ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
TUTORIAL FELLOWSHIP IN PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY IN ASSOCIATION WITH A UNIVERSITY LECTURERSHIP (CUF) IN PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY
Combined College and University salary of £42,883 - £57,581 per annum FURTHER PARTICULARS
1. INTRODUCTION
Oriel College and the Faculty of Theology and Religion of the University of Oxford invite applications for a Tutorial Fellowship and University Lecturership (CUF) in Philosophical Theology. Within the University of Oxford, the title for this post is ‘University Lecturer’ (CUF), which is the main career grade for academic faculty in Oxford. The post is available from 1st October 2013. The successful candidate will be a member of the Governing Body of the College. The person appointed will be expected to engage in advanced study and research in Philosophical Theology, and to give high-quality tutorials, classes, supervision and lectures at both undergraduate and graduate level.
The successful candidate will be an outstanding scholar and teacher whose expertise lies in the field of Philosophical Theology. He or she will have a record of world-class research and publication in some aspect of philosophical theology – analytic philosophy of religion and/or analytic theology – or a well-displayed promise of such a record, and will also have
experience in teaching undergraduate and graduate students. He or she will supervise and examine graduates in the area of their specialism, teach for undergraduate degrees in
Theology and Religion, Philosophy and Theology, and will contribute to administration in the College and Faculty. As a Tutorial Fellow at Oriel College he or she will be the Main
Organising Tutor for Theology and take overall responsibility for the direction of the studies of those undergraduate students in the College who are associated with the Faculty. Within the College the successful candidate will have opportunities for collaboration in research and teaching, especially with other colleagues in Theology and Religion and in Philosophy, and will help to foster a community of graduate students in these fields.
The salary will be on a combined University and College scale up to a maximum of £57,581 per annum, and significant additional allowances are set out below.
Application Procedure
Applicants should submit a letter of application explaining how they meet the eligibility and selection criteria for the post; a CV; a publications list; and an outline of their current
research plans; together with the names and contact details of three academic referees, to: The Provost, Oriel College, c/o viv.pearson@oriel.ox.ac.uk to arrive no later than 25th January 2013.
Applicants must contact their referees and arrange for references to be sent to the Provost by the closing date.
Candidates who will need visas to travel to the UK if they are invited for interview should make contingency arrangements immediately.
The short-listing will take place week commencing 11th February. Short-listed candidates will be required to supply written work by 4th March. It is planned to hold interviews on 20th March. All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and will be asked to give a short presentation to the committee as part of the interview.
All reasonable interview expenses will be reimbursed. The appointment will be subject to satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire and the provision of proof of the right to work in the UK.
Applications for this post will be considered by a selection committee containing representatives from both the Faculty of Theology and Religion and Oriel College. The selection committee is responsible for conducting all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. It does not, however, have the authority to make the final decision on the
appointment. This will be made by the Board of the Humanities Division and the Governing Body of Oriel College on the basis of a recommendation made by the selection committee. No offer of appointment will be valid, therefore, until and unless the recommendation has been approved by both the Divisional Board and the Governing Body, and a formal contractual offer has been made.
2. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLEGE
Oriel is a friendly and attractive College in the centre of Oxford. Founded in 1326 by King Edward II, it is the fifth oldest of Oxford’s Colleges. The student body has approximately 300 undergraduates studying a wide variety of courses in arts and sciences, and approximately 150 graduates or research students working towards Masters' degrees or Doctorates in a broad range of subjects. Students come from all kinds of schools, backgrounds and countries. All candidates for admission are considered on the basis of their own individual merits and potential.
Each year the College expects to admit up to five undergraduates (in total) studying for Theology single honours or the Philosophy & Theology joint course, and the total number of undergraduates is usually 15. We currently have 12 graduate students studying for higher degrees in this area.
All Teaching Fellows participate in undergraduate admissions, and the College is committed to selecting the best applicants, based on academic achievement and potential, irrespective of educational background, gender or ethnicity. In support of this the College seeks to provide the widest access possible, and the Fellow will be expected to contribute to this through the College’s programme of Open Days, school visits, school-teachers’ conferences and other outreach activities.
