Associate Professor of Careers and Employability Education

Team Derby; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent university in England seeks an experienced Associate Professor to enhance its International Centre for Guidance Studies. The role involves driving research in careers education, mentoring junior staff, and leading impactful projects. Applicants should have a strong national and international reputation, significant experience in research funding, and exemplary publishing records. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of education at a forward-thinking institution.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Teacher’s Pension Scheme

Wellbeing benefits and support

Discounted onsite gym

Qualifications

• Proven track record in national and international research.
• Experience in generating and managing research income.
• Expertise in mentoring and supervising research students.

Responsibilities

• Drive forward the field of careers and employability education through research.
• Publish high-quality research outputs suitable for the REF.
• Lead and manage research projects and seek funding.

Skills

Research leadership

Collaborative working

Strong interpersonal skills

Education

PhD in a relevant discipline

Tools

Research software

Job description

About The University

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About The College/Department

At the University of Derby, our Institute of Education and Skills is at the heart of shaping the educators, trainers, and leaders of tomorrow. We are dedicated to inspiring, developing, and empowering professionals across education, training, and lifelong learning to transform lives and communities.

We deliver high-quality programmes that span teacher training, post-16 education, early years, educational leadership, and workforce development. By combining academic expertise with real-world application, we prepare our students to make an impact in diverse educational settings.

Our staff are committed to innovation, inclusion, and excellence; engaging learners with cutting-edge research, sector-leading practice, and a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. We are proud to work with schools, colleges, training providers, and employers across the region and beyond, ensuring that our teaching is grounded in the needs of society and industry.

Whether through developing the next generation of teachers, enhancing workforce skills, or advancing educational research, the Institute of Education and Skills plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of education.

Our specialist areas of research include careers education and guidance, technical and vocational education and training, teacher education, special educational needs and disability, childhood studies and race and education. Our ITE provision is rated outstanding by Ofsted. As a Guardian Top 30 provider, we have a strong focus on the application of research to real-world settings and professional partnerships with over 500 educational settings.

The International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS)

Established in 1998, iCeGS is a leading international research centre focused on careers, careers education and guidance, employability and transitions. It works closely with key stakeholders to deliver research, consultancy and teaching that can influence careers policy and contribute to excellent, evidence-based practice.

The Centre has a lifelong focus and addresses careers and employability learning from early years to older workers. iCeGS’ core focus areas include career education and guidance in schools; employability in higher education; and adult careers and employment services.

Our work is informed by social justice and the desire to deliver high quality research and innovative new thinking that shapes policy and practice and contributes to enhanced opportunities for learners across the world.

About The Role

We are looking to recruit an experienced academic with considerable expertise and standing as a researcher and a significant international track record in the field. You will have a strong national reputation and be in the process of building an international reputation for your academic work.

You will drive forwards the field of careers and employability education through high quality research, knowledge transfer and teaching. You'll also contribute to the research strategy of the Institute of Education and Skills through academic leadership and appropriate research activity and lead research applications and income generation. You will also be publishing high quality (3* or above) research regularly and will be able to contribute to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) both through your own work and the mentoring of other staff.

You will conduct world-leading, internationally excellent and impactful research, win and manage major external grants/projects and support postdoctoral and doctoral researchers.

We are currently developing our growing research culture after receiving an excellent REF result in 2021 and the post holder will play a key role in developing and growing the excellence of the research and impact in the centre and the wider Institute of Education and Skills, to support our ambitions for REF 2029.

Interview date - 16th February 2026

About You

We are looking for an outstanding, strategic, collaborative and collegiate Associate Professor to join us and contribute to the growth of the International Centre for Guidance Studies and the Institute of Education and Skills.

You will be expected to have an excellent track record in publishing, including world-leading and internationally excellent outputs for the Research Excellence Framework (REF); to have an outstanding international reputation and networks in your field; to have some leadership and management experience and to have experience of attracting research funding and leading research projects with real world impact.

