Associate Professor of Careers and Employability Education ) - Derby, DE22 1GB
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, is a leading international research centre focused on research 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. Youll 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.
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
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Tristram Hooley, Research Professor, University of Derby, .
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via .
Important Information
Application Process
In order to meet the Associate Professor criteria, as evidence of your academic authority, you will need to demonstrate proven achievement against two criteria:
1. Significant achievement in at least one of either
o Research or
o Professional Practice or
o Teaching & learning
and must also demonstrate
1. High level of achievement in relation to both
o Professional Standing and
o Senior leadership.
You will be expected to complete a short application online for the role through the University’s recruitment process and provide the following documentation:
(i) An up to date current curriculum vitae;
(ii) A supporting covering letter outlining your suitability to the underlying role requirement, and;
(iii) The names of two employment referees (1 reference must be your current/most recent line manager/HR)
In addition, in order to meet the Associate Professorial criteria, you will need to provide:
(iv) A written statement evidencing how you meet the criteria for the award of the title of Associate Professor.
(v) Please also include two appropriately qualified referees (of at least Associate Professor status) in relation to the Associate Professorial title.
Further information in relation to both (iv) and (v) can be found in the conferment handbook (attached).
Please note that the details provided in your application may be shared with your referees, by submitting your application you are providing your consent.
This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI ; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route ( £41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).
If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:
* 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
Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.
For more information, visit our website .
The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybodys concern.
Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy.
Closing Date: 01 Feb 2026
Area: Teaching and Research
Salary: £58,225 to £71,566 per annum