Assistant Lecturer in Gemmology

Assistant Lecturer in Gemmology – 2 Posts

Permanent: 1 x Full Time (1.0 FTE) and 1 x Part Time (0.6 FTE)

Birmingham City University’s historic School of Jewellery is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of jewellery and associated disciplines. We are seeking two Assistant Lecturers in Gemmology to join our highly regarded BSc and MSc Gemmology programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity for knowledgeable and experienced gemmologists to bring current professional practice into an inspiring academic environment. You may already be teaching, or you may be working in a gemmological laboratory, jewellery business, auction house, testing or certification environment, or another relevant area of the industry and be considering a move into higher education.

You do not need to be an established university lecturer to apply. We welcome applicants who have developed their ability to share specialist knowledge through professional training, mentoring, coaching, demonstrations, workshops, presentations or supporting colleagues and trainees.

The role

Working collaboratively with the Gemmology course team, you will contribute to the delivery and continued development of our BSc and MSc programmes. You will:

• Deliver engaging teaching and practical activity across gemmology and related jewellery studies.
• Demonstrate and support the use of standard and advanced gemmological equipment and techniques.
• Assess student work and provide constructive feedback.
• Support students as a Personal Tutor and throughout their academic journey.
• Help ensure our curriculum remains current, inclusive and closely connected to professional practice.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, professional bodies, laboratories and the wider gemmological and jewellery industries.
• Contribute to scholarship, research, enterprise and knowledge-exchange activity appropriate to your experience and interests.

About you

You will have a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject alongside appropriate professional gemmological qualification(s), together with strong current or recent professional experience in gemmology.

You will be able to communicate specialist technical knowledge clearly and engagingly, understand current developments and challenges across the jewellery and gemmological industries, and be committed to supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Experience of higher education teaching is desirable but not essential. A teaching qualification is welcomed; if you are new to higher education, you should be willing to develop your academic practice and work towards the appropriate University teaching qualification or professional recognition where required.

Experience with advanced laboratory equipment such as FTIR, Raman and UV-Vis would also be advantageous.

Why join BCU?

You will join a diverse and supportive academic community and benefit from opportunities to develop your teaching, scholarship and professional practice, alongside generous annual leave, pension provision, wellbeing support and access to the specialist facilities, expertise and professional networks of the School of Jewellery.

Applicants may apply for the full-time post, the part-time post, or both.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Miranda Wells, Head of Department, at Miranda.wells@bcu.ac.uk.

Advert information