Overview
We are seeking to appoint an excellent teacher to support the School of Geography and Planning in delivering its planning programmes, including our BA in Geography and Planning, 4-year MPlan integrated Masters, and Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and Urban Design and Planning. You will be a creative and inspirational teacher, with teaching experience, a background in planning practices, and an ability to lead, develop and deliver teaching for a diverse cohort of students on undergraduate and postgraduate planning modules, including dissertations. The School of Geography and Planning is globally recognised for its excellence in education, research, and knowledge exchange. We are committed to supporting the candidate to develop their profile of scholarship through collaboration with colleagues in the School, wider Faculty and University.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Design teaching programmes for modules, identifying learning objectives and selecting appropriate curricula; selecting teaching methods, techniques, resources and reading; determining, designing and producing study material; planning module delivery and planning for contingencies.
- Lead, co-ordinate, support and contribute to the teaching team as a team co-ordinator or member.
- Deliver teaching modules, communicating subject matter and encouraging critical discourse to develop rational thinking; observing and reacting to student interventions; giving appropriate academic advice.
- Carry out assessment for modules, designing assessment instruments and criteria; marking assessments, ensuring adequate moderation; providing written/oral feedback; liaising with external examiners in connection with the approval of assessments, marking criteria, marked scripts and final marks; attending exam boards; and collating and providing final assessments of students.
- Carry out module and overall course evaluation, including facilitating student feedback; reflecting on own teaching design and delivery; and implementing ideas for improving own performance.
- Participate in the administrative processes of the School, including committee membership, quality assurance procedures and student promotion and recruitment activities as required.
- Make a full and active contribution to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’. These include the achievement of excellence in teaching and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference in the subject area and to the University’s achievements as a whole.
- Act as an academic tutor.
- Supervise Undergraduate and Masters projects and dissertations.
- Ensure digital accessibility of teaching materials by ensuring that content, activities and all their components are accessible to all, in order to remove barriers to learning.
- Keep in touch with developments in practice in your area of expertise.
- You will be expected to plan and prioritise your own daily teaching and administrative tasks along with participating in longer term planning through contribution to policy development.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Essential criteria
- A PhD, or working towards a PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant subject area (Application).
- Appropriate knowledge of planning (Application).
- Evidence of teaching experience in planning (Application/Interview).
- Experience of designing and delivering teaching as part of taught modules (Application/Interview).
- Ability to effective deliver research results to an undergraduate or masters student audience (Application/Interview).
- Ability to work to and meet deadlines (Application/Interview).
- An understanding of equality, diversity & inclusion principles and practices (Application/Interview).
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise effectively with colleagues, students and others in the University and beyond (Application/Interview).
Desirable criteria (max 2)
- Experience of supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students (Application/Interview).
Further Information
Grade: 8
Duration: 01/09/2026 - 12/06/2027
Line manager: Professor of Planning
Direct reports: N/A
For informal enquiries about this job contact Professor Stephen Livingstone, Head of School: on
[email protected]
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in early July. This will consist of an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage in late June. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact
[email protected].
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().
What we offer
- A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- support for those going through the menopause
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
