£49,597£9,538£59,135
748£48,156£9,262£57,418
647£46,758£8,992£55,750
546£45,400£8,731£54,131
445£44,082£8,478£52,560
344£42,802£8,232£51,034
243£41,560£7,993£49,553
142£40,353£7,761£48,114

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