Reader

Job description 

Please note that this is a generic job description for the position of Reader.

Job family and grade: Research, Teaching and Enterprise Grade 8

Job purpose 

• To take a leading role in developing and enhancing the research, teaching and enterprise activities in support of the University Strategy, Creating Better Futures. Together.
• To engage personally with those activities, adding to the University’s international reputation.

Job duties

Academic leadership

• To pursue excellence in research, teaching and enterprise and to inspire others to do the same.
• To lead and participate in internal and external networks to foster collaboration and to promote the academic area, and the University, nationally and internationally.
• To monitor the external environment and ensure that the academic area and University capitalise on emerging opportunities and to review the scope of current academic provision. 

Research

• To pursue a personal research programme consistent with the research priorities of the academic area, that increases the global visibility and reputation of the University.
• To secure external research funding.
• To supervise and manage research projects.
• To publish the outcomes of research in outlets of international standing.
• To attend and contribute to the organisation of major international conferences.
• To supervise postgraduate students at Masters and Doctoral levels.
• ·To initiate, lead and collaborate in research initiatives with colleagues both within the School and externally.
• To initiate, lead and collaborate in research initiatives with other HEIs and other relevant bodies.

Teaching

• To lead colleagues in the School in developing capacity to deliver an exceptional learning environment for students.
• To teach and inspire undergraduate and postgraduate students and to conduct associated assessments.
• ·To provide academic and pastoral support to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• To promote the use of a range of methods and techniques in teaching, learning and assessment.
• To engage in the evaluation and development of modules for which you have responsibility, in terms of content, delivery and assessment.
• To be responsible for the design and content of specific areas of teaching and learning within the School’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• To lead colleagues in the continuous review and development of the School’s taught programmes and the curriculum.

Enterprise

• To initiate and lead engagement with business, public and voluntary organisations through knowledge exchange activities such as student projects and placements, research collaboration, consultancy and specialist training.
• ·To create social, cultural and economic impacts from academic, especially research, activity.
• To secure external funding in support of these activities.
• To seek opportunities for the commercialisation of research and the formation of social enterprises.

Related activities and functions

• To work effectively with relevant administrative, technical and academic staff in the academic area and across the University. 
• To carry out specific administrative roles and functions as may be reasonably required.
• To take part in and, on occasion, act as chair of one or more of the School’s committees.
• To engage in training programmes in the University (e.g. through Staff Development) which are consistent with your needs and aspirations and those of the academic area.
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably requested and that are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
• To engage fully with the annual Performance and Development Review (PDR) process. 

Points to note 

The purpose of this job description is to indicate the general level of duties and responsibility of the post. The detailed duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character or level of responsibility outlined in the document.