Lecturer in Classical Studies

Weekly Working Hours:  37

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join The Open University as a Lecturer in Classical Studies, where you will play a key role in our lively and forward-looking department. You will have the potential to contribute to various aspects of our current and future undergraduate curriculum which ranges widely across the Greek and Roman worlds and beyond, as well as to interdisciplinary modules in the School of Arts and Humanities, and our postgraduate teaching.

You must be motivated by the OU’s unique mission, and by the opportunity to work in teams to produce a wide range of Classical Studies teaching suitable for distance learning. We are looking for a colleague who can write in a lively and engaging style and has the interest and potential to develop innovative distance learning materials. While you should be committed to working across a broad range of the curriculum, you must also demonstrate the ability to deliver excellent teaching in Roman social or cultural history and/or Latin literature as well as beginners' Latin. You must be an active researcher with a proven track record of original research in the field of Classical Studies (broadly conceived) in line with career stage. Our department also places a high value on public engagement, outreach and impact, and knowledge exchange, and we welcome new colleagues who can support our work in these areas.

For more information about Classical Studies at the OU, please visit our website at: https://fass.open.ac.uk/classical-studies.

Key Responsibilities

You will be expected to contribute to the teaching, research, and administration of the department, School, Faculty and University in the following ways:

Teaching

• To contribute individually and as part of teams to the development, planning and delivery of high quality and successful curriculum at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels, in Classical Studies.
• To prepare distance learning materials and assessment suitable for the teaching and learning methodologies used by The Open University, with particular attention to the needs of distance learners.
• To contribute to the presentation of Open University modules. This includes the setting of assessments/examinations, monitoring samples of marking undertaken by Associate Lecturers, membership of examination boards, contributing to Associate Lecturer and student forums, and offering occasional ‘learning events’ which may occur in evenings or at weekends.

Research

• To conduct high quality research on Classical Studies topics (broadly conceived) that will contribute to knowledge and understanding and enhance the department’s research profile. 
• To take a collaborative part in fostering the Classical Studies department’s shared and vibrant culture of research and scholarship.
• To seek to make research relevant to teaching and broader audiences as appropriate.

Academic Management

• To take on and perform academic leadership and administrative tasks and play an active part in the School and Faculty, as required by the head of department.
• To comply with all relevant statutory requirements, Codes of Practice, University Policies and Health and Safety Requirements.

About You

Essential Criteria:

• A completed PhD in Classical Studies or a related subject (completed is defined as having a successfully signed qualification at the point of application, rather than having submitted a thesis which is pending amendments).
• A track record of published research, in line with career stage, and detailed plans for future research with the potential to produce work of international or world-leading quality.
• A proven ability to successfully teach a range of topics relating to Latin literature and/or Roman social or cultural history.
• A proven ability to successfully teach Latin at beginner's level.
• Broad experience of teaching at a range of undergraduate levels, with an ability to contribute to teaching beyond your immediate area of specialisation.
• An interdisciplinary approach in teaching and/or research, with a willingness to think across genre/subject boundaries.
• The ability and readiness to develop, research and write distance-learning materials.
• The ability and readiness to provide academic input and leadership for established OU modules.
• A proven ability to work efficiently and to deadlines, both independently and in close collaboration with colleagues when working as part of a broader team.
• A lively interest in pedagogical techniques for teaching Classical Studies in Higher Education.
• The ability and willingness to work in a way that aligns with the ideals of The Open University.

Desirable Criteria: 

• Research expertise in Latin literature and/or Roman social or cultural history.
• A qualification in teaching in a Higher Education context (e.g. PGCert, FHEA).
• Experience of teaching Classical Studies at postgraduate level.
• Experience of additional research activity (e.g. research impact activities, bidding for funding) appropriate for career stage.
• The ability to contribute to maintaining and raising the profile of Classical Studies at the OU (e.g. through outreach work or activities with a public impact).

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

For information regarding residency and right to work requirements in the UK, please refer to our Right to Work guidance page.

What is in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

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

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, allowing you to work from both home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required as necessary to meet business needs. We would expect this to be approximately once per month. Travel expenses incurred for journeys to Milton Keynes will not be reimbursed.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

It is anticipated that interviews will take place in January. The selection process will consist of a panel that will include discussion of a pre-prepared task, details to be confirmed. The interviews will take place on campus, although candidates who are invited to interview who are unable to attend in person will not be disadvantaged and will be provided with information about how to contact us to discuss alternative arrangements.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit the following as separate documents;

• CV
• Supporting statement, up to 1,500 words. You should set out in your statement why you are 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.

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.