Appointment of Lecturer/SeniorLecturer in Games Development (0.5fte)
TheSchoolThe School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, based atthe Moulsecoomb campus, engages in teaching, research,scholarship and consultancy across a wide range of subjectdisciplines: mechanical engineering, including aeronautical andautomotive engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, productdesign, computing and information systems, digital media andmathematical sciences. The school has a reputation for excellence in teachingand learning across these disciplines and produces highlyemployable, innovative and creative graduates andpostgraduates.
The School offers a range of courses at postgraduate,undergraduate and sub-degree level. We also contribute to the delivery ofcourses located in other Schools in the University. Our courses areaccredited by a number of different professionalbodies.
Organisationally, the school currently comprises threedivisions:
- Computing
- Engineering & Product Design
- Mathematical Sciences.
Research
The results for the university as a whole in the 2014 REF wereas follows.
Within the school, the following two sets of results wereobtained.
Research in the school is presently organised around thefollowing research centres andgroups.
- Advanced EngineeringCentre
- ComputationalIntelligence
- ComputationalMathematics
- CulturalInformatics
- Discrete Mathematics and itsApplications
- KnowledgeEngineering
- Natural LanguageTechnology
- Nuclear Physics
- ProductDesign
- Secure and Dependable SoftwareSystems
- Statistics
- User Experience and Behaviour
- Values and Sustainability
- VisualModelling
- Vetronics ResearchCentre
The school; has approximately 70 research students across allits disciplines. In addition, the school provides mathematics andstatistics support for researchers across the university, includingcollaboration on a number of funded researchprojects.
The research is funded from a range of sources includingEPSRC, ESRC, STFC, TSB, Department of Health, the European Unionand industry. Further details are available on the websites of theresearch centres and the School
Economic and SocialEngagement
The school engages with industry, broadly defined, in a varietyof ways. There are consultancy groups specialising inapplying mathematics, statistics and OR as well as in the usability ofsoftware design. The school delivers a number of short courses,including bespoke courses, to a variety of clients. Staff within the schoolare actively engaged in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships withSmall-to- Medium Sized Enterprises in the region ( the Community University PartnershipProgramme ( The school actively encourages allstaff to become involved in research, consultancy and otherpartnership activities.
ComputingDivision
Approximately forty FTE staff work within the Division ofComputing, engaged in teaching, research and EASEactivities.
The current undergraduate degrees are organised in three“family groups” corresponding to the broad areas of ComputerScience, Business Computing and Digital Media, each with its own cultureand history. Theseare:
Brighton/Moulsecoomb
BA (Hons) Business InformationSystems BSc (Hons) Business ComputerSystems BSc (Hons) EuropeanComputing
BSc (Hons) ComputerScience
BSc (Hons) Computer Science(Games) BSc (Hons) SoftwareEngineering
BSc (Hons) DigitalMedia
BSc (Hons) Digital MediaDevelopment MComp ComputerScience
MComp SoftwareEngineering MComp Business ComputerSystems
Hastings
BSc (Hons) Digital GamesProduction
BSc (Hons) Computer Systems withNetworking
Note: startingfrom 2017-18, the plan is to migrate theHastings based courses toBrighton.
BusinessComputing
The BSc (Hons) Business Computer Systems takes anapplied, business-oriented approach, equipping students with technical skillsin database design, web site design, ecommercedevelopment, networking and programming, suitable for a career in IT in acomplex organisational setting. The BA (Hons) in Business InformationSystems prepares students for careers in designing technical solutionsto businessrelatedproblems.Itcombinestechnicalmodulesindatabases, network management and web application development withbusiness- facingmodulesinsystemsanalysis,marketing,e-commerceandproject management.
ComputerScience
Our largest course is BSc (Hons) Computer Science, whichprovides studentswithasoundbasisofknowledgeinsoftwaredevelopment togetherwithhardware,softwarearchitectures,artificialintelligence(AI) and a range of options. Its specialist version, ComputerScience (Games), maintains the emphasis on software developmentbut emphasisesgames-relatedprogramming,AIand3Dmodelling.The Software Engineering course shares many elements withComputer Science but with a focus on good engineering practice, includingease of maintenance, testing and the use of existingcomponents.
