"Departmental Lecturer in the Study of Religions "

Departmental Lecturer in the Study of Religions

Division: Humanities

Department: Faculty of Theology and Religion

Location:

Gibson Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Rd, Oxford

OX2 6GG, and then at The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, upon completion of the project

Grade and salary: Grade 7: £38,674 to £41,997 per annum

Contract type: Full time, Fixed term for 1 year from 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Reporting to: The Chair of the Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion

Additional information: In association with Pembroke College

Vacancy reference: 179809

Overview of the role

The lectureship is intended to develop the career of a highly promising scholar by providing opportunities for academic research, teaching and collaborative work in the Study of Religions subject group in the Faculty of Theology and Religion. The Lecturer will help fulfil the vital teaching and administration needs in the Faculty and will be expected to play an active role in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and academic administration.

For the Faculty, the Lecturer will deliver lectures or classes for undergraduate or postgraduate teaching, to be decided in discussions with the Study of Religions teaching team, in support of some or all of the following undergraduate papers: Religion and Religions; The Nature of Religion; Religion in the Contemporary World. The Lecturer will be expected to assist with coordinating the teaching of the postgraduate MSt in the Study of Religions and provide some of the core classes for this degree.

For Pembroke College, the Lecturer will offer undergraduate teaching in the papers listed above or in other fields that fall within his/her academic speciality. While most of the teaching will take place in the methodological study and social theory of religion, the Lecturer should also be able to provide undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in one of the following religious traditions – Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism; or World Christianity.

Responsibilities/duties

• Undertake advanced academic study to underpin lectures and class teaching
• Lecture, tutor, and supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Produce lecture notes, course materials, reading lists, and reference guides
• Assist with the coordination of academic programmes, especially the MSt in the Study of Religions, and offer specialist supervision in the optional elements of the degree
• Engage in assessment and university examining
• Participate in the undergraduate and graduate student admissions processes
• Act as first contact for student matters relating to attendance, conduct, coursework, performance, and welfare (referring matters to appropriate others)
• Liaise with examiners and academic staff regarding teaching arrangements and student performance
• In support of the development of courses and as a secondary commitment alongside teaching, manage own academic research activities, conduct independent research, and generate original ideas to build on existing concepts
• Occasionally write research articles for peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and reviews, and give poster presentations or briefings to disseminate research findings at conferences
• Contribute, as occasion arises, to collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions and research groups

Selection criteria

Essential

• Hold a postgraduate qualification (which would normally be a doctorate) in a field related to the methodological study of religion and/or contemporary social or political theory of religion
• An aptitude for teaching and some experience of teaching and research
• Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the subject area to develop course materials and research proposals
• Have a research record appropriate to the stage of their career and familiarity with the existing literature and research in the field
• Have the ability to provide undergraduate teaching and supervise undergraduate/postgraduate coursework in any one of the following religious traditions: Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, World Christianity

Standard checks

If you are offered the post, the offer will be subject to standard pre-employment checks. You will be asked to provide: proof of your right-to-work in the UK; proof of your identity; and (if we haven’t done so already) we will contact the referees you have nominated. You will also be asked to complete a health declaration so that you can tell us about any health conditions or disabilities for which you may need us to make appropriate adjustments.

Please read the candidate notes on the University’s pre-employment screening procedures at:

https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/pre-employment-checks

About the University of Oxford

Welcome to the University of Oxford. We aim to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Oxford’s researchers engage with academic, commercial and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts.

We believe our strengths lie both in empowering individuals and teams to address fundamental questions of global significance, while providing all our staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to develop and do their best work. Recognising that diversity is our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, we aspire to build a truly diverse community which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.

While we have long traditions of scholarship, we are also forward-looking, creative and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe's most entrepreneurial universities and we rank first in the UK for university spin-outs, and in recent years we have spun out 15–20 new companies every year. We are also recognised as leaders in support for social enterprise.

Join us and you will find a unique, democratic and international community, a great range of staff benefits and access to a vibrant array of cultural activities in the beautiful city of Oxford.

For more information, please visit: www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation

Faculty of Theology and Religion

The University is organised into about 140 different departments, each of which recruits its own staff. This post is in the Faculty of Theology and Religion, which currently has its office at the Gibson Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road. Theology is the oldest faculty in Oxford, and one of the oldest academic faculties in the world: as early as 1193, Alexander Neckham from St Albans is recorded as giving biblical and moral lectures in Oxford. The modern Faculty now includes approximately 200 students on three different undergraduate courses, and around 240 postgraduates pursuing both taught and research degrees across many different aspects of Theology and Religion.

At the heart of the modern Faculty are the 23 postholders who hold full-time, permanent positions with the University. They have a particular responsibility for the Faculty’s teaching, research and academic leadership. Each is also a fellow and trustee of one of Oxford’s constituent Colleges; some have greater responsibilities to undergraduates, and others to graduates. Their academic research interests span biblical studies, ethics, Christian doctrine and Church history, as well as science and religion, philosophy, the anthropology of religion, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism. Many Faculty postholders are leaders in their field, with international reputations.

The Faculty is also enriched by an additional 28 departmental lecturers, researchers and language teachers, plus around 100 other Faculty members, who hold positions in colleges and halls of the University. The particular subject areas and research interests of the University postholders and other Faculty members may be seen on the Faculty webpage. For more information, please visit: www.theology.ox.ac.uk

Pembroke College

Oxford has 39 self-governing and independent Colleges, enabling academic staff and students to enjoy the benefits of belonging to a small, interdisciplinary community as well as a large, internationally renowned University. The collegiate system encourages a strong sense of community, bringing together leading academics and students across subjects, and from different cultures and countries.

Pembroke College was founded in 1624 and occupies beautiful historic buildings in central Oxford. Pembroke College is committed to maintaining a vibrant scholarly community combining excellence in teaching and internationally recognised research. The college has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and is home to a dynamic group of early career academics across the disciplines. The College's student body is made up of 661 students, including around 390 undergraduates, 250 postgraduates and 20 visiting students from international universities.

Pembroke College normally has two tutors in Theology and Religion: Prof Justin Jones and Revd. Dr Andrew Teal. At undergraduate level, the College currently admits approximately 4 students each year for Theology and its joint programmes, as well as a number of postgraduate students, and it is also home to a number of junior research fellows employed on the ‘Religion and the Frontier Challenges’ research programme (expected to be 5 in 2025–26).

At Pembroke, the appointee will have Senior Common Room membership, a dining entitlement, and access to teaching space.

Humanities Division

The Humanities Division is one of four academic divisions in the University of Oxford, bringing together the faculties of Classics, English, History, Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics, Medieval and Modern Languages, Music, Oriental Studies, Philosophy; and Theology and Religion, as well as the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art. The division has responsibility for over 500 members of academic staff, for over 4,000 undergraduates (more than a third of the total undergraduate population of the University), and for about 1,600 postgraduate students.

The Division offers

teaching and produces research of the highest international quality, which is backed by the extraordinary resources of the University’s libraries and museums.