THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT FACULTY OF HUMANTITIES SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES ECONOMICS PROFESSIONAL TUTOR IN ECONOMICS

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1 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT FACULTY OF HUMANTITIES SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES ECONOMICS PROFESSIONAL TUTOR IN ECONOMICS Vacancy ref: HUM Salary: Hours: 30,434-37,394 per annum Full time Duration: Fixed term, from 01/08/2015 until 31/07/2018 Location: Oxford Road, Manchester Responsible to: Catherine Tansey and Paul Madden BACKGROUND Economics Discipline Area (DA), University of Manchester The Economics discipline area, within the School of Social Sciences, is a large department which is internationally recognized for pursuing high quality research, both theoretical and applied, across all areas of macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics, including financial, environmental, and development economics. Building on these existing strengths, our recruitment strategy is to appoint dynamic researchers who, in collaboration with existing staff, have the potential to further enhance the quality of our future research and teaching portfolio. Undergraduate Teaching Economics has a specialist BEconSc-Economics degree which is an intensive and rigorous economics course designed for those who wish to specialise in economics from the first year of study and who then go on to take advanced modules in econometrics and/or mathematical economics. In addition, Economics also provides a core input in economic theory and quantitative methods (as well as many optional courses) to the interdisciplinary BA(Econ) degree and to the interdisciplinary degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. The first year of the former degree provides a foundation in the social sciences, but in the second and third year students can opt for single or joint honours Economics.

2 Computing Facilities All staff have networked desktops or laptops acting as their interface to the University system. There is a range of license agreements for popular and specialist software, including MATLAB, SAS, STATA, EVIEWS, PCGIVE and MATHEMATICA. Opensource software such as R is also supported. There are also a number of teaching clusters, some of which are restricted to postgraduates, and a University wireless network that covers most of the campus. Basic research is supported by an IT infrastructure, managed through Faculties, whilst at the University level there are two centres of support: (i) MIMAS (a JISC and ESRC funded national data centre) provides all of the UK research community with data resources to support research across a range of disciplines; and, (ii) IT Services for Research delivers services covering the full range of research computing activities including: GPU computing, High Performance Computing (including a local 1500 core shared cluster), High Throughput Computing (a local Condor pool),and Digital Research. The University has a commitment to establish modern information services based on web and related services. Both the Faculty and the School are playing an active part in these developments. OVERALL PURPOSE You will play a key role in the management and organisation of undergraduate teaching and the academic support that the Economics DA provides to its undergraduate students, which includes both students specialising in economics, and those taking economics courses as part of other specialisations. You will work closely with the Deputy Head of Department, Undergraduate Director, other academics and administrators to ensure that the undergraduate programmes run smoothly and that students have access to prompt, consistent and practical advice in order to follow their programme of study. This will include working closely with senior academics and School administrators, regular face to face meetings with students, as well as organising material on the website, communicating with students through and social media. You will need to be able to take a strategic overview of the diverse set of objectives the DA has, and be able to take decision about how best to allocate resources. You will need to rapidly acquire an understanding of procedures in relation to such things as how undergraduate education is structured, what information can be provided via different media (face-to-face, via the web, via social media), examination and assessment procedures and knowledge about other services within the University where students may be referred for information or help. You will need to be very comfortable using all aspects of IT, in particular using computers and social media. An important aspect of your job will be to coordinate your work with academics and administrators at the School and University level. It is imperative that you are able to autonomously manage the conflicting priorities of a number of degree streams and the other priorities of the Economics DA.

3 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Co-ordination of Undergraduate Teaching and Examination Activities To support the work of the Deputy Head of Department, the Undergraduate Director and other academics in running the undergraduate teaching activities in the Economics DA. Your duties include: Acting as liaison between academics and the School administrative office in all activities relating to examination, including overseeing examinations support in the production of exam papers, the examination marks record and working with relevant academics to ensure that the record for the Board of Examiners is correct and accurate and providing support as necessary in liaising with External Examiners. Managing the Departmental Mitigating Circumstances processes. Making recommendations (where appropriate) to the relevant Board of Examiners via the Department s Mitigating Circumstances Committee. Supporting existing students to ensure that the service meets expectations and undertaking periodic reviews to ensure that student satisfaction is maximised. Provide analysis of student registrations and to examine trends in student progression and completion rates and to develop and recommend strategies to enhance completion rates and minimise drop-out rates. Review and act upon feedback we receive on teaching Devise strategies, in co-operation with the UG Director, to monitor and enhance teaching quality across the range of undergraduate programmes. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data on teaching quality and more broadly the student experience. Develop strategies, in conjunction with UG Director, to develop and enhance student engagement with the discipline of economics, and its practical applications, Such other duties, commensurate with the grading of the post that may be assigned by DHoDA or HoDA or their nominee. Provision of Advice and Support to Students To manage, develop and provide a professional advisory and guidance service to students in the Economics DA. This includes: Working with School administrators when unexpected problems arise (room booking conflicts, exam problems, etc.), and when undergraduate students are refered from administration to the DA to be the first point of contact within the DA.

4 Providing advanced advice and guidance to students on teaching, examinations and progressions matters, both face-to-face, via and via the web and social media. Run staff-student liaison meetings. Explaining detailed regulations and procedures to undergraduate students; explaining degree regulations, assessment schemes, appeal and termination procedures. To be regularly available to students and be the first point of contact for undergraduate students when the have problems or need advice and to refer students to the appropriate academic, and where appropriate to organise small group sessions with students and academics, for e.g. careers advice or other relevant topics. To develop and maintain a system for writing reference letters for all undergraduate students. To help to develop and maintain stategies for enhancing student employability, e.g. by providing advice and guidance to students on CV building, undertaking extracurricular activities and developing and managing links with external partners to provide work experience opportunities. Develop internet, and social media resources for students The DA currently uses its webpages, and social media to communicate with students, but all of these could be improved and extended to provide information more quickly and more clearly. You will take the lead, but work in collaboration with the Deputy Head of Department, the Undergraduate Director and other academics and administrators, to develop and administer on an on-going basis: Aspects of the DA's website. and social media services for students. Internet based learning resources, in collaboration with academic and elearning specialist.

5 PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential A good graduate education in Economics or a first degree in Economics. Experience of working in a Higher or Further Education environment. The ability to work independently and autonomously. Very strong IT skills, particularly Excel and other Microsoft Office packages. Some web experience and social media. An ability to assimilate information quickly and develop a good understanding of the Universities regulations relating to taught programmes. Well developed organisational skills. Ability to develop and interpret policies and procedures and to implement new systems. A strong commitment to the development and ongoing provisions of student education. Close attention to detail, particularly in relation to examination boards and concessional matters. Creative flair, self starter, with initiative and drive and capable of prioritising and working to tight deadlines. Discretion and the ability to handle sensitive issues with complete confidentiality. Desirable Experience of creating and running workshops for students and/or staff. Experience of presenting to large groups of students. Experience of using internally developed databases and systems.