DigitalMedia
Both the BSc (Hons) Digital Media and BSc (Hons) DigitalMedia Development are designed to prepare students for careers in theweb designanddevelopment.IntheDigitalMediacourse,thefocusison developing graduates who can combine knowledge and practicalskills in digital media technologies with an understanding of thecommercial context in which they are used. The Digital Media Developmentdegree is aimed at students who want to develop web and mobileapplications, with modules covering a range of perspectives includingtechnology, application, design and production. In Hastings, the BSc DigitalGames Production also teaches the design and development of interactive
multimedia for web and mobile, but aims its students towardsapplying their skills in the context of computergames.
GamesDevelopment
The BSc (Hons) Digital Games Production is designed toprepare studentsforcareersinthedesignanddevelopmentofgames.Inthe course, the focus is on developing graduates who cancombine knowledge and practical skills in digital gaming technologies withan understanding of the commercial context in which they are used.With modules covering a range of disciplines including programming,asset design and creation, web technologies and productdevelopment.
Course development is guided by a set of specialist subjectgroups:
- Professional and StudySkills
- Software Development
- Digital Assets andInteraction
- Web, Games andMobile
- Information Systems Development
- Hardware and Networks
Computing is particularly active in consulting, often via theKnowledge Engineering Group, which is dedicated to the application ofintelligent approaches in industry setting. We are also very active inKTP partnerships, with five currentprojects.
TheJobThe Division of Computing wishes to appoint a 0.5 fte Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Games Development to make a substantial contribution to thedeliveryofundergraduatecoursesincomputing,withafocuson games design anddevelopment.
The post is based at our Moulsecoomb campus. Initially, the majorityof the teaching will be based at the University’s Hastings campus;travel expenseswillbepaidforthepostholdertotraveltoHastings.From 2017-18 onwards, the teaching activity will gradually migrate tothe Moulsecoombcampus.
Thesuccessfulcandidateswillbeexpectedtoteachgamesoriented modules including the areas of games design, gamesdevelopment (including multi-platform games), design and implementationof multimedia game assets and programming in C++ and Java.The successfulcandidatewillhavetheabilitytocontributetothefuture developmentofthedivision’staughtprovisioningamesdesignand development, including design of newmodules.
With appropriate professional experience or a PhD you willbe encouragedtomakeasignificantcontributiontoouroneofourspecialist areas of research or consultancy such as engaging inKnowledge Transfer Partnerships withSMEs.
The successful candidate would additionally supervisestudents undertaking related dissertations/projects and provide personal tutor
support. They will also be expected to take part incurriculum development and course management asrequired.
Knowledge andQualifications
It is expected that the criteria below regarding knowledge, skillsand qualifications will be met by the successfulcandidate.
- A good (1 or 2.1) degree in an appropriatediscipline.
- Ideally, have consultancy and/or industrial experience inthe games industry or have a PhD in a strongly related field orbe close to PhDcompletion.
- Up-to-date, sound knowledge and skillsincluding
-Games design theory: rules, game narrative,reward structures/cycles, DLC andmonetisation.
-Game design implementation, both single playerand multiplayer.
-Cross platform gamedevelopment
-Design and implementation of multimedia gameassets, ideally within Unity Development engineenvironment.
-Knowledge of multi-platform game deliveryworkflows.
-Programming skills including C++, C# andJava.
- Experience of, or potential to develop, qualityresearch, consultancy or other economic and social engagementactivity relevant to the needs of thedivision.
- Understanding of academic and award standards in UKHigher Education.
- The ability to use a range of appropriate technologies tosupport teaching andlearning.
The range of duties of a university lecturer is extensive anddiverse. The following summary indicates the nature of this range. Almostall academic staff will be expected to contribute to both the teachingand the research activity of their subject area. At Senior Lecturerlevel (AC3), staff are expected to be engaged in the planning, designand leadership of teaching and research activity, and to be makingwider contributions to the work of their school and theuniversity.
Teaching andScholarship
A Lecturer (AC2) is expected to possess, develop and utilise arange of teaching methods and ways of supporting student learning.These may include: lectures, seminars, tutorials, forms ofe-learning, workshops, laboratory classes and individualsupervision.
