Graduate Teaching Assistant in Sociology

Location: Waterside Campus

Documents

• Job Description - SOC GTA.pdf (PDF, 154.47kb)

About the job

Fixed term: 3 years, part time: 0.5FTE (18.5 hours per week)

Please note that employment in the post of Graduate Teaching Assistant is contingent on the continuation of PhD study

Interview date: 4 October 2024

The Psychology and Sociology subject area at the University of Northampton (UON) is looking for a highly motivated and committed individual with a willingness and ability to contribute to the teaching and learning on a range of modules on our Ba (Hons) Sociology undergraduate programme, as well as other related activities at in Sociology, the Faculty of Health, Education and Society, and the wider UON, whilst also pursuing further postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD) studies.

You will be expected to already possess a relevant undergraduate degree, ideally in sociology – but we will consider applicants from other closely related fields that have a solid sociological foundation, as you will have to be able to hold you own as a sociologist going forward, fitting within a strong sociology team, delivering sociology teaching and learning to sociology students.

We are looking for a GTA whose previous learning and proposed research interests closely aligns with one of the following sociological subfields that you would be expected to coordinate and deliver modules related to from late January 2025: i.e., inequalities, race/ethnicity, environment/sustainability (although not limited to, and subject to change going forward).

The successful candidate will register as a postgraduate research student (associated fees will covered by the faculty), and aligned with one of the Centre for Psychological and Social Sciences Special Interest groups that reflect research excellence across the social sciences in specific specialisms – i.e. 1) diversity, community, and identity; 2) exceptional experiences and consciousness studies; and/or 3) health, education, and behaviour change – and supports a balanced and sustainable team of committed researchers working collaboratively within a nurturing research culture that gives rise to world-class research.

Along with completing your online application, in order to be considered for shortlisting, each applicant must email: james.white@northampton.ac.uk by 22 September 2024: an overview of approx. 1000 words of your PhD Proposal – including title, purpose, context, theory/concepts, justification/rationale, argument, methodology/methods, research question, aims, objectives and timescale; as well as a short bibliography of key sources (not included in the word count).

The length of contract is three years. You will be expected to work between Mondays-Wednesdays. Teaching will largely take place in two trimesters between September/October and May/June. Face-to-face will take place on Mondays and Tuesdays. Online teaching will take place on Wednesdays. This leaves you Thursday and Fridays to engage in postgrad studies.

Note: the balance and distribution of activities will vary between post holders and may vary from year to year; and will be allocated within the context of the University of Northampton workload guidance and in association with objectives agreed at Periodic Development Review.

We want you to be able to carry out your work in a way that best supports UON and our students, but also you as an individual. We understand this may vary between different areas of the university as well as from one person to another. With Smarter Working you can work with increased flexibility, if you would like to, which can facilitate greater freedom and autonomy.

About you

The successful candidate will have the passion to provide a significant contribution to our outstanding NSS scores through the education of our UON sociology students to the highest standards, based on advanced academic sociological knowledge and skill, and an experienced active blended workshop-based case study approach to teaching and learning.

You will join a team who deliver a diverse range of sociology modules around the areas of classical/contemporary sociological theory, education, identities/self, in/equalities and in/justice, crime, race/ethnicity, gender/sex/love/body, health/wellbeing, environment, media/culture, social change, the future, and death, as well as other sociological areas.

You will also be expected to be able to facilitate dissertation supervision in whatever viable potential topics our students want to pursue, and possibly other undergraduate/postgraduate sociological areas if/where required.

Other duties will include participation and engagement in personal academic tutoring, skills development, assessment, administrative tasks, quality assurance, induction, marketing/recruitment activities, school engagement, community outreach, module and programme development, programme/subject/faculty meetings, professional networking, continuing professional development, income generation, and any other duties normally expected from an individual of this level in respect of teaching, research, scholarship, and curriculum responsibility – including academic research as both a sociology lecturer and graduate student engaging in PhD studies.

Qualifications

Essential;

• Undergraduate Degree - A good honours degree in Sociology or another related discipline

Desirable;

• Master’s Degree – a good Master’s degree in sociology or another related discipline
• Professional Recognition – a willingness and ability to work towards successfully achieving a HEA Fellow or teaching qualification recognised by HESA

Faculty

The Faculty of Health, Education and Society offers more than just a learning environment for students – the team is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of people living and working across Northamptonshire. Our research aims to address inequalities through innovative interdisciplinary research, education and enterprise to improve the whole population’s health and wellbeing. We pride ourselves on our emphasis on participation and our inter-professional relationships. Our ability to draw on academic expertise from disciplines as diverse as psychology and sociology, as well as those more traditionally related to education and health/social care, means that we can consider real-world problems holistically.

About Us

Come to the University of Northampton and you will see that we do things a bit differently.

We are one of the youngest universities in the UK but we are already leading the way in adding value to society, which we call social impact. We have won multiple awards for our work in this area, among others, but what matters the most to us is ensuring that our students and graduates have the opportunity to make their mark on the world too. That’s why we were the first university in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012.

We want to break the mould of what Higher Education can be. This has led us to build a whole new University from the ground up that is designed to reflect the way that students actually learn rather than the way they are expected to learn. Waterside Campus opened in September 2018.

Our commitment to transforming lives and inspiring change is at the heart of all that we do.

Right to Work

All candidates will be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK at interview. Due to the requirements laid out by UK Visas and Immigration regarding Right to Work in the UK, the University can only accept applications from individuals who currently have a status allowing them to work in the UK for this position. Due to this criteria we regret that we are unable to offer sponsorship at this time. 

Equality

We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical and sustainable work, study and living environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion.

This commitment, along with our legal and moral obligations, provides an inclusive environment for staff, students and the public who may be affected by our activities.

Together @ UON confirms our commitment to equality and inclusion, underpinned by our belief in taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates equality and harnesses the power of diversity.

Together @ UON demonstrates our pledge to our staff, students and partners to nurture and develop an environment where equality and inclusion can thrive whilst we Transform Lives and Inspire Change.

To find out more, please visit: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-management/management/equality-and-diversity/