Assistant Professor in Social Work

Hours: Full time hours considered up to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week.

See current salary scales.

Expected Interview date: Week Commencing 06 October 2025

Expected start date: January 2026

About the role

As the Assistant Professor in Social Work, your work will be divided between teaching, research, as well as service and leadership responsibilities. We are looking for a colleague who can offer demonstrably high-quality teaching. Teaching responsibilities will involve contribution to the undergraduate and post-graduate taught qualifying social work programmes, childhood and youth programmes, and continuing professional development courses.

You will be able to demonstrate excellent research potential or leadership, commensurate with the career stage and the role that is applied for. You are expected to be research active and for your research to contribute to the REF2029. Your research should align with the work of one of the University research centres, such as the Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and Youth (CIRCY), which is a Centre of Excellence in Research at the University of Sussex.

The service role will involve Course Leadership for either Social Work or Childhood and Youth Courses we offer on undergraduate or post-graduate taught level. Delivery and leadership on social work qualifying programmes will involve collaboration with the experts by experience and the local practice partners in the statutory and voluntary sector. All aspects of the role will be supported through mentorship for research, teaching, and leadership roles.

About you

You are a qualified social worker who holds a PhD and is registered with Social Work England (or eligible to register), specialising in working with children, young people, and their families – committed to and passionate about social work and working with children and youth. Youth work background is desirable. During the application and selection process, you should demonstrate excellent interpersonal, organisational and administrative skills and ability to work within a diverse team, as well as with a variety of stakeholders.

We are looking for a colleague who demonstrates principles of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice with colleagues, students, experts by experience and other stakeholders. Furthermore, our future colleague will have excellent skills and abilities across teaching, research, and service roles, commensurate with their career stage, evidenced through evaluations of their work (student feedback), grant capture, publication record, and the references provided. Please see the essential and desirable criteria for further details.

We are primarily looking for a staff member who will be able to be appointed full time. However, applications for a part-time role may be considered if two excellent colleagues interested in a part-time role are deemed appointable.

About our School

Please find further information regarding the School of Education and Social Work on our website.

Why work here

Find out more about our reward and benefits package.

Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion

Further Key Information

Please contact Reima Ana Maglajlic (R.A.Maglajlic@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.

For full details and how to apply please click the 'Apply' button, above.

The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK. 

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