The role requires the ability to: identify the learning needs ofstudents and to define appropriate learning objectives; ensure that theteaching content, methods of delivery and learning materials areappropriate; develop own teaching materials, under guidance; selectappropriate types of formative assessment; seek ways of improvingteaching performance by self-reflection and the gathering and analysisof student feedback, and teach as a member of a team withinthe framework of an established course. An understanding ofequal
opportunities issues with regard to academic content andteaching delivery is alsoexpected.
In addition a Senior Lecturer (AC3) is expected to be able todesign teaching materials, identify areas where current provision is in needof revision or improvement, supervise student projects, field tripsand placementactivity.
Research andScholarship
A Lecturer is expected to: continually update their disciplinaryand/or professional knowledge and understanding; develop personal(and, where appropriate, collaborative) research objectives; writeup research work for publication; translate new subject knowledgeinto teaching content; and reflect on their own practice as ahigher education teacher. Engagement in continuousprofessional development with regard to disciplinary/professional andpedagogic expertise isrequired.
In addition a Senior Lecturer should: disseminate researchfindings and outputs at conferences and similar events and identify andseek sources of external funding for their own scholarlyactivity.
Communication
A Lecturer should be able to: deal with routine communication usinga range of media; communicate complex information orally, inwriting and electronically and communicate material of a specialist orhighly technical nature. In the division we have a specific focus onenabling mathematics undergraduates to become effective communicatorsof theirsubject.
In addition a Senior Lecturer will be capable of:routinely communicating complex and conceptual ideas to those withlimited knowledge and understanding, as well as to peers, andpreparing proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for fundingand accreditationpurposes.
Liaison andNetworking
A Lecturer is expected to: liaise effectively with colleaguesand students; build internal contacts and participate in internalinformation exchange networks, and join external networks to shareideas.
In addition a Senior Lecturer will be able to develop externalnetworks in such areas as: identifying sources of funding; studentrecruitment; student placements; outreach and marketing activity, andobtaining consultancyprojects.
ManagingPeople
A Lecturer will be able to agree and largely self-manageteaching, research and administrativeactivities.
In addition a Senior Lecturer will be expected to advise andsupport less experienced colleagues; in certain circumstances supervisethe work of others in research teams or as a research supervisor,and coordinate the work of colleagues, for example when acting asa moduleleader.
Teamwork
A Lecturer is expected to: collaborate with academic colleagueson course development, curriculum changes and the developmentof research; attend and contribute to subject group and similarmeetings, and collaborate with colleagues across the university to identifyand respond to students’needs.
In addition a Senior Lecturer may be required to act as a teamleader in a small scaleproject.
PastoralCare
A Lecturer/Senior Lecturer will be expected to: act as a personaltutor; use listening, interpersonal and pastoral care skills to dealwith sensitive issues concerning students, appreciate the needsof individual students and their circumstances, and to refer studentsas appropriate to the specialist services which can provide furtherhelp.
Initiative, Problem-solving and DecisionMaking
A Lecturer will be able to: develop and apply initiative, creativityand judgement in the conduct of teaching and research; respondeffectively to pedagogical and practical challenges, and contribute todecision making on, and share responsibility for, the academic content,delivery and assessment ofmodules.
In addition a Senior Lecturer will be expected to: take responsibilityfor the design and delivery of individual modules and theirassessment; identify, and make proposals regarding, the need for changein individual modules; disseminate and apply the results of researchand scholarship; develop ideas on income generation; provide adviceon student recruitment and marketing approaches and contribute tothe successful implementation of quality assurance requirements,internal andexternal.
Planning and ManagingResources
A Lecturer will be able to plan and manage their own teaching andthe use of teaching and research resources, including laboratoriesand workshops, as agreed with relevant senior colleagues. Anawareness of risks in the work environment and their potential impact willbe expected.
In addition a Senior Lecturer will be able to act as a moduleleader, coordinating administrative and academic staff as necessary, andto undertake academic related roles related to areas such asadmissions, examinations and student support. Depending on the area of workthe conducting of risk assessment may beexpected.
JobSharingThe University of Brighton welcomes job sharers. Job sharing isa way of working where two people share one full-time job, dividingthe work, responsibilities, pay, holidays and other benefits betweenthem proportionate to the hours each works, thereby increasing access toa wide range of jobs on a part-timebasis.