3. OVERVIEW OF THE FACULTY
The University is organised into about 140 different departments (faculties), each of which recruits its own staff. This post is in the Faculty of Theology and Religion, which has its office at 34 St Giles’. Theology is one of the oldest faculties in Oxford; Alexander Neckham from St Albans is recorded as giving biblical and moral lectures as early as 1193 on The Psalms of David and the Wisdom of Solomon. The modern Faculty is large, with 25 academic staff (professors and lecturers), and around 130 other Faculty members, who hold positions in colleges and halls of the University. The range of academic research interests encompasses biblical studies, ethics, Christian doctrine and Church history, as well as science and religion, philosophy, the psychology and sociology of religion, Islam, Buddhism,
Judaism, Hinduism, and Christian spirituality. Many have international reputations. With some 390 students on different undergraduate courses, and around 280 graduates pursuing both taught and research degrees, there is scope for a great deal of diversity as well as depth of study.
Oxford has often topped the list of the best Theology/Religious Studies departments in the country (most recently in the 2012 Complete University Guide). Theology and Religion achieved an excellent result in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise. 41 category A staff were submitted (including all the 23-strong list of University professors and lecturers). This was, by quite a margin, the largest return from a Theology Faculty nationally. In the overall quality profile Oxford was ranked third or fourth nationally, depending on what form
of reckoning was applied. But on the so-called ‘power’ ranking (taking account of the scale of the return) Oxford was in first place nationally.
For more information about the Faculty of Theology and Religion please visit:
http://www.theology.ox.ac.uk
4. STIPEND AND ALLOWANCES
The basic stipend will be according to the Oxford CUF Lecturer scale with a teaching stint of eight hours per week (currently on a scale up to £57,581 per annum).
In addition, College allowances currently comprise:
If living out, the right to a housing allowance of £7,534 (subject to review) per annum; and if single, the right to reside in College free of charge; the College is in principle prepared to enter into a shared equity scheme to assist with house purchase in Oxford. This can be discussed further with the Treasurer.
Full USS (Pension) benefits (contributory)
A Research and Book Allocation, currently £1,486. Access to a subject entertainment allowance.
Common Table, that is lunch and dinner at the College’s expense throughout the year Membership of a medical insurance scheme (at the appointee’s own expense)
Faculty allowances currently comprise:
As a member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, the post holder will have access to a £1000 per annum research allowance.
5. CONTRACTUAL DUTIES
Candidates should note that the appointment involves two separate contracts, one with the College, and one with the University. The appointee will be contractually required to undertake the following:
College Duties
1) To act as a College Tutor in Theology with a stint of eight hours:
a) To undertake an average of eight hours of teaching per week to Oriel undergraduates (or to students at other colleges in return for payment to be remitted to Oriel) in tutorials or small classes, during the three eight-week terms of the academic year.
Specific papers: The person appointed will be expected to give tutorials for at least the following papers in the current Theology and Religion curriculum: Philosophy of Religion; God, Christ and Salvation; and the Christian Doctrine of Creation. A new curriculum is currently being designed in the Faculty to be
taught for the first time from 2015; further details will be made available to short-listed candidates.
b) To set and mark Collections (beginning of term internal College exams) as required, and to write end of term Tutorial Reports for the students you are teaching.
c) To liaise with other College staff about addressing any pastoral problems which may arise amongst your students.
d) To meet/contact your undergraduates at the start and end of each term to discuss academic progress.
2) To act as the College’s Main Organising Tutor for Theology:
a) To have overall responsibility for the teaching arrangements for all undergraduates studying Theology and Religion at Oriel College.
b) To liaise as required with other tutors, and also the Senior Tutor, as regards the teaching arrangements for students reading Theology and Religion and joint courses including Theology. This includes some supervisory responsibility for the Graduate Teaching Assistant in Theology and other Tutors in the subject. c) To organise the setting and marking of collections (beginning of term
examinations) for undergraduates studying Theology and Religion.
d) To administer other academic matters relating to students reading Theology and Religion and joint courses including Theology, as required.
e) To provide information as necessary on students reading Theology and Religion and joint courses including Theology to the relevant Director of Studies and/or the Senior Tutor, for report/discussion at meetings of the College’s Tutorial Committee.
f) To liaise with other College staff about addressing any pastoral problems which may arise amongst students reading Theology and Religion and joint courses including Theology.
g) To co-ordinate the undergraduate selection procedures for Theology and Religion within the College, and to conduct admissions interviews. 3) To engage in advanced study or research.
