Associate Professor in Social Science 

 

Om stillingen 

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a four-year temporary position as an Associate Professor in Social Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Media and Social Sciences.

We are looking for a committed Associate Professor with expertise in the field of environment and sustainability who can contribute to further developing the academic environment at the department, who has good collaboration skills, a clear research vision, pedagogical and administrative skills, and above all the ability to teach and supervise students in a cross-disciplinary social science environment.

You will mainly teach and supervise students at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels within the subject area, conduct research and disseminate research results within relevant research areas at the department, and contribute to the development of partnerships with external actors and businesses. Development of varied and digital learning methods in teaching, innovation and value creation based on results from research and academic development work, are also included in the position. 

 

The position includes teaching in interdisciplinary master’s programs at the department, primarily the master degree in Sustainability Studies. This includes teaching in the subjects Societal Transition and Transformations – Energy and Climate Change (MEE100) and Governing Energy Transitions (MEE210). We are looking for someone who can strengthen and further develop teaching at the master’s level, with a focus on sustainability and societies in transition.

You will be allocated research time and with this the opportunity to strengthen research and teaching activities. The research activities at the department are broadly oriented and organised into various research groups, which in turn are aligned with the strategies of the university and the Faculty of Social Sciences. We are looking for a candidate who, together with colleagues, can contribute to further developing and strengthening one or more of these research groups, and the research community in general at the department. The successful candidate has a social science research profile and a track record of publications in acknowledged publishing channels.

The general job description for Associate Professors at UiS gives a more detailed account of relevant duties.

 

Qualification requirements

We are seeking an Associate Professor with a PhD or equivalent qualification in sociology, political science, development studies, human geography or equivalent. Broad expertise will be given weight in the assessment based on the position and the interdisciplinary nature of the department.

 

You must be able to document active, ongoing research at a high academic level and have the potential for future high-level research in the subject area.

We put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

 

You must have experience from teaching in the university and college sector within social sciences, and demonstrate a committed and collegial approach to developing quality in education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

 

It is expected that you have a reflective and conscientious attitude towards your own teaching and supervision. You should be able to document pedagogical and didactic skills relating to higher education, and basic skills in planning, evaluation and development of teaching and supervision. 

 

Norwegian is the language mainly used at UiS. The working and teaching languages are Norwegian and English. It is an advantage if you can teach in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language upon accession, so that you can actively participate in all functions, including teaching and supervising students across study programs, as well as taking care of administrative tasks. You must be fluent in English, both spoken and written.

 

The following attributes are also desirable

• good collaboration and communication skills, ability to communicate and collaborate with students and colleagues across disciplines at the department.
• ability to involve and engage students in teaching where the course’s objectives, content and assessment situations are closely interlinked
• experience and/or interest in the development of varied learning methods and digital tools in teaching
• research results published in recognised publications, references indicating progression in research and publicationsand that you are motivated to promote open research and the intrinsic value of research (Open Science).
• ability to initiate, obtain external funding for, lead and carry out research and development projects
• experience of partnerships with businesses relevant to the subject area
• contributed to the use of research-based knowledge in society and that you can refer to results from innovation and the commercialization of research
• demonstrated the ability to build and preserve professional networks – regionally, nationally and internationally
• ability to manage heavy workload, inquisitiveness and motivation to contribute to the development of academic and interdisciplinary collaboration at the university

 

We offer

• varied duties in a large, exciting and socially important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• colleague-based guidance programme during your first year of teaching at UiS, NyTi.
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.510, code 1011, NOK 740.000-870.000 gross per year. A higher salary may be considered in special cases. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the company sports club, SiS sportssenter
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• Hjem-jobb-hjem, discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced
• relocation programme

 

Diversity

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions.

 

At UiS, we are committed to showing respect for each other’s differences and accommodating employees with disabilities. We take into consideration your needs and your situation in various life phases.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background, or whether you have been out of the workforce for a period.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position.

Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here.

 

Contact information

More information on the position can be obtained from Head of Department Oluf Langhelle, tel: +47 51831508, e-mail: oluf.langhelle@uis.no

 

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR Advisor Janne V. Endresen, tel: +47 51831216, e-mail: janne.v.endresen@uis.no 

UiS/Elisabeth Tønnesen

 

Application

Apply for the position online via the “Apply for the position” link on this page. Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In the application letter, you must state your competence and motivation for the position.

 

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• complete list of academic publications with information on where they are published
• up to 10 academic publications which are pivotal to your research output, including your PhD thesis or published monograph based upon the thesis
• transcripts and certificates, and other documentation that you consider relevant

 

You should attach a pedagogical portfolio with a professionally based description and discussion of your teaching and educational competence as well as relevant documentation that supports this, see guidelines for assessment of educational competence. Relevant teaching experience should be well documented in the pedagogical portfolio, which addresses, among other things, student learning, development over time, and teaching and learning philosophy.

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

 

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload.

 

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants, in accordance with Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

 

General information

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.

 

According to the State Employees and Civil Servants Act, employment for more than three years will result in the temporary employee being considered  a permanent employee. However, the position holder’s return to the position may provide grounds for termination of employment.

 

The university’s guidelines for appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts, sections 2 and 3.3, provide further discussion of criteria for employment as Associate Professor.

UiS has signed The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (CoARA), committing to recognizing various forms of results, practices, and activities in the evaluation of research and researchers.

We hope that UiS-CAM, Career Assessment Matrix for teaching and research posts is a useful tool in the process of documenting and reflecting on one’s own competence in relation to the criteria.

 

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an expert committee. You will receive the committee’s statement as soon as it is available.

If you do not satisfy key parts of the qualification requirements, you may have your application rejected before applications are submitted to the expert committee for assessment.

Based on the expert committee’s statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview and teaching demonstration before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of opinion between the texts, the Norwegian text shall be decisive.

 

UiS – challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.
 
In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.
 
Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown. 

 

The Faculty of Social Sciences has about 2,400 students and 210 employees. The studies are based on a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, on interdisciplinarity and cooperation with public and private sectors. New knowledge is generated from both practical experience and systematic research, or a combination of them. The educational offer is varied and includes Hospitality and Tourism, Media, Sociology, Social Work and Child Welfare, amongst others. The Faculty consists of: Department of Media and Social Sciences, Department of Social Studies and NHS – Department of Leadership and Service Innovation.
 
The Department of Media and Social Sciences offers a year course in Communication, bachelor studies in Sociology, Political Science, Journalism, and Television- and Multimedia Production. In addition, the Department offers four master programmes: Master’s in Change Management and Master’s in Documentary (both in Norwegian), and two international master programmes, Master’s in Digital Society and Societal Transformation and Master’s in Energy, Environment and Society. The Department delivers research within all these study programmes and the Department also has its own PhD research school (POLSOC). The Department currently has 700 employees (including Post Docs and PhD’s) and approximately 900 students. 

 

Questions about the position

Oluf Langhelle

Instituttleder

+4751831508

oluf.langhelle@uis.no

 

Janne V. Endresen

HR-rådgiver

+4751831216

janne.v.endresen@uis.no