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About the Role

The School of Engineering & Innovation (E&I) within the STEM Faculty at The Open University is seeking to appoint a Lecturer in Technology & Innovation Management. This is an exciting opportunity to join a world leader in distance teaching and learning and the largest provider of higher education in the UK. 

The successful candidate will join an energetic and committed team of academics and will primarily contribute to the development and delivery of both undergraduate and postgraduate distance learning curriculum focused on technology and innovation management. They should also be able to contribute to E&I’s interdisciplinary curriculum across engineering and/or sustainability. 

Teaching at The Open University is a team-based collaborative process, which fully supports the training and induction of new staff into the teaching process. The teaching component of the Lecturer role mainly involves maintaining and updating existing curriculum and authoring new curriculum for students studying remotely. Whilst there are some online and face-to-face opportunities for student engagement, direct student tuition is usually provided by our team of Associate Lecturers.

Candidates should be research active with relevant academic publications in the management and governance of technology and innovation in areas such as transport, energy and housing which contribute to urban and regional sustainability.  If successful, you will be supported to secure external research, enterprise and scholarship funding, and will be expected to undertake research that leads to high-ranking peer reviewed journal publications and to contribute to future REF submissions. 

You need to be resident in the UK at the time of the appointment and will be based at the Open University campus in Milton Keynes. A hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role if required, where the successful candidate works from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes campus, some attendance on campus will be required. We would expect this to be a minimum of 2 days per week and in response to business needs.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching

• Contribute to the planning, development, implementation and updating of a high quality and successful curriculum at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels in technology and innovation management and related interdisciplinary areas (e.g. engineering and/or sustainability).
• Prepare distance learning materials suitable for the teaching and learning methodologies used by the Open University.
• Support the delivery (presentation) of curriculum, including briefing, debriefing, and training of distributed teaching staff (Associate Lecturers).
• Support the teaching and assessment / examination processes of the University, monitor samples of marking by Associate Lecturers, be an active member of examination and assessment boards.
• Work with academic and academic-related colleagues in the support of student engagement and progression and other School and Faculty objectives.
• Contribute to the assurance and enhancement of the quality of teaching, learning, research and scholarship within the School of Engineering & Innovation and the wider STEM Faculty, in line with University standards, and complete any training deemed necessary.
• Undertake professional development as an academic educator.

Research and Scholarship

• Undertake a self-directed programme of collaborative research and scholarship in technology and innovation management and its application in interdisciplinary areas, that will contribute to the strengths of the School of Engineering & Innovation and the wider STEM Faculty, and at a level commensurate with the current standards of excellence in the Faculty.
• Generate research grant income to support the post-holder’s research and to strengthen the School’s technology and innovation management related research areas, including urban and regional sustainability, in line with School and Faculty objectives.
• Undertake technology and innovation management related research and/or scholarship that leads to high-impact publications.
• Work effectively and collaboratively to enhance a shared research and scholarship culture.
• Attract and co-supervise postgraduate research students.
• Participate in and host School and Faculty seminars and workshops aimed at sharing research outcomes and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Engage with appropriate academic leadership and administrative tasks, and play an active role within the School and Faculty, as required by the Head of School.

Outreach and Public Engagement

• Engage with, and support, the external promotion of technology and innovation management and related education at the Open University and contribute to the outreach activities of the School, STEM Faculty and the University.
• Lead and/or create external communications promoting the OU’s work via social and other media.
• Participate in the national and international STEM community and learned societies.
• Enhance the reputation of the School, the STEM Faculty, and the University by developing a network of contacts and engagements, for example with businesses and government bodies as appropriate.

Other responsibilities as required

• Engage with appropriate administrative tasks (e.g. workload planning, Career Development & Staff Appraisal) and support peer-to-peer review processes.
• Co-operate with the Open University in ensuring as far as necessary, that Statutory Requirements, Codes of Practice, University Policies, and School Health and Safety arrangements are complied with.

About You

We are expecting candidates to demonstrate all the essential criteria and some of the desirable criteria.

Essential:

• A PhD in technology and innovation management and/or its application in interdisciplinary areas (e.g. such as engineering and/or sustainability) or a very closely related area.
• A Masters degree or a good Honours degree (or equivalent) in same areas as listed for PhD or very closely related.
• A strong commitment to excellence in inclusive learning and teaching for a diverse student population.
• Demonstrable passion for teaching, whether in distance learning or face-to-face teaching environments.
• Ability to develop new distance-learning material at all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum in the field of technology and innovation management and related interdisciplinary areas such as engineering and/or sustainability.
• Demonstrable knowledge of developments within the discipline area relevant to teaching, research, and knowledge exchange activities.
• Strong track record in research related to technology and innovation management that is commensurate to the position.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with others in an interdisciplinary context for teaching or research, both in person and online.
• Ability to develop a leadership role in teaching and/or research, commensurate with stage of career.
• Ability to participate in a research and knowledge exchange programme compatible with the STEM Faculty research strategy and the interests of other research groups in the School and Faculty.
• Evidence of excellent communication skills, both oral and written in a variety of contexts, including the ability to offer and receive constructive criticism.
• Evidence of ability to plan and organise work to agreed deadlines.
• A commitment to the aims, ethos and values of the Open University.

Desirable:

• Experience of teaching, training or supervision in a relevant subject area.
• Experience of supporting adult learners within online and/or distance learning in asynchronous environments.
• Experience of producing online and/or distance learning materials.
• Application of new technologies to support distance teaching and learning.
• The ability to write on issues outside of immediate area of expertise but in a related topic, in an informed and coherent manner.
• Evidence of applying for external funding, taking into account stage of career.
• A strong publication record in mid to top-ranking peer reviewed journals, commensurate with stage of career.
• Experience of supervising research students and managing research budgets, appropriate to career stage.
• Higher Education Academy professional accreditation or equivalent qualification.
• Experience of working with and influencing sectors beyond Higher Education.
• Experience of creating social media communications and engaging external audiences.

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.

What's 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’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

If shortlisted, we anticipate interviews taking place onsite in Milton Keynes on 19th March. Prior to this, you will need to complete and present a presentaion to the School and the date for this is TBC. 

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• Supporting statement (You should set out in your supporting statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role as detailed above in the full Job Description)

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.