Sabbatical leave: The College requires its Fellows to carry out advanced research in their fields of specialisation. In order to help Fellows fulfil this obligation, the
post-holder would be eligible to apply for sabbatical leave, subject to satisfactory replacement teaching being in place. In general, one term of sabbatical leave is available for each six terms of qualifying service: qualifying service is built up on a ‘rolling’ basis, so that leave which is not taken is not lost (although qualifying service does not accrue beyond the maximum of 18 terms, without the express permission of the Governing Body).
4) To participate in College Open Days and other outreach activities in your subject area. 5) To select appropriate books for the College’s well-supplied library
6) If elected, to act as a member of the Governing Body of Oriel College, to attend Governing Body and Tutorial Committee meetings (normally three each, each term), and to take an appropriate share in the administrative work of the College. He/she will be expected to take a fair turn in performing administrative offices when asked to do so by the College.
7) To act as College Advisor to Postgraduate students reading for higher degrees in Philosophy or Theology and Religion at Oriel College.
Faculty Duties
The Faculty of Theology and Religion intends to appoint someone who will work closely the Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, Brian Leftow, in teaching Philosophical Theology and the Philosophy of Religion to second and third (final) year students in the BA in Theology & Religion and the BA in Philosophy & Theology; he or she will also be expected to contribute to the teaching of other courses in Systematic Theology depending on expertise. The lecturer will provide suitable research-led teaching at masters level (both for one-year MSt and two-year MPhil students), and supervise master’s and doctoral research.
Research
To engage in original, world class research in an aspect or aspects of Philosophical Theology;
To disseminate research findings through publications, including peer-reviewed journals and monographs, and to give papers at international conferences and seminars;
To contribute to collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions and research groups inside and outside Oxford, as appropriate;
To pursue opportunities for raising research funding for individual or collaborative projects;
Teaching
To give sixteen hours of lectures or classes (seminars) each year, and in addition, to supervise Master’s and Doctoral students, using his or her academic study to underpin that teaching;
Examining
To engage in regular assessment and university examining at both undergraduate and master’s levels; and to engage in regular assessment of the progress of doctoral students;
Administration
To participate in the administration of the Faculty as and when requested by the Faculty Board Chairman (i.e. the Head of Department);
6. SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications will be judged only against the criteria which are set out below. Applicants should make sure that their application shows very clearly how they believe that their skills and experience meet these criteria.
Oxford is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions. Chairs of selection committees will be aware of the principles of equality of opportunity and fair selection and there will be a member of each gender on the selection committee wherever possible.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the following: Essential features:
1. A completed doctorate in any field relating to Philosophical Theology; 2. Evidence of a research record of international standing in any aspect of
Philosophical Theology appropriate to the stage of the candidate’s career and of a substantial and realizable programme for future research that will enhance the international reputation of the Faculty;
3. A demonstrable record of excellence in teaching undergraduates and an ability to engage in syllabus development in Philosophical Theology at undergraduate and graduate level;
4. Expertise in the relevant papers (listed above) and the ability to teach these topics at undergraduate level within the Oxford course.
5. Candidates should be able to devise and give high-quality tutorials, classes, and lectures, along with the personal qualities needed to foster a high level of achievement in students.
6. Experience of or the potential to teach and supervise graduates. 7. Evidence of the ability to raise research funding;
8. Evidence of the ability and commitment to participate effectively in the wider academic activities of the College and Faculty;
9. Experience of or potential to participate effectively in the running and development of Theology at College level.
10. Sympathy for the nature and values of the College and a willingness to participate in its collegiate life and governance, outreach activities, and pastoral support of students;
Desirable features:
1. Well-developed plans for significant research projects envisaged for the five-year period following their appointment;
2. A record of academic enterprise and/or leadership; 3. Evidence of success in collaboration and team-work;
4. Evidence of communication, interpersonal, time-management and organizational skills necessary to undertake pastoral responsibilities, University and College administration, and a willingness to co-operate in University and College affairs;
5. Willingness to forge links with schools and to participate in access initiatives with a view to encouraging undergraduate applications from a wide range of educational backgrounds.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY LECTURERSHIP (CUF) IN PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY
The University
The University of Oxford aims to sustain excellence in every area of its teaching and research, and to maintain and develop its position as a leader amongst world-class universities. Placing an equally high value on research and on teaching, the colleges,
departments and faculties of Oxford aspire both to lead the international research agenda and to offer a unique and exceptional education to our undergraduate and graduate students. Oxford’s self-governing community of scholars includes university professors, readers, and lecturers, college tutors, senior and junior research fellows and over 2,500 other university research staff. The University aims to provide facilities and support for colleagues to pursue innovative research and outstanding teaching, by responding to developments in the
intellectual environment and society at large, and by forging close links with the wider academic world, the professions, industry and commerce. The Strategic Plan, detailing strategy for the period 2008-13, can be found at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/pra/planningcycle/stratplan.shtml.
