College Teaching Officer (CTO) in English

St Catharine’s College in the University of Cambridge seeks to appoint a College Teaching Officer in English. Applications are encouraged from candidates specialising in any field of English literature, but the post-holder must be able to teach Practical Criticism and Critical Practice and at least one of the following: Part I Paper 7A/B, Part II Paper 10 (English Literature 1847-1872), Part II Paper 11 (Prose Forms, 1936-1956), Part II Paper 12 (Contemporary Writing in English), Part II Paper 13 (Postcolonial and related literatures), Part II Paper 14 (American Literature), Part II Paper 15 (The Ethical Imagination) or Part II Paper 16 (History and theory of literary criticism) of the English Tripos. Applications from candidates able to teach one or more of the Medieval literature papers in addition to PCCP will also be considered.

The post will be tenable from no later than 1 September 2025 for an initial period of 3 years, with the possibility of permanence thereafter, depending on the needs of the College. Remuneration will be at point 41 on the University of Cambridge’s pay scale (currently £38,103 FTE) and it is likely that the successful candidate will be elected to an Official Fellowship of the College. The post will be fully pensionable. The post does not carry an entitlement to sabbatical leave during the initial three-year period but this will be reviewed in the event the position is made permanent.

Requirements

• The successful candidate will have or be very close to completing a PhD degree in a relevant field of English.
• Will have a developing bibliography of research publications such as contributions to scholarly journals or books.
• Will have experience of undergraduate teaching.

Key responsibilities

• To teach twelve hours per week (240 hours per year, excluding required preparation and marking) of supervisions (small-group teaching) to undergraduate students of St Catharine’s College or (pursuant to reciprocal teaching arrangements) students of other colleges.
• The successful candidate will be expected to teach Practical Criticism and Critical Practice and other papers, as appropriate, including the first-year college course in Critical Theory.
• To undertake research of international standing within the area of the post-holder’s specialism and to present and publish the results of that research at intervals consistent with the requirements of the national Research Excellence Framework (REF).
• To act (as may be required) as a Director of Studies for students in English in the College. Director of Studies will normally be shared with other English Fellows in the College.
• To participate, if required to do so, in the College’s recruitment and admissions activities.
• To help organise and support the programme of enrichment events, including mock exams, lectures, seminars, and study-related activities.
• To undertake College administrative duties as required by the Governing Body (e.g. attending College meetings and sitting on committees).
• To join other English Fellows in participating in such alumni-orientated events as are occasionally organised by the College.

The successful candidate will be entitled to seven free meals per week and, subject to availability, to single accommodation in College-owned rooms. For a Fellow not living in College accommodation, a room to work and teach in will be provided. Fellows may apply to College funds to support their research (including the purchase of books) and for the purchase of computing equipment.

Applications should include a piece of written work (a full journal article or equivalent) and three references, one of which should be a teaching reference. References should be submitted in confidence to: recruitment@caths.cam.ac.uk directly, by the applicant’s referees. The closing date (for the receipt of all application papers and references) is 10am on Friday 4 July 2025.

Informal enquiries concerning this post may be directed to Dr Hester Lees-Jeffries (HMML2@cam.ac.uk). Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 22 July 2025. At the interview, shortlisted candidates will be required to give a short presentation on an area of their research.