Assistant Lecturer in Gemmology in Birmingham

Department Department of Fashion and Jewellery Location School of Jewellery Salary £39,002 to £44,131 per annum

Permanent: 1 x Full Time (1.0 FTE) and 1 x Part Time (0.6 FTE) Post Type Full Time Release Date 11 August 2026 Closing Date 23.59 hours BST on Sunday 06 September 2026 Reference ARTS26011

About Birmingham City University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries.

We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society.

We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands.

This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

Role Summary

The historic School of Jewellery in Birmingham, part of the BCU Department of Fashion and Jewellery, is one of the leading establishments in the world for the study of jewellery and associated disciplines.

We are seeking two Assistant Lecturers in Gemmology to join our prestigious BSc and MSc Gemmology programmes: one full-time post (1.0 FTE) and one part-time post (0.6 FTE).

These well-respected courses work closely with industry and provide a strong gateway into a wide range of careers.

The School of Jewellery is home to a thriving community of researchers and practitioners serving a diverse student body.

Our provision is industry-focused and research-informed, and we encourage creativity, enterprise, ethical awareness and strong engagement with professional communities.

You will contribute to the delivery and development of teaching across the BSc and MSc Gemmology programmes, working collaboratively with the course team to provide an engaging, inclusive and industry-relevant student experience.

You will bring current subject and professional knowledge into teaching and practical activity, support students through their studies, and contribute to the effective operation and continued development of the courses.

The role also offers opportunities to develop your own scholarship, research, professional practice and enterprise interests within the wider University.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can help us maintain strong links between contemporary gemmological practice, laboratory expertise and higher education.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Student Learning Experience
• Deliver engaging, high-quality teaching across a range of modules related to gemmology and jewellery studies using appropriate learning, teaching and assessment methods.
• Contribute to the management and effective delivery of the BSc and MSc Gemmology programmes and associated modules.
• Collaborate with the course team to develop and enhance module content, learning materials and curriculum, ensuring teaching remains current, inclusive and industry relevant.
• Assess student work fairly and consistently and provide timely, constructive feedback to support learning and achievement.
• Use standard and advanced gemmological equipment and techniques effectively within teaching and practical activity, helping students to develop confident and accurate laboratory practice.
• Ensure teaching and assessment are delivered in line with University quality standards, regulations and agreed course requirements.
• Embed employability, professional practice, industry engagement and real-world learning opportunities within the student experience.
• Research, Enterprise and Scholarship
• Engage in scholarship and maintain current professional practice in ways that enhance teaching and student learning.
• Contribute to research, knowledge exchange and enterprise activity appropriate to your experience, interests and developing academic profile.
• Build relationships with external partners that support teaching, professional practice, innovation, knowledge exchange and enterprise.
• Leadership and Collaboration
• Contribute to module delivery as appropriate and participate in the continued development of the programmes.
• Work collaboratively with academic colleagues, technical staff and professional services teams to provide an excellent student experience.
• Contribute constructively to course and School meetings, curriculum development and the continuous enhancement of learning and teaching.
• Share specialist professional and technical knowledge with colleagues and contribute positively to the wider academic community.
• Student Support
• Act as a Personal Tutor, providing academic guidance and appropriate pastoral support to students.
• Support students throughout their learning journey and signpost them to specialist University services where required.
• Monitor and support student engagement and progress in collaboration with the course team.
• Foster an inclusive, respectful and supportive learning environment that recognises the strengths and needs of a diverse student body.
• External Engagement
• Maintain and develop links with the local, national and international jewellery and gemmological industries to ensure teaching remains current and relevant.
• Develop relationships with employers, professional bodies, laboratories and other external organisations that can enhance student learning, employability and professional opportunities.
• Contribute to student recruitment, open days, outreach activity and wider School and University engagement.
• Support industry-facing and collaborative activities where appropriate, including guest engagement, live briefs, professional events and knowledge exchange.
• Academic Administration
• Undertake appropriate academic administration associated with module and course delivery, including assessment, admissions activity, student records and monitoring engagement.
• Contribute to quality assurance, course review and programme enhancement activities.
• Work in accordance with University policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety, Wellbeing, Environment and Safeguarding.
• Uphold BCU Values and contribute positively to an inclusive and professional academic community.

