Assistant Lecturer (with Mentorship)
Department: Academic
Locations: Sunderland/ Newcastle
Position Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday/ 9am to 5pm/ 5
days in the office
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 per
annum depending on experience
Reports to: Course Director
Works closely with: Course Director, Lecturers,
Senior Lecturers, Personal Academic Tutors (PATs), Senior PATs, Wellbeing
Officers, Office Heads, Heads of Academics
Job Description
Assistant Lecturers are early-career or developing academics
who contribute to teaching and student support under structured mentorship and
supervision. The role is designed to build teaching capability, confidence, and
professional identity, supporting progression to Lecturer level.
Assistant Lecturers do not hold full accountability for
modules, assessment outcomes, or quality assurance. Instead, they develop their
practice through co-teaching or supported full teaching responsibilities,
supported assessment activity, and guided engagement with UKMC academic
frameworks and professional standards.
Role Delivery Focus (PFF/PFD)
The primary focus of this role is the delivery of Preparing
for Foundation (PFF) and Preparing for Degree (PFD) provision.
Assistant Lecturers will deliver most of their teaching
within PFF and PFD timetabled sessions, supporting students in developing
academic skills, confidence, English proficiency, and readiness for higher
education study.
They will work closely with Quality and Compliance
colleagues, as well as assessment delivery officers, to ensure alignment with
institutional frameworks, including the Inclusive Curriculum Framework (ICF),
English Proficiency Framework (EPF), and SEBAC.
They will collaborate with Admissions teams to support
transition points into programmes, ensuring coherence between pre-entry,
onboarding, and early-stage academic development.
They will be coordinated under a Lead for PFF/PFD, who
provides academic direction, consistency of delivery, and alignment across
campuses.
They may also provide occasional lecture or seminar cover
within their subject specialism, where appropriate, to support programme
delivery and further develop disciplinary teaching experience.
This delivery model ensures meaningful contribution to
student success, continuation, and belonging, while enabling development within
a structured and supported environment.
Job Responsibilities
Teaching, Learning and Curriculum (Supported)
·
Deliver small-group tutorials, lectures,
workshops, and seminars under the guidance of a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer.
·
Co-teach selected lectures with experienced
colleagues to build teaching confidence and effectiveness.
·
Support the preparation and delivery of learning
activities aligned to approved module materials and learning outcomes.
·
Prepare and maintain learning materials and
activities on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) under supervision.
·
Apply inclusive teaching practices that support
student engagement, belonging, and continuation.
Assessment and Academic Practice (Supervised)
·
Undertake first marking, second marking, and
moderation activities under guidance, ensuring alignment with assessment
criteria and regulations.
·
Support the promotion of assessment literacy and
academic integrity.
·
Develop understanding of assessment standards,
feedback practices, and moderation processes.
·
Escalate assessment concerns promptly to module
teaching teams and mentors.
Student Support, Engagement and Attendance
·
Monitor student engagement and attendance
through teaching sessions and the VLE, reporting concerns promptly.
·
Support academic development through tutorials,
workshops, and formative feedback.
·
Work collaboratively with PATs, Wellbeing
Officers, and academic services to ensure integrated student support.
·
Develop awareness of referral pathways and
escalation processes.
Student Voice and Reflective Practice
·
Engage with student feedback and adapt teaching
approaches with mentor guidance.
·
Contribute to “you said, we did” feedback
processes at session level.
·
Develop reflective teaching practice through
observation, feedback, and mentorship dialogue.
Professional Development, Mentorship and Framework
Learning
·
Engage in a structured mentorship programme with
a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer.
·
Maintain reflective practice logs aligned to
professional standards such as the PSF.
·
Participate in peer observation cycles as both
observer and observed.
·
Develop understanding of UKMC frameworks,
including ICF, EPF, SEBAC, and the Career-Ready Framework (CRF).
·
Work towards professional recognition such as
Associate Fellowship of Advance HE or a PGCert in Higher Education.
·
Contribute to curriculum enhancement or
employability initiatives where appropriate.
Professional Conduct and Collaboration
·
Work collaboratively with teaching teams, PATs,
Wellbeing, and academic services.
·
Participate in meetings, training, and
development activities.
·
Promote and adhere to Equal Opportunities
policies and professional standards of conduct.
Essential Criteria
·
A degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent
professional or industry experience.
·
Demonstrated subject knowledge and ability to
support student learning in higher education.
·
Commitment to developing teaching practice
through mentorship and reflective practice.
·
Understanding of inclusive teaching practices
and their impact on student engagement and progression.
·
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
for small-group and tutorial teaching.
·
Willingness to work towards Associate Fellowship
of Advance HE or equivalent accreditation.
Desirable Criteria
·
Previous teaching, tutoring, or mentoring
experience in higher or further education.
·
Familiarity with Virtual Learning Environments
such as Moodle, Blackboard, or Canvas.
·
Experience supporting diverse student cohorts,
including those with additional learning or language needs.
·
Experience supporting assessment literacy or
academic integrity.
·
Interest in curriculum innovation, employability
initiatives, or pedagogic research.
·
Evidence of reflective practice or engagement
with professional learning.
KPI Framework – Assistant Lecturer (with Mentorship)
·
Teaching Development and Mentorship: Completion
of structured mentorship plan, reflective logs, peer observations, and
development activities – target 100%.
·
Assessment Practice (Supervised): Completion of
marking and moderation tasks under guidance, demonstrating developing
assessment literacy and integrity – target 100%.
·
Inclusive Teaching and Belonging: Student
feedback evidencing inclusive practice, belonging, and confidence – target ≥75%
belonging and ≥70% confidence.
·
Engagement Monitoring and Reporting: Active use
of VLE and timely escalation of student concerns – target 100% compliance.
·
Collaboration and Employability Contribution:
Positive mentor feedback and contribution to at least one curriculum or
employability activity annually – target ≥90% mentor feedback and at least one
contribution.
·
Professional Framework Development: Engagement
with ICF, EPF, SEBAC, CRF, and PSF through reflection and development planning
– target 100% participation.
Benefits
* Competitive salary and benefits package.
* Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
* Access to academic resources and support networks.
* Supportive and inclusive academic community.