Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Operations Management and Information Systems The School of Business and ntrepreneurship (SB) has an ambitious growth plan. It is now looking to recruit those who are excited about change, ambitious to develop their careers and willing to work within a small team but also enthusiastic about taking on responsibility for specific areas which they will make their own and grow. With the global agribusiness sector at 10% of world GDP the global agrifoods industry itself is set to provide the next revolution in economic development. As such, our graduates have a wide choice of career options for which we need to prepare them well. We have started by partnering with the Chartered Management Institute, CMI, to offer dual qualifications to all our students. Our graduates will also be eligible for an appropriate grade of professional membership and MBA graduates will be awarded Chartered Manager status. In keeping with the university s Corporate Plan 2014-19 the School is also looking to double its student numbers. To support this mission the SB has, (a) recently revalidated all its programmes: MBA degree in International Food and Agribusiness MBA in Advanced Farm Management MSc in Business and Management MSc in Rural Tourism Management BSc (Honours) in International Business and Management and BSc (Honours) International Agrifoods Management. The School is a vibrant community at the heart of the university and many of the modules offered by our School are also taken by students across three other Schools on degree programmes such as agriculture, equine studies, real estate and land management. (b) stablished international partnerships to increase its footprint overseas. It is already actively involved in the USA and China and for the SB both markets are poised for significant growth. It is now building up strategic partnerships in India and Germany. In addition, the African Fellowship Trust has approved our international MBA and the business and management MSc programme which mean we will commence recruitment from Africa into our 2016 intake. This is also a strategic appointment to help build the School s research strength. The Dean is committed to creating a stimulating research environment which should be enabling to developing your own interest within the broader themes adopted by the school and university. You will be joining a small group of active researchers and a PhD programme which is growing and so joining a PhD supervisory team early is expected. We would therefore like to encourage anyone who is qualified to at least to masters level with demonstrable relevant experience or with a PhD and publications to apply. Typically, but not exclusively, suitably qualified applicants will have recent experience of lecturing in areas such as operations management, information systems, logistics, change management and innovation. xperience of lecturing project management would be highly desirable. An interest in new information technologies, big data and the cloud as well as in the internet of things would be an advantage. This is an exciting time of change for the SB, which should offer potential candidates excellent career prospects. Role related specific tasks: 1. Lecturing operations management and information systems to UG and PG groups and programmes.
2. Lead contact on behalf of the SB with the Institute of Project Management and to deliver the Project Management module and certification of students. (The School will support the post holder with training needs and membership of the IPM at the appropriate level.) 3. Taking the lead on use of new information technologies and the management of information in agriculture and agri-industries and sharing/supporting and presenting on appropriate xecutive Training programmes. 4. Securing research grants individually or as part of a team 5. Supervision of research degrees e.g Masters and especially doctorates. Application Procedure Academic Application forms are available from our website www.rau.ac.uk Please send completed application forms (attach CV for additional information if you wish) to Paula Brown, HR Advisor, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, and Glos, GL7 6JS Closing date for application forms is 17:00h on 24 April with interviews on 22 or 29 May 2015. JOB DSCRIPTION Job title: Department: Salary: Job details: Responsible to Relationships with: Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Operations Management and Information Systems School of Business and ntrepreneurship (SB) Lecturer Grade 8: 31,342-37,394 per annum Senior Lecturer Grade 9: 36,309-45,954 pa Permanent, full time - 35 hours per week Dean of School of Business and ntrepreneurship Staff, students, businesses, external agencies, external examiners Main purposes of job: Deliver undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum in the disciplines and practice of operations, systems and change management, carry out scholarly research and consultancy services and to contribute to the administration of the School and University. Key tasks Teaching and Assessment 1 Delivery of teaching through lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals and other modes of delivery to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the UK and abroad. 2 Coordinate student case studies and integrating projects and provide guidance to students. 3 Supervision of undergraduate and post graduate student dissertations including marking honours and post graduate dissertations. 4 ngage with a range of assessments as required by programme specifications including alternative approaches as practiced successfully in other higher education institutions and as directed by The Dean. 5 Using your own continuous professional development (CPD) through such means as the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) introduce best practice