Principal accountabilities

Research/Scholarship

• In collaboration with other senior academics, participate in the development and management of the research and innovation strategy for the Institute of Education and Skills.
• Contribute to the development of the International Centre for Guidance Studies and work collaboratively to mentor more junior staff in the Centre.
• Publish regularly at 3* level or above and develop a research profile suitable for submission to the REF.
• Identify and seek funding for research and income generating projects to be carried out individually or collaboratively with colleagues across the Centre, the Institute and the University.
• Deliver research projects to a high standard and agreed timelines.
• Provide high quality teaching and supervision from undergraduate level to PhD.
• Build an international research network to support collaboration, funding, publication and impact.
• Engage closely with relevant stakeholders in policy and practice, building links and networks capable of supporting collaboration, funding and impact.

Leadership and Management

• Contribute to the management, academic leadership and administration of the International Centre for Guidance Studies and the Institute of Education and Skills.
• Lead the Development Performance Review (DPR) process within own area of responsibility, ensuring clear performance expectations and development plans are agreed, and encourage the continuous professional development of staff.
• Undertake a range of leadership and management activities as appropriate which may include, but is not limited to, line managing individuals and / or teams, within areas of responsibility, chairing and participating in University-level committees, leading and developing external networks, acting as a personal mentor to peers and colleagues.

Other

• Work across the University to help build interdisciplinary team working in conjunction with other academic staff.
• Referee papers and grant proposals for external bodies.
• Participate in the dissemination of research at conferences and where opportunities exist, act as Chair at conference sessions.
• Carry out administrative duties in order to contribute to the efficient management and administration of the College and University.
• Observe and implement University policies and procedures.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• Subject specific qualifications / knowledge relating to careers and employability education or related areas

Experience

• Demonstrable evidence of research, scholarship, teaching and cutting edge practice at a national and international level
• Substantial record of high-quality publications at national and international level
• Proven experience of generating and managing research income
• Experience of leading research teams or groups, developing research proposals and managing research projects
• Experience of effective supervision of research students to completion and mentoring junior colleagues
• Experience of supervising undergraduate projects /postgraduate research students, providing training and some teaching as appropriate

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills evidenced by collaborative working within a team and with external partners (nationally and internationally)
• Proven ability to demonstrate leadership, to manage, motivate and develop a team
• Ability to use skills of persuasion and influencing to develop successful relationships at all levels
• Mentorship skills with the ability to coach colleagues in a range of learning and teaching techniques, education, professional practice and where appropriate research
• Able to monitor and manage budgets
• High level analytical capability to facilitate conceptual thinking, innovation and creativity
• Ability to devise, advise on and manage research programmes
• Track record of published research in peer reviewed journals / professional journals
• Strong digital skills including mastery of appropriate research software and an ability to learn new applications

Business Requirements

• Demonstrate competences, core behaviours and supplementary behaviours that support and promote the University’s core values
• Demonstrate professionalism in learning / teaching and the values of the UK Professional Standards Framework for Higher Education
• Commitment to ensuring academic excellence and a high quality student experience
• Demonstrate commitment to promoting and achieving our strategic targets and objectives
• Enhanced DBS check with child barred list might be required when in post, depending on the research the post holder will be working on

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education or equivalent qualification
• Qualification as a careers advisor, teacher or other educational practitioner

Experience

• Experience of collaborating with partners outside of the sector such as industry or commerce

Skills, Knowledge And Abilities

• Understanding of the landscape of policy and practice in careers and employability and the wider education and employment systems

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Teacher’s Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Find out more about rewards and benefits

Key contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Tristram Hooley, Research Professor via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail].

Important information

Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University.

The Offered Salary For This Role Is Less Than The Going Rate For The Occupation And The Minimum Salary Threshold For The Skilled Worker Route (£41,700 Per Annum, As Of 22nd July 2025). Therefore You Will Only Be Eligible To Apply For a Skilled Worker Visa Subject To Your Individual Circumstances Which Must Meet One Of The Following Criteria Set Out By UKVI:

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

You must also meet the English Language requirement.

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title ’Mx’. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

Read more about equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.