Essential Requirements

• A degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant subject area, together with appropriate professional gemmological qualification(s).
• Strong current or recent professional experience in gemmology, supported by a portfolio of relevant industry practice.
• The ability to communicate and demonstrate specialist technical knowledge clearly and engagingly to others.

Experience gained through professional training, mentoring, coaching, demonstrations, workshops or education is relevant.

• A strong understanding of the requirements and current practice of the jewellery and gemmological industries locally, nationally and globally.
• An understanding of the environmental, sustainability, geopolitical and economic issues affecting the industry and the approaches being taken to address them.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, demonstration and presentation skills.
• The ability to support, encourage and work effectively with students from a wide range of backgrounds and to apply equality, diversity and inclusion good practice.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Appropriate IT and digital skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office and relevant specialist or teaching technologies.
• A teaching qualification, or willingness to work towards the University's appropriate academic practice qualification where required.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of teaching, training, assessment or learner support in Higher Education, Further Education, professional education or an industry setting.
• A Pg Cert in Higher Education, recognition through the UK Professional Standards Framework / Advance HE, or an equivalent teaching qualification.
• Experience of curriculum or training-material development, assessment design or quality enhancement.
• Evidence of scholarship, research, knowledge exchange, consultancy, enterprise or professional practice that could contribute to the academic environment.
• Established industry and professional networks relevant to gemmology, gemstones, jewellery, laboratories or associated sectors.
• The ability to use advanced laboratory equipment such as FTIR, Raman and UV-Vis, and to interpret and explain results accurately.

About You

You are a knowledgeable and credible gemmological practitioner with strong technical expertise, current awareness of the sector and a genuine enthusiasm for sharing your knowledge with others.

You may be working in a gemmological laboratory, jewellery business, auction house, testing or certification environment, education or training, or another relevant part of the industry.

You do not need to be an established university lecturer to apply.

We particularly welcome applications from experienced gemmologists and jewellery professionals who are considering a move into higher education.

You may already have developed teaching skills through training colleagues, mentoring junior staff, delivering professional courses or workshops, demonstrating technical processes, presenting to clients or industry audiences, or supporting apprentices and trainees.

What matters is that you can explain complex ideas clearly, engage people in learning and bring contemporary professional practice into the classroom and laboratory.

You will be collaborative, organised and student-focused, with the confidence to contribute your specialist expertise while continuing to develop as an educator.

You will value inclusive practice and be committed to helping students develop the technical knowledge, professional judgement and confidence they need for careers in gemmology and the wider jewellery sector.

If you are currently working in industry and are considering the next step in your career, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Where you are new to higher education teaching, you will be expected to develop your academic practice and work towards the appropriate teaching qualification or professional recognition where required.

Further Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Miranda Wells, Head of Department at Miranda. wells@bcu. ac. uk

The two vacancies are permanent appointments: one full-time post (1.0 FTE) and one part-time post (0.6 FTE).

Applicants may indicate in their application whether they wish to be considered for the full-time post, the part-time post, or both.

• Why work for us
• Work–life balance – Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent).
• Career development – Opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career.
• Reward and wellbeing – Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits.
• Inclusive culture – A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs.
• Specialist environment - access to the facilities, technical expertise and professional networks of the School of Jewellery and the wider University.

Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University

Further Details

Job Description - Assistant Lecturer

Use of AI in applications

At BCU, we welcome applications that clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role.

AI tools may be used to support you in preparing your application, but the information you provide must be accurate, authentic and based on your own experience.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI, appear generic or do not provide specific evidence against the role criteria are less likely to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

For more information, please refer to our candidate guidance; How to Apply - Jobs at Birmingham City University

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom.

We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations.

We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential.

Disability Confident Employer

Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.

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