in teaching and learning which contributes towards a successful student experience and RAU s graduate employability objective. 6 Contribute to the generation and delivery of professional development courses, noncredit bearing programmes and consultancy services. Scholarly and Professional Activity 7 ngage in a programme of scholarly research within the broad boundaries of agreed thematic areas of the School and university, preferably in collaboration with internal colleagues or external experts with the clear aim of generating outputs e.g. publications, policy advice, conferences, seminars, etc., which show relevance, originality and impact. 8 Contribution by way of applied research and consultancy is also valued especially when these are in the form of creating successful new non-credit bearing programmes which fill gaps not covered by the mainstream academic programmes, successful Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) or organisation specific projects. 9 Contribute papers at conferences when proceedings are to be published based upon a double blind peer reviewed process, become a recognised expert and keynote speaker at scholarly meetings and conferences and participate actively within the School and RAU in academic discourse and postgraduate seminars. The post holder is encouraged to forge links with relevant professional bodies, contribute to their function and to seek opportunities to promote own research, the academic strength of the University and the scholarship of the SB and its students. Administration 10 All academic staff are required to take responsibilities for modules as Module Leaders and contribute actively to Programme Management and where the opportunity exists to become Programme Managers themselves and to take on other functions as directed by the Dean. 11 All academic staff are required to attend course meetings, school meetings, examiners meetings, programme development team meetings and other management meetings arising from assigned responsibilities and those arising from tasks that are central to the activities of the School and university. 12 Liaise with practitioners to facilitate and implement work based learning 13 Assist with the careers service to students and employers and provide advice on careers. 14 When called upon to be part of the school recruitment team such as during Open Days, staff recruitment interviews for the SB and other Schools etc. 15 Such other tasks as may be requested by the Dean of School The priority given to above tasks will depend upon experience balanced against developmental needs. PRSON SPCIFICATION RQUIRMNTS The postholder must be able to demonstrate: A good Honours Degree or Masters degree in a relevant subject SSNTIAL () or DSIRABL (D) RQUIRMNTS MASURD BY: A) Application Form B) Interview C) Skills exercise D) Presentation A
A Post Graduate Qualification with preference for those with a PhD (or final stages of completion of a PhD degree) A Membership of relevant professional bodies D A A teaching and learning qualification D A Teaching or relevant training experience A, B,D Knowledge of business systems, organisational A, B efficiencies and change issues. xperience of the agrifoods business sector would be advantageous. Good IT skills A,B Sound organisational and administrative skills B Good time management B Good presentation skills B, D The ability to offer other specialisms of relevance to the curriculum in the School of Business and ntrepreneurship and the University curriculum D A, B Ability to communicate effectively at all levels B,D Ability to integrate as part of a team B Desire to engage in research, consultancy and knowledge transfer An interest in developing an academic research profile or of professional expertise of relevance to the School of Business and ntrepreneurship vidence of existing publications or conference presentations Lecturer in Operations Management Terms and Conditions D B B A The RAU is a University situated near Cirencester. The post is in the School of Business and ntrepreneurship. The appointments will be made on the Lecturer or Senior Lecturer scale. To underpin the teaching activities, it is expected that the person appointed will be active in research and/or consultancy. There may also be opportunities to generate and deliver training programmes both in the UK and overseas. Some of these may be outside normal working hours and weekends. Additional remuneration may be gained, in accordance with University policy, for each of these activities.
Candidates who are not members of the Higher ducation Academy or who do not have a Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) (formerly PG Certificate in Higher ducation, PGCH) (or similar qualification) will be required to enrol on a PGCAP within one year of appointment. Other employment conditions, including holiday entitlement, are typical of those in operation at Higher ducation Institutions in the UK and will be made available to the applicant who is appointed to the post. The University The University is a publicly funded institution in the University sector, providing mainly Higher ducation courses which prepare graduates for managerial careers in the business, food, agriculture, land management, equine and property sector. The University is one of the oldest established institutions of its type in the world. Further information on the University and its current range of courses and activities are contained in the enclosed prospectuses and on the RAU website at: http://www.rau.ac.uk The School of Business and ntrepreneurship (SB) stablished in 1987 the School celebrated its 25 th year anniversary in 2013 and concurrently embarked upon fresh direction as the School of Business and ntrepreneurship. It is widening its focus on business and management studies by adding entrepreneurship and enterprise development, leadership and ethics amongst the more significant changes. It also embraces international business management in the food and agribusiness sector, the teaching, consultancy services, training and research remain broad and extend beyond the agrifoods sector. The modules offered by academic staff in the School of Business and ntrepreneurship are also taken by students on all programmes across the University. Industry Links In keeping with the aim to maintain strong links with the industry it serves the School has over 50 Industry Associates who interact with students and staff by providing scholarships, speakers, case studies, sponsorship, team projects and industrial placements and around 30 Companies who contribute to the RAC 