Senior Lecturer in Film & Media

Weekly Working Hours:  37

Job Description: 

About the Role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join The Open University as a Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries (Film & Media) in our School of Creative Industries. We are looking for a dedicated individual to join a team developing innovative online learning resources in the Creative Industries and, specifically, for our new BA (Hons) Film & Media qualification. The role will involve leadership and may include line management responsibilities within the School. 

You must be enthusiastic about our unique mission, and about working in teams to develop a new curriculum which is diverse, inclusive and embraces the opportunities of distance learning. We welcome applications from those with experience of teaching, module development and research, who can demonstrate an understanding of the academic and vocational needs of students looking to study and work within the film and media sectors. 

In addition to contributing to module design and teaching within Film and Media, you will be encouraged and supported to develop research and impact activities within the area. While it is expected that you will use your research expertise to expand our current curriculum, you must also have the potential and willingness to teach and contribute to modules outside any specialism.

To find out more about the Faculty’s teaching, learning and research, please visit: http://fass.open.ac.uk/

Key Responsibilities

Teaching and Curriculum Design

• Provide leadership in and contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality curriculum in Film and Media at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Provide leadership in and contribute to the development of engaging, online module content which is embedded in our core values of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility.
• Support student learning activity by contributing to the preparation of assessment materials and participation in Quality Assurance and examination processes.
• Contribute to the presentation of Open University modules, which may include: chairing module teams; briefing and training of tutoring staff; engaging with teaching, assessment and marking.

Research

• Enhance the School and Faculty research and scholarship profile through the ongoing development of a quality research and impact portfolio. 
• Embed research into our curriculum to enhance the experience of students. This might include practice-based research methodologies.
• Generate grant or external funding income, where appropriate, to support your research.
• Strengthen the School’s links with industry to enable collaborations, impact and knowledge exchange.
• Attract and supervise postgraduate research students.

Administration, Management and other duties

• Engage with appropriate academic leadership and administrative tasks, and play an active role in the School, Faculty and wider University, as required by the Head of School. This may include line-management responsibilities as well as specific leadership roles.
• Act as an ambassador, both internally and externally, for the academic excellence of the School, Faculty and University.
• Ensure compliance with Statutory Requirements, Codes of Practice, University Policies and Health and Safety arrangements.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• A PhD in Film or Media or a related subject.
• Experience of developing and delivering inclusive and accessible film and/or media curriculum in an HE setting.
• A track-record of leadership roles and line-management responsibilities within HE, appropriate to career stage.
• A successful research profile, with evidence of grant applications and a track record of publication or equivalent practice-based work in Film or Media.
• A relevant professional network which can be mobilised to develop collaborations, enhance curriculum design and support research and knowledge exchange.
• Evidence of being able to work collaboratively and collegiately, within an organisation and with external bodies.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, including the ability to work to deadlines.
• Commitment to the aims, ethos and values of the Open University including the principles and practice of equality, inclusion and diversity.

Desirable

• Evidence of working with, and producing, innovative distance learning materials that demonstrate practical and vocational skills.
• Evidence of receiving research funding commensurate with career pathway and stage.
• An FE/HE teaching qualification or Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
• An interdisciplinary approach in teaching, with a willingness to think across genre/subject boundaries.
• Experience of engaging with film and media industry organisations and knowledge of production processes.

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you. 

You can live anywhere in the United Kingdom, but the role is based contractually at the Open University’s Milton Keynes campus and involves attendance there at academic community and module team meetings, which are expected to be around once every six weeks.

To apply for this role please submit the following as one document;

• CV
• Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.

If you have questions in relation to this role, please contact careers@open.ac.uk

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 recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. 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.