Assistant Professor in English, Creative and Academic Writing (Maternity Cover)

Position overview

Discipline: English, Creative and Academic Writing

Faculty: Humanities

Location: London, Devon House / Portsoken (St Katherines Dock)

Term: Full Time, Fixed Term: 01 August 2026 – 30 June 2027

Benefits

The university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, offering flexible working and parental leave opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme as well as optional private medical insurance, season ticket loans and a cycle to work scheme. Tuition fee remission is also available.

Employees are automatically enrolled in the University’s pension scheme with a minimum 4% contribution. They may also join the Salary Sacrifice plan to make additional tax efficient pension contributions. The University matches 4% as standard, rising to 8% maximum for higher contributions. Employees can tailor their contributions with support from an appointed independent financial advisor.

Direct Reports: N/A

Reports to: Line Manager assigned within the Faculty of Humanities

Start: 01 August 2026

The role

Northeastern University London invites applications for an Assistant Professor in English, Creative and Academic Writing (Maternity Cover). The appointee will teach undergraduate and possibly postgraduate students across domestic and mobility programmes, within both US credit and UK credit frameworks. They will also provide service to the discipline in line with the evolving needs of the Faculty and University. Appointments will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, reflecting a record of demonstrated teaching and service excellence.

Core duties will include the development and provision of innovative and inclusive teaching in relevant areas of English, Creative and Academic Writing at undergraduate and possibly postgraduate level, and professional service commensurate to career stage. Preference may be given to candidates with active interests in one or more of the following areas: academic writing; writing for first-year undergraduate learners across multiple disciplines; creative writing; interdisciplinary approaches to writing and literary criticism; and the literature and cultures of London. On the service side, experience that supports the Discipline’s engagement with the Research Excellence Framework (REF) would be highly valued.

The role comes with opportunities for disciplinary and interdisciplinary teaching. The English, Creative and Academic Writing Discipline prioritises teaching grounded in authentic, personalised learning and in experiential opportunities that draw on the exploration of London and its rich cultural, social, historical and political heritage. The Discipline is increasingly striving to align and innovate its offering along the humanics agenda, which combines human-centred competencies with the digital and technological literacy suited to the professions of the future. The Discipline is also home to world-class, innovative writing skills provision and programmes, including expert training in writing for students at the early stages of their studies and an online programme in Contemporary Creative Writing.

We particularly encourage applications from those with an interest in innovative teaching, learning and assessment; those with experience of supporting a wide variety of students; and those belonging to groups underrepresented in UK higher education. We are open to appointing on a reduced fraction/job-share basis subject to our business needs.

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Humanities comprises five disciplines, English, Creative and Academic Writing; History with Art History; Law and Criminology; Modern Languages; and Philosophy, which are among the longest-standing subjects at the institution. It is home to three undergraduate dual-degree programmes (in the UK and US) in English, History and Philosophy, and a UK-focused LLB in Law. It also hosts two postgraduate programmes: the online MA Contemporary Creative Writing and the MA Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence.

The Humanities Faculty plays a major part in Northeastern University’s global experience programme, offering undergraduate courses across all its subject areas and striving to inspire and equip entering students to become outstanding scholars with a solid grounding in the humanities and in human-centred competencies.

About the University

Founded in 2012, Northeastern University London (formerly known as New College of the Humanities) has established itself as a prestigious higher education institution based in the heart of London. Northeastern University London is part of Northeastern University’s Global Campus Network. Positioned as top ranking in the USA, Northeastern has campuses in Arlington, Boston, Charlotte, Miami, Oakland, San Jose, and Seattle in the USA, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

After becoming part of Northeastern University’s global network in early 2019, the University has undergone a period of rapid growth, having been granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers in February 2020, and moved to a new, state-of-the-art campus in 2021. 

Northeastern University London offers a vibrant, collegiate community delivering broad and academically rigorous degree programmes, designed to equip graduates with the combination of skills and knowledge that are increasingly desired by organisations, employers, and society. It offers state of the art audio visual technology in its teaching and meeting spaces across the organisation.

Person Specification Criteria

To undertake this role, the following should apply—should you not have the experience below, please do highlight where transferable skills would assist with you undertaking the role. Unless specified, all criteria are considered essential.

Qualifications

• PhD completed, or near completion (all but dissertation), or equivalent professional experience, in a relevant area
• FHEA status, or equivalent, achieved or expected (desirable)

Key Criteria

• Demonstrates, through evidence, excellent ability to be adaptable, innovative, and inclusive in the role as advertised with regards to teaching and service
• Willingness and capacity to undertake continuous professional development in relation to institutionally strategic themes, including but not limited to technology, data, sustainability, and ethics
• Ability to develop excellent educational provision in areas with significant appeal to students, including at postgraduate level, and with a focus on experiential learning
• Flexibility and capacity to teach across a wide range of courses, where appropriate in collaboration with specialists from other disciplines
• Teaching competency in English and Academic Writing, primarily at level 4 (i.e. introductory undergraduate), but potentially also at Level 7 (Creative Writing MA supervision)
• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills including presentation skills, both face-to-face and online
• Excellent IT skills and evidence of supporting the integration of technologies into learning and teaching
• Excellent time-management and organisational skills
• Experience that will support the Discipline’s engagement with the Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Additional Information

Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Peter Maber at peter.maber@nulondon.ac.uk. However, all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application process

Applications should be made via the ‘Apply’ button above by 07 August 2026. Please reference your application “R140977”

Applications must include a full curriculum vitae, a cover letter that sets out concisely and in ways relevant to this role how the applicant meets the person specification criteria, and a teaching statement (1 page maximum).

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Participation in the equal opportunities section is encouraged, but voluntary.

Please note this role may require a basic or enhanced DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Job sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.