BIFCAEnglish Language Lecturer

28012016

Job Title / BIFCA English Language Tutor
Faculty/ School/Department / Birmingham Institute of Fashion and Creative Art (BIFCA)
Responsible to: / BIFCA Assistant Dean
Responsible for: / WTU English Language tutors
Job Purpose
BIFCA is now recruiting suitably qualified and experienced English Language Tutor to join the English team, to support students’ language learning on university awards in Landscape Architecture, Digital Media Technology and Visual Communication.
The Language Centre at BIFCA delivers a range of English language programmes and support modules, tailored to meet the needs of a diverse student body, studying on a number of undergraduate awards. These programmes include EAP, intercultural communication and subject specific provision and are intended to support the students in their language development and facilitate their successful progression from one academic culture to another; prior to their studying in the UK. The Centre also offers a comprehensive pastoral programme; including a personal tutoring system and extra curricula activities to enhance the students’ opportunities of improving their English, such as film nights, and reading and conversation clubs.
Main activities and responsibilities
BIFCA operations
  1. To help ensure the successful operations of BIFCA within WTU.
  2. Make a valuable contribution to the leadership and management of BIFCA and help ensure that the BIFCA Management Team creates a supportive, vibrant and engaging achievement-oriented culture.
  3. Work with the BIFCA Assistant Dean and Head of English to monitor student English Language performance against targets and work with them to address underperformance against those targets.
  4. Develop, cement and sustain good working relationships with our partner Wuhan Textile University to ensure the growth and success of BIFCA, through expansion of the course offer at BIFCA, and progression of students to BCU on a 2+2 basis as well as to postgraduate courses
  5. Ensure effective communications between BCU and WTU in all matters concerning the English Language operations of BIFCA and seek to resolve matters at a local level before escalating these to UK management.
  6. Be responsible for regular monitoring of students’ performance and progression on the English programme.
English Language Provision
Main duties and responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of English, you will be expected to:
  1. Provide quality English language teaching, in accordance with module descriptors and learning outcomes, for a total of 16 up to 24 hours per week
  2. Prepare, appropriate lesson plans and schemes of work, in line with the aforementioned descriptors
  3. Undertake assessment of students, including marking and assessing all coursework and examinations, recording results and offering timely feedback
  4. Maintain accurate records of work, including student attendance and performance
  5. Contribute to curriculum and materials development
  6. Act as a Personal Tutor to a number of students, offering both pastoral and academic support
  7. Take part in relevant team meetings, boards and committees, where appropriate
  8. Actively participate in and lead on extra curricula activities
  9. Engage in appropriate scholarly activity and staff development (CPD) opportunities
  10. Perform any other duties commensurate with the post, required by the Head of English
Others
  1. Have an in-depth understanding of the UKVI regulations in terms of the English language requirements for visa purposes.
  2. Any other duties as appropriate to the role and agreed with the BIFCA Assistant Dean.

Additional Key Requirements:
Managing people and resources
Manage teams delivering English Language Teaching within BIFCA in an intercultural context with the additional challenge of bi-lingual English/Mandarin communications.
Communication
Communicate complex information to a wide variety of audiences in order to influence, achieve change where necessary and deliver results.
Produce clear written communications including reports and committee papers.
Teamwork and collaborative working
Lead teams within areas of responsibility and act to resolve conflicts within and between teams, and between BIFCA/BCU processes.
Ensure that teams within BIFCA and the wider University work effectively together.
Initiative, problem solving and decision making
Provide advice on strategic issues affecting the English Language provision within BIFCA.
Identify and drive forward opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of BIFCA English Language functions.
Resolve problems affecting the delivery of services within area(s) managed.
Influence BIFCA decisions by providing expertise on a range of matters relating to the English Language provision and leading or participating in relevant working groups, committees and consultations
Work environment
Be aware of the risks in the work environment and their potential impact on own work and that of others. This post will involve working in Wuhan full-time.
Ensure appropriate risk management processes are operational within own areas of responsibility.
Person Specification
  • Experience in a similar transnational educational (TNE) institution outside of the UK.
  • A university degree (preferably language or education based)
  • A recognised English Language Teaching Qualification (CELTA / Trinity)
  • At least two years’ relevant experience in teaching EAP, ESP courses at tertiary level.
  • Knowledge in art, design and media is preferred.
Able to demonstrate:
  • Highly developed written and oral communication skills including the ability to write committee papers and deliver presentations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, persuade and influence at all levels.
  • Ability to lead, motivate, manage and develop English Language tutors.
  • Good knowledge of current issues in Higher Education, preferably including PR China
  • Excellent organisational skills and a flair for analysing and solving problems creatively, often at minimal notice.
  • Ability to instigate new and innovative approaches and facilitate team problem solving.
  • Ability to produce effective, well organised plans and measurable objectives extending over a year or more and to manage team performance against these plans.
  • A high degree of self-motivation and self-managing work style, with the ability to set goals and work independently.

Special requirements
Able to work and live full-time in Wuhan, PR China
May be required to work outside normal office hours to support University operations and events. This will require flexibility, especially at times of peak activity.
There will be some need for travel to and from the UK on an annual basis.
Expectations of all staff
Professional standards
All staff employed by BIFCA are expected to exhibit high professional standards which promote and demonstrate the University’s core values of Excellence, People Focused, Partnership Working, Fairness and Integrity.
Equal Opportunities
All staff are expected to understand and enact the University’s commitment to ensuring equality and diversity in all activities. This commitment is enshrined in the Equality Statement and core values.
Dignity at work
Every member of staff has a responsibility to ensure colleagues are treated with dignity and respect.
The University is committed to creating a work environment for all staff that is free from harassment, intimidation and any other forms of bullying at work, where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and professional courtesy.
Health and safety
The arrangements for meeting the University’s health and safety objectives are contained in the Birmingham City University Health and Safety Policy. This includes the responsibilities of key staff and procedures covering the main activities of the University.
All staff are expected to take reasonable care of themselves and those that may be affected by their actions.
Dress code
The University does not operate a formal dress code for its employees, other than for those who are provided with uniform and/or protective clothing. However, employees must ensure that their dress is professional, reasonably smart and appropriate for the situation in which they are working. All staff should ensure that they present a professional image and one that reflects sensitivity to customer perceptions. This may reflect their ethnicity and lifestyle, but should not be provocative or cause offence to those with whom they have contact.
Citizenship
All staff are expected to adhere to good citizenship, being generous with help and support to others, collaborating with colleagues and working for the benefit of the University as a whole. In particular working to provide a positive student experience and achieving excellence in all the University’s activities.
This job description indicates the expectations of staff at this level. Job descriptions are not exhaustive and you may be required to undertake other duties of a similar level and responsibility.