Potential job sharers do not have to apply with a partner. However, ifa post is to be operated as a job share there must be at leasttwo suitable applicants who wish to share thejob.
A job share appointment will only be made if it hasbeen demonstrated that both shortlisted applicants can do the job tothe required standards and within a working pattern of hours thatis agreeable to all parties. If one applicant is unsuitable, neither canbe appointed unless an alternative potential job sharer hasbeen shortlisted.
When applying as a job sharer please indicate this at the top of page3 on the application form. We will need to know if you are applyingwith a job share partner and the name of that person. Also if the post isfull- time but open to job sharers it would be useful if you couldindicate whether you would be interested in the post on a full-time basis ifno suitable partner can be found. If you have indicated that you wouldbe willing to take up the position on a full-time basis then thenormal recruitment procedure will befollowed.
If you are interested in appointment on a job share basis,please contact the HR Department for a copy of the university'spolicy, procedure and guidelines for job sharing. Alternatively staff in theHRDepartment will be happy to answer any queries youmay
have.
Hours ofworkThis post is 0.5 fte. The nature of teaching posts is such that staffare expected to work such hours as are reasonably necessary in orderto fulfil their duties and responsibilities. It would thereforebe inappropriate to define the total hours to be worked in any week.A reasonable norm for full-time staff, however, having regard tothe contractual position of other senior staff in the institution, wouldbe thirty-seven, although this should not be regarded as a minimumor maximum. It is expected that all or most of the teaching will be atthe Moulsecoomb campus. However, some teaching may be requiredat other University of Brighton campuses, including theHastings campus.
Direct teaching responsibility for full-time staff should notexceed eighteen hours in any week or a total of five hundred and fifty hoursin the teaching year. This provision will not, however, apply insubject areas where the nature of the curriculum and teaching style makeit inappropriate. In such cases, separate arrangements apply.The university has currently identified the following academic areaswhere teaching methods or modes of delivery make the 18 hour perweek limit inappropriate at certain times of theyear:
•art and design
•business/management
•health - clinically relatedsubjects
•constructionmanagement
The 550 hour annual maximum will not, however, be exceededexcept by mutually agreedovertime.
ThesalarySalaries are paid monthly in arrears through the BACSSystem directly into the bank or building society account of each memberof staff. The university must pay salaries through the BACSsystem.
They cannot be paid by cheque. It will therefore be importantto supply account details in order to ensure promptpayment.
Professionaldevelopment
Four part-time courses are run within the university for staff new tothe teaching role. Theyare:
The Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching inHigher Education (run by the Centre for Learning and Teaching,and designed for staff in all schools andfaculties)
The Postgraduate Certificate in Health and Social Care Education(run by the School of Nursing and Midwifery, for staff within theSchool) The Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education (run by theSchool of Health Professions, for staff within theSchool)
The Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (run byMedical EducationUnit)
All new lecturers at the University of Brighton who havenot undertaken an equivalent course of study and training, areexpected take one of these courses in their first or second year in post.The courses provide opportunities to explore a range ofpractical approaches to supporting students’ learning, and to reflect uponthe process of developing as a teacher. By negotiation with therelevant Head of School, teaching timetables are adjusted to enable thenew lecturer to participate effectively in the course. The courseis accredited by the Higher Education Academy, thenational professional body for teachers in Higher Education, andsuccessful completion normally leads to professional recognition as a Fellowof the Higher Education Academy. The successful applicant willbe provided with further information about these PostgraduateCertificate courses at the time ofappointment.
In addition to these courses for staff new to the teaching role,the Centre for Learning and Teaching offers a wide range ofcourses, events and consultancy to experienced lecturers and to courseteams and academic schools across the university. Further informationis available from the CLT’s website:
HolidaysThe annualleaveentitlementis 35 workingdays, pro ratafor
proportional full-time staff. This is in addition to the statutoryholidays applicable in England, local discretionary holidays and days whenthe university is closed in the interests ofefficiency.
Terms & conditions In determining terms and conditions of employment, the universityhas regard to recommendations made through the appropriatenational negotiating framework. These terms and conditions of service canbe varied by local agreements reached through the university’slocal negotiating framework which comprises a JointNegotiating Committee supported by two Common Interest Groups. These groups bring together representatives of the university andits recognised trade unions, whichare: