Job Description

Position Details

School of English, Drama and Creative Studies

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive

Grade: 8 (Spot)

No. of positions: 1

Full time

Duration: 3-years fixed contract (renewable at the University’s discretion)

Location: Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 26th May 2026

UK and International travel may be required for this role

Interviews scheduled for 18th June 2026

University of Birmingham Dubai

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have now moved to our new state-of-the-art campus which opened in Sept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our long-term strategic mission in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence in Dubai.

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

We seek to recruit a dynamic programme lead for our MA Digital Media and Communications (MA DMC) programme which will launch on the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus in September 2026. The post holder will also contribute teaching to the BA Digital Media and Communications BA Digital Media and Communications (BA DMC) programme which launched so successfully in September 2025. From our Dubai hub, the post holder will also support a flourishing range of in-country transnational education partnerships so willingness to undertake business travel and ability to teach in different contexts is an essential part of the role.

The post holder will have demonstrable expertise in digital media and communications, which may include, but is not limited to, media and globalisation; digital cultures; business communication; media practice; the political economy of media and platforms; media and communication research methods (including quantitative methods). The post holder will also have creative practice skills with experience of App-based audio-visual production and editing, using software such as Adobe Express, Canva and Dolby On. Candidates with a Marketing and/or legal background who have experience working in this sector would also be eligible to apply.

The post holder will lead and deliver teaching, and hold organisation and management responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to contribute to academic citizenship demonstrated through energetic engagement with a range of activities which establish the smooth running of the programme and the growth of Digital Media and Communications on the Dubai campus. Although the post holder will be based in Dubai, they will be a valued colleague in the Department of Linguistics and Communication based on the University’s Birmingham campus in the United Kingdom. Strong and supportive links will be developed, enriched by visits to the University’s Edgbaston campus to undertake in-person scholarly activities with colleagues. The post holder will develop generous, mutually-respectful and supportive working relationships with all University staff and students.
Teaching will include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment; and (b) enhancement of the student experience and employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

You will be expected to advance teaching and learning practice and take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic and pastoral support. You will deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research.

The post holder will also demonstrate ability to establish strong and productive links with industry partners in the UAE which will benefit students on the programme and establish the presence of Digital Media and Communications more broadly on the University’s Dubai campus. The programme will be sector leading in the UAE, and we seek the right individual to realise that vision.

All Assistant Professors are expected to complete the development programme at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

Main Duties

You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:

• contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal;
• develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution;
• advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment;
• deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes;
• advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support;
• inform your teaching practice by discipline based research;
• frequently update your subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes;
• you may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and co-supervise doctoral students to completion.

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of students:

• teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
• using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
• developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
• devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work.

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental /School administration. This may include:

• contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School;
• where appropriate, leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
• managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;
• promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently;
• demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in recruitment of students, graduation, Departmental/School committees);
• demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice;
• willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
• positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
• proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• A higher degree relevant to the discipline (usually PhD);
• Extensive teaching and scholarship experience at HE level within Digital Media and Communications, as defined in the summary section above;
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning;
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels;
• Ability to play an active role in the development of new modules and programmes.

Teaching

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching and advising colleagues.
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability.

Management Administration

• Ability to lead the development of the MA DMC programme on the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus.
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.
• Ability to engage with industry partners in the UAE.
• Whilst the post is based in Dubai, the post holder will be expected to undertake a significant amount of work-related travel to participate in scholarly activities and to deliver teaching in different contexts.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Nikolay Mehandjiev, email: n.d.mehandjiev@bham.ac.uk (Dubai Campus), or Dr Joe Spencer-Bennett, email: j.a.bennett.1@bham.ac.uk (Edgbaston Campus)

In return, you will receive a competitive package and play a key role in our ambitious University’s expansion as we enhance our international reputation and global footprint.

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website