Summary

Teaching: an up to 4-hour weekly stint during the Autumn and Spring semesters

Administration: assisting the Senior Tutor with administering the program, including pastoral duties; organising the Museum Studies program, which runs during and after Oxford University’s summer term, and other summer programs as appropriate.

Research: research and publications commensurate with career stage, in any area of English literature between the early Middle Ages and 1900 (except for North America).

This is a fixed-term, full-time career development position for an early career scholar, for four years, from August 2024 (exact date to be agreed).

This post is not at either Keble College or Oxford University. However, it is expected that the successful candidate will be awarded a non-stipendiary lectureship at Keble College, including membership of the SCR and appropriate dining rights, coterminous with the appointment.

Nature of appointment

This is a fixed-term career development position for four years. It is intended to provide an early career scholar with an opportunity to develop both teaching and administrative experience, and a publication record, so as to support progression either to an academic post, or to a career drawing on this experience.

Appointment Criteria

Essential:

• A completed doctorate in any area of English literature between the early Middle Ages and 1900 (except for North America)
• A research and publications profile commensurate with career stage
• Evidence of effective and inspiring teaching of high-achieving undergraduates, and especially in a small-scale tutorial setting
• Ability to work collegially as part of a small institution
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills
• Commitment to student care and well-being
• A high level of computer literacy and the capacity to adapt to new computing requirements, including Microsoft, specific databases, and social media
• A commitment to defining and pursuing a personal career development plan during tenure of the post
• An interest in Museum Studies. A key element of this role consists of coordinating the Middlebury Museum Studies Program that runs for five weeks each summer.

Desirable:

• Experience of Study Aboard programs
• Experience of organizing and leading field trips to museums and/or galleries
• The ability to teach a wide range of topics and periods beyond specific research interests
• Experience or knowledge about Oxford University and the peculiarities of its educational system
• Some knowledge of higher education in the USA

About Middlebury-CMRS

CMRS was founded in 1975, and became Middlebury-CMRS in 2014.  It is operated by the Middlebury College UK Trust, an educational charity controlled by Middlebury College in Vermont.  Middlebury College is one of the leading liberal arts colleges in America, with a global study abroad network https://www.middlebury.edu/schools-abroad. The Principal of M-CMRS is Dr Guy Perry (History), and the Senior Tutor is Dr Marie-Louise Lillywhite (History of Art). M-CMRS also employs an administrator, a librarian, two junior deans and housekeeping staff.

The Middlebury-CMRS Oxford Humanities Program brings undergraduates from leading American universities – including Middlebury itself – to Oxford. There are usually between 25 and 35 students on the regular program, and these students are normally in their third year (out of four). They are usually in the same range of abilities as students at the strongest UK universities. Most stay for one semester, a minority for two. Semesters include 13 weeks of teaching: 8 weeks of tutorials, plus additional seminars and a research course. Our teaching covers the humanities and some social sciences. Almost all of our teaching is provided by academics associated with Oxford University or its constituent colleges. The Principal and Senior Tutor are both senior members of Keble College.

When M-CMRS Autumn and Spring semesters are not running (corresponding to Oxford’s Trinity term and summer vacation), its facilities are used for other, shorter programs. This includes the Museum Studies program – a five-week undergraduate seminar course including field trips and practical experience.

M-CMRS is based in St Michael’s Hall, Shoe Lane, in central Oxford. The premises include offices and teaching rooms, the Feneley Library, and accommodation and other domestic facilities for students.

Most M-CMRS students are Associate Members of Keble College. This means that they are members of Keble JCR, and so can eat in the college, use the library, and so on and so forth. They are encouraged to get involved in sport, drama, music and societies in Keble and across Oxford. They also have access to the Bodleian Library system. In addition, M-CMRS has its own Feneley Library, with over 17,000 volumes, including particularly strong holdings in the pre-modern humanities.

M-CMRS is associated with Keble College, but it is not a part of the University of Oxford or Keble College. The employer for this post is the Middlebury UK Trust, not Keble College or the University of Oxford.

