Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences

Northumbria is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence.

Ranked in the UK top 50 (Guardian University League Table 2022 and Complete University Guide 2023), Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now rated within the top 25 in the UK.

At Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow’s challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold. We are looking for future colleagues that share our ambition.

Northumbria University seeks to appoint an outstanding scholar working in the field of Film to join a vibrant academic community within the Department of Arts. As a modern research-intensive university, Northumbria places great importance on the synthesis of research, learning and teaching, and employability agendas. Our programmes benefit from a focus on practice-research. Your experience will continue to strengthen this offer. As a leader in your field, you will contribute to our existing portfolio of undergraduate programmes, and play an integral role in the development of a new MA Film. Your expertise in Film, along with your experience working with external stakeholders, will equip you to work with industry partners to develop research-rich learning opportunities for our students. Film at Northumbria understands the value of experiential learning and a hybrid approach to learning and teaching. We are looking for colleagues with a strong, research-enriched, approach to practice. Your experience fusing theory and practice will support students interested in working on location-based genres, drama, and documentary film production. You will have opportunities to develop and contribute to existing modules and programmes, particularly in any of the areas of film festivals, experimental film, horror, virtual reality, and/or virtual production. You will be encouraged to demonstrate how your expertise and experience complement what we already do and help us develop in new areas. 

The quality and depth of the curriculum within the Department of Arts is reinforced by dynamic research and enterprise culture, covering all aspects of the work of our staff and students. Through critical examination and innovative forms of practice, research is united by strong principles of social engagement through creativity, collaboration, participation, and cross-and interdisciplinarity.

These principles shape distinctive research practices which include investigations of transglobal exchange in visual and material cultures; fine art conservation; experimental forms of exhibition-making and curation; studies and production of moving image and examinations of popular media; and the socio-political ‘spaces’ of theatre and performance. They have resulted in unique interactions across, for example, fields of fine art, science and technology; and between Black and minority ethnic organisations and cultural studies academics in interpretations of (Multi) Cultural Heritage.

Your excellent research profile will make a strong contribution to our submission to future Research Excellence Frameworks. You will hold a PhD or equivalent and will already be developing a publication track record of exceptional quality, with clear plans to develop funding applications. You will show excellent teaching experience and a commitment to working beyond the academy in partnership with others.

You will join an intellectually rich, diverse, and inclusive department. Issues of social justice, antiracist practices, and feminist leadership strategies underpin our ethos and approach to teaching, research, and leadership. We value and celebrate diversity of ideas, people, and practices. We are committed to the power and potential of our civic duties. We understand that varied perspectives mean we are better placed to respond to the complex challenges and big questions facing our disciplines, communities, and stakeholders. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented communities in academia and from Black and Global Majority colleagues.

For informal enquiries about this post please contact Dr Solomon Lennox, Head of Departments - Arts, solomon.lennox@northumbria.ac.uk.

For more information about the Department of Arts, please visit: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/arts/.

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now', and submit a covering letter, CV including research /education statements, and grants and publications list. Please highlight your highest quality research outputs up to a maximum of 4. In addition, candidates are asked to provide copies of the top 2 research outputs (Journal / book chapter /practice-based portfolio). Where possible candidates are asked to combine all documents into a single file.

Northumbria is one of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries. Putting students at the heart of an outstanding experience, and with world-leading research and award-winning partnerships, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university.  Discover more about us.

Northumbria University is a great place to work.  We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work life balance. To say thank you, we offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and more.

We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager.

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We are also a member of the Euraxess network, which delivers information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.

We welcome applications from the UK and across the world. Visit our web pages for details about Relocation Assistance.

This post is advertised across our Assistant Professor and Lecturer roles (role descriptions are attached). Colleagues appointed into our Lecturer grade are usually early career academics who are supported through their probationary period to develop their Academic profile. Upon completion of probation objectives these colleagues are automatically moved into the Assistant Professor role. The selection panel will assess your application and discuss with you which role you are being considered for at selection and appointment stages.

Please note this vacancy will close on 03/10/2022