Director of the Centre for Applied English Studies

Work type: Full-time
Department: Centre for Applied English Studies (05300)
Categories: Professoriate Staff

Director of the Centre for Applied English Studies

The Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES) has worked to keep abreast of best practice in the field of applied linguistics, particularly with respect to academic literacy in higher education. The Centre’s primary mission is to enhance undergraduate and postgraduate students’ academic literacy skills throughout their university education. The Centre is housed within the Faculty of Arts, with CAES staff working closely with academic staff across many different faculties on course design, delivery and evaluation. The Centre also provides an extensive range of out-of-class communication support services; a highly successful MA in Applied Linguistics and an MA in TESOL (delivered jointly with the Faculty of Education); and a PhD programme. Staff at the Centre research in the areas of academic discourse, literacy practices and language teaching and learning. The Centre’s research work is central to its mission of enhancing students’ academic literacy. Further information about the Centre can be obtained at http://caes.hku.hk/.

The Role

The next Director of CAES will be the academic leader and administrative head with overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Centre of more than 50 teaching staff, 3 PhD students and 16 administrative staff, all from diverse cultural backgrounds. S/he will provide leadership in all aspects of the Centre’s development, academic advancement, strategic planning and curricular implementation.  S/he will also be expected to take the lead in designing and delivering two courses in the MA in Applied Linguistics programme.

The successful candidate will have the following proven skills/experience:

• a doctoral degree in Applied Linguistics or a similarly relevant area, though strong candidates without such a degree will also be considered;
• leadership experience providing a vision for the development of a language centre and implementing that vision through consultation with senior management of a university;
• management experience running a sizeable language centre within a university, in particular the implementation of effective policies for the day-to-day running of the language centre;
• a substantial academic background in academic literacy teaching and research;
• excellent interpersonal skills, in particular an ability to build consensus amongst staff in decision making;
• strong administrative skills, in particular management of a multi-million dollar budget.

Terms of Appointment

Appointment to the position will be on a three-year fixed term basis, renewable by mutual agreement, and on tenure terms for exceptionally outstanding candidates.

A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, together with contract-end gratuity and University contribution to a retirement benefits scheme at 15% of basic salary. Other benefits include annual leave and professional leave, medical benefits, and free access to on-campus gyms and libraries. Housing benefits will be provided as applicable.

How to Apply

The University only accepts online application for the above post. Applicants should apply online at the University’s careers site and upload an up-to-date C.V. and a letter of interest.  Review of applications will commence as soon as possible and continue until March 20, 2023, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

The University is committed to diversity and inclusivity. The Faculty of Arts expressly encourages qualified persons of all genders to apply.