Research at Oxford combines disciplinary depth with an increasing focus on
inter-disciplinary and multi-inter-disciplinary activities addressing a rich and diverse range of issues, from deciphering ancient texts and inscriptions using modern scientific and computational methods developed in Oxford, through to global health, climate change, ageing, energy and the effects on our world of rapid technological change.
Oxford seeks to admit undergraduate students with the intellectual potential to benefit fully from the college tutorial system and small group learning to which Oxford is deeply
committed. Meeting in small groups with their tutor, undergraduates are exposed to rigorous scholarly challenge and learn to develop their critical thinking, their ability to articulate their views with clarity, and their personal and intellectual confidence. They receive a high level of personal attention from leading academics.
Oxford has a strong postgraduate student body which now numbers about 7,000, well over a third of the full-time students. Postgraduates are attracted to Oxford by the international standing of the faculty, by the rigorous intellectual training on offer, by the excellent research and laboratory facilities available, and by the resources of the museums and libraries,
including one of the world’s greatest libraries, the Bodleian.
For more information about the University please visit www.ox.ac.uk The Humanities Division
The Faculty of Theology and Religion is part of the Humanities Division, along with
Philosophy and Oriental Studies (with both of which it shares degrees) and ten other Faculties and Institutes. More information about the Humanities Division may be found at
Faculty of Theology and Religion
For more information about the Faculty of Theology and Religion please visit:
http://www.theology.ox.ac.uk Oriel College
There are 38 self-governing and independent colleges at Oxford, giving both academic staff and students the benefits of belonging to a small, interdisciplinary community as well as to a large, internationally-renowned institution. The collegiate system fosters a strong sense of community, bringing together leading academics and students across subjects, and from different cultures and countries.
This post has a distinguished history: its most recent holders have been David Brown, Sarah Coakley and Richard Cross, all of whom moved thence to Chairs (at Durham, Harvard and Notre Dame respectively). Oriel is also home to the Nolloth Professorship of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, currently held by Professor Brian Leftow; past Nolloth Professors have included I.T. Ramsey, Basil Mitchell and Richard Swinburne. Thus Oriel has been the premier college in Oxford for the study of Philosophical Theology and Philosophy of Religion as long as these have been distinct disciplines within analytic philosophy, and Philosophical Theology and Philosophy of Religion have been jewels in Oriel’s and in Oxford’s research crown for more than a generation.
Oxford is a vibrant place for philosophy of religion. The Butler Society brings two external speakers in the subject to Oriel each term; a faculty work-in-progress group also meets there termly. There is also a reading group involving graduate students, and a graduate student work-in-progress group is being discussed. John Hawthorne's religious epistemology project will be sponsoring a series of conferences and workshops in that area over the next three years. Oxford philosophers who have published in philosophy of religion include Tim Mawson, Roger Trigg, Ralph Walker, AW Moore, William Mander, Stephen Mulhall and Pamela Anderson; still other Oxford philosophers teach the subject. The Hawthorne project has added three postdocs and a series of one-term senior visitors to Oxford's regular
complement.
Oriel has a thriving theological community; including Professor Brian Leftow (the Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion); Professor John Barton (Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture); the Chaplain, Revd. Dr. Robert Tobin (who teaches Church History), and two Junior Research Fellows in Theology. There is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Theology for whom the successful candidate would take some supervisory responsibility. Oriel has a long and distinguished history in
Philosophy, counting Bishop Butler and the Aristotelian scholar W.D. Ross amongst its past Fellows. The person appointed will join three current fellows in philosophy: Professor David Charles (Senior Research Fellow in Ancient Philosophy), Dr Oliver Pooley (a specialist in philosophy of physics), and Prof. Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra (metaphysics). A fourth appointment in philosophy is likely in coming years. In addition, other Fellows have research
interests in Philosophy: Mark Philp is a specialist in Political Philosophy, and Dr. Paul Yowell works in Philosophy of Law.
