Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics

Job Description

 JOB DESCRIPTION 

1. JOB TITLE: Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics 

2. HRMS REFERENCE NUMBER: RA005864A 

3. ROLE CODE: FINLEC 

4. DEPARTMENT: Clinical Sciences and Nutrition

5. ORGANISATION CHART:

6. JOB PURPOSE:

• To provide a supportive learning environment for students to develop graduate level and subject specific skills.
• To participate in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• To develop and implement teaching and learning initiatives. 

7. BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition is a Department within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences at the University of Chester. It is based at the Chester campus which is close to the centre of the city with excellent facilities for students and staff.   The Department was established to enable the University to consolidate its already considerable international reputation for teaching and research in this field.

The Department offers programmes in clinical and public health and food science contexts at postgraduate and undergraduate levels taught both in the UK and overseas. These are:

  Postgraduate Overseas programmes

MSc Exercise & Nutrition Science, Dublin.

   Postgraduate Research

   MRes, MPhil, PhD.

The taught programmes are delivered within the Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition utilising the resources of the Faculty and the University.

The department has a team of 12 FTE academic staff, 3.8 FTE administrative staff and technicians / demonstrators.  We have a dedicated exercise physiology and nutrition skills laboratories along with a computer suite running nutrition analysis software, food laboratories equipped with advanced teaching facilities and research facilities for the projects funded with industrial funding and research funding.  Close links with regional and international food industry and visiting specialists contribute to the delivery of our programmes. We hold contracts with local NHS Trusts which provide specialist input into programmes and clinical space for teaching.  We also have a number of MPhil/PhD students and research assistants for commissioned projects.

We have a vacancy for a full-time Lecturer with expertise in Nutrition and Dietetics.  The person appointed will report to the Head of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition and will contribute to the teaching and assessment of nutrition and dietetic modules across the department’s programmes.

The successful applicant will join a growing academic team of dietitians, exercise physiologists, food scientists and nutritionists contributing to a range of specialist areas. 

8. WORK PERFORMED AND/OR KEY RESULT AREAS: 

8.1 Communicating Effectively

• To facilitate students’ learning through lectures, tutorials and seminars at undergraduate, levels, contributing to post graduate and masters levels as required.
• To produce high quality teaching and learning material to support and develop student learning at undergraduate level and at postgraduate level, as required.
• To write and publish research papers on occasion.
• To contribute to the writing of course validation documents as required. 

8.2 Leadership and Working Collaboratively

• To act as module leader as required.
• To collaborate with academic colleagues on course development and curriculum changes. 

8.3 Liaison and Networking

• To build internal contacts & participate in internal networks for the exchange of information & to form relationships for future collaboration.
• To be an active member of relevant departmental committees

8.4 Delivering a High Quality Standard of Service

• To enhance the quality of taught and research programmes at under-graduate and/or postgraduate levels.
• To seek ways of improving performance by reflecting on teaching design and delivery by obtaining and analysing peer observation feedback, student feedback, and external examiner feedback to maintain high quality learning and teaching.

8.5 Effective Decision Making

• In the context of the role-holder’s teaching duties, to make independent decisions on the content of individual learning activities and marking for student assessment purposes, and to provide advice to colleagues on such matters.
• To sit on student selection panels as required.
• To make collaborative decisions with programme teams on the content of taught and research programmes at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels.
• To provide advice on issues to other members of the department to influence operational decisions within the immediate work area.

8.6 Planning and Organising Self and Others 

• To act as module leader as required.
• To contribute to programme organisation.
• To plan and manage own teaching and tutorials as agreed with mentor. 

8.7 Innovation and Improvement (Effective Problem Solving)

• To deal with problems e.g. students’ academic progress and personal issues (e.g. responding to needs of students with learning difficulties through referral to the appropriate support departments within the University).

8.8 Analysis and Research

• To research teaching materials and to identify and utilise current best practice in the relevant subject area.
• To conduct subject specific research and scholarship as appropriate. 

8.9 Sensory and Physical Demands

• Standard office environment and equipment reflecting the needs of classroom, laboratory, studio, field and placement activities as appropriate.

