Senior Lecturer in Photography

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join The Open University as a Senior Lecturer in Photography in the School of Creative Industries. We are looking for a dedicated individual to join and lead a team developing innovative and vocational online learning resources in Photography and image making. This role will take on the leadership position of Qualification Lead in the new BA (Hons) Photography.

You must be enthusiastic about our unique mission and about working in teams to develop new and inclusive curriculum which embraces the opportunities of distance learning. We welcome applications from those with teaching, research and industry experience who understand the various needs of students looking to study and work within Photography and wider digital media industries.

The successful candidate will have a strong research profile including evidence of traditional and/or practice-based research outputs and involvement in social impact or knowledge exchange projects. They will demonstrate contemporary expertise in Photography across analogue, digital, moving image and emerging media platforms.

You can live anywhere in the United Kingdom, but the role is based contractually at the Open University’s Milton Keynes campus and involves attendance there at academic community and module team meetings, for which travel and subsistence are not provided.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching

• contribute to, and lead, the delivery of high quality, distance-learning curriculum in photography at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• develop engaging and accessible online module content engaging with a range of photographic practices and visual communication theories.
• support student learning activity through the preparation of assessment materials and participation in Quality Assurance and examination processes.

Industry & research experience

• draw upon professional experience to develop vocational learning materials with an emphasis on digital techniques and future-facing workflows.
• enhance the School and Faculty research culture through the development and delivery of a quality research and impact portfolio.
• provide leadership and support in the development of practice-based research and KE activities in Photography.
• strengthen the School’s links with the creative industries to enable collaborations and facilitate knowledge exchange.

Administration, Management and other duties

• qualification Lead for BA (Hons) Photography.
• line-management responsibilities for academic members of the Photography academic team.
• engage with appropriate academic administrative tasks and play an active role within the School, Faculty and wider University, as required by the Head of School.

About You

Essential Criteria

• A PhD in Photography or a related subject.
• Substantial experience of developing and delivering photography curriculum in an HE setting.
• Experience of leadership roles within either Higher Education and/or the creative industries.
• A research profile in Photography or related area with a track record of publications or equivalent practice-based work.
• Experience of sustained professional practice in photography as demonstrated by a portfolio of creative work.
• A professional network which can be mobilised to develop collaborations, enhance curriculum design and support research and knowledge exchange.
• Evidence of communication and organisational skills, including the ability to work to deadlines, which are appropriate to an academic role at this level.
• An understanding of the ethos and values of The Open University including the principles and practice of equality and diversity, and the ability to work in a manner which aligns to these.

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of working with, and producing, innovative distance learning materials that demonstrate practical and vocational skills.
• Experience of building ethical and sustainable photography practices across a range of genres.
• Understanding of AI-assisted and synthetic image creation and digital post-production workflows.