More information about the College can be found on the website: www.oriel.ox.ac.uk. Shortlisted candidates will have an opportunity to visit the college during the interview period.
Standard Terms and Conditions
Salary, benefits and pension
The successful candidate will be appointed on the Oxford scale for CUF lecturers (£42,883 - £57,581). Lecturers appointed below the top of this range will receive annual increments until they reach the top point. There is also an annual ‘cost-of-living’ review. Faculty boards may also, in wholly exceptional cases, propose the awarding within the substantive scale of additional increments to lecturers at any time during their appointment.
Additional remuneration is currently paid to those undertaking examining and graduate supervision. Additional payments are also available for some tutorial teaching.
Eligible staff may join the Universities Superannuation Scheme. Details are available on the website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/finance/pensions/uss/.
Length of appointment
Upon completion of an initial period of appointment (which is normally five years), a CUF lecturer is eligible for reappointment until retirement, subject to the provisions of the Statutes and Regulations of the University. Evidence of lecturing competence and of substantial progress in research are
prerequisites for reappointment to retirement.
For all academic and academic-related staff the University has adopted a retirement age of 30 September before the 68th birthday. There is a procedure for requesting an extension of employment beyond that date.
It is a condition of the appointment of a CUF lecturer that he or she continues to hold the college teaching post(s) in association with which the appointment to the CUF lecturership is advertised. In the event of the termination of the college teaching post(s), for whatever reason, the appointment as a CUF lecturer shall itself automatically terminate on the same date as the college teaching posts(s).
Sabbatical leave/dispensation from lecturing obligations
The holder of a CUF lecturership is eligible to apply for dispensation from lecturing obligations in conjunction with sabbatical or other leave granted by the college. CUF lecturers may be dispensed from up to four courses of eight lectures or classes in any period of fourteen years, or from up to two courses in any period of three years.
Relocation expenses
Subject to HMRC regulations and the availability of funding, a relocation allowance may be available. Further details are available on the website at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/finance/expenses/relocationscheme/.
Family support
The University has generous maternity and adoption leave arrangements, and also offers support leave to fathers and partners. Additional paternity leave of up to 26 weeks (for children born or placed for adoption after 3 April 2011) is available where parents decide to share the 52 week maternity leave
entitlement. Details are available on the website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/during/family/.
All staff are eligible to apply to use the University nurseries (although there is a long waiting list for nursery places), and the full range of tax and National Insurance savings scheme is in operation. Details are available on the University’s childcare website at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/childcare/.
The University will try to accommodate flexible working patterns as far as possible and there is considerable flexibility in the organisation of duties. More information on family support and flexible working policies is available on the website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/during/family/.
Facilities and services
The University has a range of facilities and benefits for its staff; more details are available on the website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/benefits/.
The University Disability Office provides support to staff and students with a disability and may be contacted through its website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/disab/.
Equality of opportunity
The policy and practice of the University of Oxford require that all staff are offered equal
opportunities within employment. Entry into employment with the University and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant or member of staff will be treated less favourably than another because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Medical questionnaire and the right to work in the UK
The appointment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire and the provision of proof of the right to work in the UK.
Applicants who would need a work visa if appointed to the post are asked to note that under the UK’s points-based migration system they will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient points, and in particular that:
(i) they have sufficient English language skills (evidenced by having passed a test in English, or coming from a majority English-speaking country, or having taken a degree taught in English)
and
(ii) that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves and any dependents until they receive their first salary payment.
Further information is available at:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier2/general/
Oxford welcomes applications from candidates who have a disability. These documents will be made available in large print, audio or other formats on request. Applicants invited for interview will be asked whether they require any particular arrangements to make the interview more convenient and effective for them.
Data Protection
All data supplied by candidates will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post1 and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the University’s Data Protection Policy (available on the website at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/councilsec/dp/policy.shtml).
1 But NB if the person appointed to the post is a migrant sponsored under the UK’s points-based migration system, we are required to retain the applications of all shortlisted candidates for one year or until a UK Border Agency compliance officer has examined and approved them, whichever is the longer period.