 8.10 Work Environment 

• To be responsible for the health and safety of students in their immediate working environment, reporting any health and safety concerns to the Head of Department. 

8.11 Pastoral Care and Welfare

• To deal with sensitive issues concerning students and provide support.
• To act as a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

8.12 Team Development

• To undertake peer mentoring and review of colleagues as required. 

8.13 Teaching and Learning Support 

• To design inductions to modules and programmes for students, adapting delivery to suit learners’ needs
• To design and deliver one off lectures or workshops as required, providing feedback on performance
• To develop and design course content and materials, ensuring compliance with the quality standards and regulations of the University and department.
• Develop and research own teaching materials, methods and approaches with guidance and ensure that content, methods of delivery and learning materials meet defined learning objectives.
• To conduct seminars and tutorials, introducing new methods of delivery where required.
• To assess students overall performance, through setting/ marking programme work, practical sessions, supervisions, fieldwork and examinations, providing appropriate feedback to students.
• To challenge thinking, foster debate and develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse and rational thinking.
• To supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with learning problems. 

8.14 Knowledge and Experience

Qualifications

• Will be required to hold or achieve a Masters level or equivalent professional qualification and membership of a relevant professional body (e.g.HEA) within a specified period from the date of appointment.
• Will be required to obtain a doctoral level qualification or equivalent professional qualification/recognition.

Experience

• Must develop suitable expertise to deliver lectures in relevant subject area. 

Skills/Attributes 

• An ability to keep abreast of, and lead developments in, teaching specific to the subject area.
• An ability to support students both academically and pastorally.
• Organisational and administrative skills.
• IT skills.
• An ability work as part of a team.

8.15 General 

• To undertake any other duties commensurate with your grade, and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you.
• To take responsibility for upholding and complying with the University’s Equality and Diversity policies and for behaving in ways that are consistent with fair and equal treatment for all.
• To comply with all University Health and Safety policies.

Essential Requirements are those, without which, a candidate would not be able to do the job. Applicants who have not clearly demonstrated in their application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be rejected at the shortlisting stage. 

Desirable Requirements are those that would be useful for the post holder to possess and will be considered when more than one applicant meets the essential requirements.

Method of identification is where the selection panel will match the candidate’s skills and abilities to the required criteria outlined (i.e. application form, interview, test)  

UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL SCIENCES AND NUTRITION

LECTURER

PERMANENT CONTRACT (1.0FTE) 

SALARY SCALE

TSR 3, points 31 – 34, £34,804- £38,017 per annum.

CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT

Permanent contracts will be offered to those candidates who possess both a higher degree/PhD and a postgraduate HE teaching qualification/Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. A successful candidate who lacks either will be offered a fixed term contract, pending fulfilment of these conditions.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

It is a requirement of this post that within 12 months of appointment, the post-holder should live within a 30 mile radius or within a one hour travelling time by public transport from the University.

HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT

35 days per annum.  In the annual leave year in which employment commences annual leave entitlement will accrue on a pro-rata basis for each completed calendar month of service.  Two extra statutory days during the Christmas period.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

The successful candidate will be required to complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire and may also be required to undergo a medical examination.

ESSENTIAL CERTIFICATES

Short-listed candidates will be asked to bring to interview, proof of qualification as outlined on the Job Description and Person Specification provided.  Upon appointment, copies of essential certificates will be required by Human Resources.

DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE CHECKS

The successful applicant will have to undergo a DBS check before an appointment can be made.

PENSION SCHEME

All academic staff will be enrolled in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme from their first day of employment, in accordance with the scheme rules.  If staff do not wish to remain a member of the scheme, they will be entitled to opt out after enrolment.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The University has a policy of equal opportunity aimed at treating all applicants for employment fairly.

SMOKING POLICY

The University operates a No-Smoking policy. 

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

A twelve months’ probationary period applies to all Academic posts.

CLOSING DATE

Candidates should apply for this vacancy via our online recruitment website (https://jobs.chester.ac.uk/wrl/) by 8^th February 2021 quoting reference number RA005864A.