Assistant Senior Tutor Job Description

The Assistant Senior Tutor reports to the Senior Tutor, but also works in close co-operation with the Principal and the Administrator.

Duties:

 Teaching responsibilities

1. An up to four-hour weekly teaching stint each semester (averaged out over the two semesters). This will normally consist of tutorial and/or seminar teaching over Oxford’s Michaelmas and Hilary terms, and supervision of research essays during the research course. 
2. Teaching may be offered from the list of courses advertised at https://www.middlebury.edu/cmrs-courses/ The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to develop new offerings.
3. Marking of seminar papers and research essays as appropriate. (Note that there are no examinations on the program.)
4. Providing informal study skills and academic support to students.
5. Delivering occasional lectures or talks.
6. Conducting field trips in Oxford and elsewhere in the UK.

Research responsibilities

To undertake innovative research in the field of English literature between the early Middle Ages and 1900 (excepting North America); to publish in appropriate fora; and to participate in academic conferences and research networks. This may involve research (and/or recruitment) trips, as agreed with the Principal and Senior Tutor. A research allowance will be made available for these and other professional development purposes.

 Administrative and pastoral responsibilities

1. Assisting the Senior Tutor with academic administration, including admissions, transcripts, library duties, and orientation activities. This will involve regular office work in close co-operation with the Principal and the Administrator, as well as the Senior Tutor.
2. Working with the Senior Tutor, Junior Deans and outside professionals to provide pastoral care for students.
3. Convening the Middlebury Museums Studies program, which runs during and after Oxford’s Trinity term, and any other summer programs as appropriate. Although it may not be necessary to actually teach for these programs, the Assistant Senior Tutor has the primary responsibility for coordinating Museum Studies and ensuring that it runs smoothly.
4. Participating in the general life of M-CMRS. This is a small institution, where all staff are required to show a flexible and collegial attitude to collective responsibilities over the course of the academic year.
5. Participating in M-CMRS’s staff meetings, Academic Committee and Academic Board, acting as secretary as required.
6. The post involves responding to on-site emergencies (along with other staff).  First Aid training and Mental Health First Aid training will be provided.

Other responsibilities

To undertake other duties appropriate to the post, on a temporary or permanent basis, as may reasonably be required by the needs of the business.

Further Details:

Category of employment: four-year, full-time, year-round post.

Salary: £36,473 - £38,200 per annum, dependent upon experience. An additional allowance will be made available to facilitate research and professional development.

Start date: August 2024 (exact date to be agreed).    

Annual leave: 24 working days per year, in addition to public or bank holidays.

Probationary period: This post is subject to a three-month probationary period, with an initial review after 6 weeks.

Benefits:

• Contributory Pension Scheme: 4% employee, 6% employer
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Childcare/Sick Pay Schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme

Full terms of employment will be given in the contract.

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries to the Principal, Dr Guy Perry gperry@middlebury.edu

There is no application form.

Candidates must submit their application materials by email to mcmrs@middlebury.edu, by midnight on Sunday 23 June 2024.

Applications must include the following:

1. in the form of a single PDF file:

• Full contact details, including email and postal addresses, and a telephone number;
• A two-page covering letter explaining how your previous experience, qualifications and skills fit the position, referring to the duties of the Assistant Senior Tutor and the selection criteria
• The names and contact details of three referees. References will be requested for all candidates who are shortlisted for interview
• A full CV
•  A one-page document describing your research interests and/or publications. Writing samples will be requested from shortlisted candidates.

2. Evidence of entitlement to work in the UK:

• Please see: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work 

Please note: applications will only be considered from candidates who are already entitled to work in the UK. M-CMRS does not hold the appropriate licence to sponsor migrant workers.   

It is anticipated that interviews will take place in Oxford in the week beginning Monday 1 July 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be expected to deliver a brief teaching presentation in addition to their interview.

The Middlebury College UK Trust aims to be an equal opportunities employer.