100 Club. The School also receives strategic advice from its Advisory Board which has representatives from across the spectrum of business activity. Research and Consultancy Staff from the School of Business and ntrepreneurship carry out mainly near-market research for commercial companies in the UK and also work overseas on teaching, training and consultancy projects. The School is embarked on a programme of developing scholarly research and will require staff to publish in rated peer reviewed journals, supervise students who are completing masters level dissertations and take on a supervisory role supporting doctoral level research students Management and Professional Development Courses Academic staff from the School is involved in developing and delivering a wide range of courses for companies in the farming and agrifoods business sectors. Academics are encouraged to strengthen links with the industry by being proactive in providing the type and quality of training required by individuals and companies. The Job: Duties and Responsibilities will include: Teaching:
Academic staff will be required to teach on a range of modules and courses mainly in the School of Business and ntrepreneurship, but also across the University, and overseas, at undergraduate and postgraduate level to Certificate, Diploma, Foundation Degree, BSc(Hons), MSc, MA and MBA groups. Part time study is already available for students and the SB is developing a flexible approach to delivery including distance learning which will form part of the duties. Some of the teaching is delivered overseas. Operations management: The person appointed will need to be capable of teaching operations management with a sound understanding or organisational systems and change issues at Honours and Masters level as well as in credit and non-credit bearing programmes to other levels. Information systems: The management of resources using IT and disruptive technologies such as, big data, cloud computing and the internet of things is the new currency for businesses and organisations. These deliver new ways of doing, bring about efficiencies and introduce greater effectiveness to achieving outputs and profitability. The current and potential application to agriculture, farming, land use and to diverse aspects of agribusinesses e.g. logistics, banking, added value consumer products manufacturing etc are substantial and considered to be one of the largest areas of application. While the teaching needs to be based on sound theoretical principles and the latest thinking, the ability to demonstrate and communicate the practical applications of the subjects is equally important. It is vital to have a vocational approach and every effort must be made to strengthen links with the industry we serve. In addition, applicants are expected to be able to relate to agricultural farm businesses and be prepared to engage with land based studies while also demonstrating a true feel for what it means to go from field to factory as indeed from plough to plate. An understanding of the agricultural environment as well as the adding of value to farm produce as well as to farm land in response to market needs and profitability are all part of well thought out international degree programmes from the RAU. The job holder should have the motivation to build up on opportunities presented in such a setting. The person appointed will be computer literate and expected to adopt an approach to teaching and learning which exemplifies best practice in the Business and University sector. Responsibility: for module, and/or programme management along with attendance at school, management, leadership, examination (or other) meetings arising from assigned responsibilities, and involvement in recruiting as required. Continuing Professional Development: generation and/or delivery of professional development courses provided for companies / individuals / groups in the UK and around the world. Dissertation supervision: an appropriately qualified and experienced candidate will also have opportunities to supervise students completing BSc (Hons), MA, MSc, or MBA dissertations or PhD thesis. Quality Updating and Development: At the last QAA audit the University received approval rating of Confidence. The person appointed will adopt such practices so as to enhance teaching quality (the core business). Academic staff are expected to continue to develop their own skills and competence. This can be done by: Research / Investigation Research, carried out for commercial clients, or funded from other sources leading to publications in refereed or commercial journals Consultancy or training carried out for commercial clients Attendance at Conferences and seminars
Building up of networks with scholars internationally, publishing jointly with academics from other H institutions, and contributing to external committee work which are directly linked to teaching and learning, research or professional practice. These activities are formulated in consultation with the Dean of the School and agreed in accordance with University policy and in relation to the other duties of staff concerned. Normally, these are discussed and decisions taken during the annual staff appraisal process. Support for these activities is provided within the established University policies. The Person The person appointed will have demonstrable ability in a combination of teaching, leadership, research, consultancy, or training. It is expected that research and / or consultancy will underpin the required teaching duties of this post. The successful candidate will be encouraged to engage in research or to undertake consultancy work which will lead to publications or income generation. Direct experience or knowledge of the wider agrifoods industry and / or its allied industries is highly desirable. The requirement for Lecturer level appointments is a postgraduate degree. Candidates being considered for Senior Lecturer will have at least 3 years teaching or demonstrable working experience in a relevant field. Opportunities exist and support is given for suitably qualified staff to register for the PGCAP, postgraduate certificate in academic practice (of higher education) while working at the University.