Lecturer in Fashion Design

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

At the heart of shaping future professionals and creative thinkers, the College of Health and Humanities brings together three dynamic and diverse schools:

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals through hands-on learning, expert teaching, and strong industry partnerships. Our courses are designed to meet the demands of real-world practice and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation

From state-of-the-art clinical simulation suites and specialist sport facilities to valuable placement opportunities, the School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation focuses on ensuring our student graduate ready for the challenges of modern healthcare, sport and rehabilitation. Our career-focused courses are designed with industry partners and delivered by experienced academics and practitioners.

School of Humanities, Law and Creative Arts

Celebrating creativity, critical thinking, and cultural exploration. This school nurtures writers, performers, thinkers and artists, offering opportunities to grow intellectually and creatively across subjects like English, History, Creative Writing, Fine Art, and Media.

The School brings together a wide range of subjects, including:

• Humanities
• Law
• Journalism and Media
• Policing, Criminology and Social Sciences
• Creative Arts

Whether exploring the past, shaping future policy, telling powerful stories, or creating inspiring work, our students develop the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to society and the creative industries.

Together, the College of Health and Humanities delivers a rich, interdisciplinary environment where students gain the skills, experience, and inspiration to make a meaningful impact in society.

We are seeking a highly skilled, forward-thinking Lecturer in Fashion Design who also holds specialist skills in CAD to join our team and inspire the next generation of creative professionals across our Fashion and Textiles and Fashion Communication and Promotion programmes.

You will develop and deliver innovative, inclusive and industry-relevant learning and teaching, equipping students with the creative, technical and digital skills, confidence and contextual understanding needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving fashion industry. With employability and real-world learning at the heart of the curriculum, you will bring contemporary industry practice, digital innovation and professional insight into the student experience.

A key focus of the role will be supporting students to develop their expertise in CAD (such as the Adobe Creative Suite, Gerber, XD, Express, Procreate, Fresco, O3D, Style3D Browzwear, Blender, and Daz3D) and other digital design technologies. Alongside strong knowledge of core CAD tools, you will demonstrate an awareness of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI solutions for ideation and visualisation in textiles), and understand how these can be integrated appropriately, creatively and ethically into design workflows. You will help students explore the opportunities and challenges presented by digital innovation, ensuring they develop future-ready skills that support professional success, creativity and the sustainable development of the fashion and textiles industry.

You will contribute to module and programme development, assessment and quality assurance, using innovative pedagogic approaches and learning environments to engage and challenge students and develop the skills and attributes of the ‘Derby Graduate’. You may also undertake module or programme leadership responsibilities, contributing to programme development, marketing, recruitment and delivery.

Research and scholarly activity will be an important part of the role. You will engage in research that informs and enhances your teaching, influences leading-edge practice and contributes to the University's research profile and REF activity. You will have opportunities to collaborate with internal and external partners, publish and present your work, contribute to research bids and develop relationships with professional, research and industry organisations.

Alongside teaching and research, you will support students as a personal tutor, providing academic guidance and pastoral support throughout their studies. You will also contribute to student recruitment, outreach, placements and the development of external partnerships that create valuable opportunities for students and strengthen the University's links with industry.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Fashion Design and CAD specialist who is passionate about creative education, digital innovation, research and industry engagement, and who wants to help shape a future-focused curriculum that prepares students to lead with creativity, sustainability and technical excellence.

Please note that this role is a 0.5FTE; 24 month Fixed Term Contract.

Working Pattern

Semester 1 Friday 10-12, 1-3pm,

Semester 2 Thursday 2-6pm.

Further working hours to be discussed at interview.

The anticipated interview date is 11th November.

We are looking for an innovative, creative and forward-thinking academic with expertise in textiles, fashion or a closely related discipline, who is passionate about inspiring the next generation of students and preparing them for a rapidly evolving industry. You will have a good Honours degree or equivalent professional experience, alongside relevant subject-specific knowledge and experience.

Digital innovation will be central to your approach. You will have practical experience of using digital technologies to enhance learning, teaching and research, with knowledge of relevant creative and CAD software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Gerber, CLO3D, Style3D Browzwear, Blender, Procreate, Fresco and related digital design and visualisation platforms. You will also have experience or an interest in using AI for ideation and visualisation within textiles, alongside an appreciation of both traditional and immersive approaches to visualisation.

You will be an excellent communicator and relationship builder, able to explain complex and conceptual ideas clearly to a diverse range of audiences. You will be comfortable working independently and collaboratively, managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines, while building effective relationships across the University and with external partners.

Above all, you will share our commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience and demonstrate the values, professionalism and behaviours expected of a Higher Education professional. You will be flexible in your approach and willing to travel between sites, occasionally overseas, and contribute to activities such as Open Days, Graduation and occasional evening or weekend teaching.

• Effectively teach and facilitate learning on a range of subjects / modules within the subject area on undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and post-experience programmes.
• Ensure that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching, as well as extending it to appropriate external activities such as knowledge transfer activities.
• Ensure that module / programme design and delivery comply with the quality standards and regulations of the University.
• Participate effectively in the assessment process, including the setting, marking and moderation of student work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring it is in accordance with quality assurance procedures.
• Participate in the continuing review and development of module/programme delivery, incorporating innovative study modes, learning environments and pedagogic practices to engage and stimulate students, deliver effective learning outcomes and develop the skills and attributes of the ‘Derby Graduate’.
• Take on relevant module leader and/or programme leader responsibilities, including associated marketing, recruitment, delivery and ongoing programme development activities.

Research / Scholarship

• Engage in individual research and collaborate both internally and externally on research projects that are consistent with the College, and contribute to influencing leading edge practice in the University and contribution to the REF.
• Sustain and enhance the reputation of the University by publishing in appropriate quality journals and presenting at scholarly activities such as workshops, conferences and other similar events.
• Develop and maintain contacts and relationship with relevant professional, research and industrial organisations.
• Contribute to writing bids for externally funded research projects.

Other

• Act as a personal tutor, supporting and mentoring students as appropriate.
• Provide pastoral care to students, referring when necessary to services that provide further support.
• Support marketing and student recruitment activities as required.
• Develop external links in order, for example, to support student recruitment, secure student placements, facilitate outreach work, generate income or build relationships for future activities.
• Be responsible for administrative duties in areas such as admissions, timetabling, examinations and assessment of progress and student attendance.
• Contribute to effective cross College / University working.
• Observe and implement University policies and procedures.
• Good Honours Degree in relevant subject discipline or equivalent industry experience
• Fellowship of the Advanced HE (HEA) or willingness to work towards
• PhD (or submitted and awaiting examination) or equivalence accepted in a relevant subject area, for example by publication or through appropriate professional achievement or willingness to work towards within an agreed timeframe
• Subject specific qualifications / knowledge

Experience

• Experience of working with AI solutions for ideation and visualisation in textiles, plus an interest in both traditional and immersive visualisation strategies.

Learning / Teaching

• Experience or knowledge of quality assurance and validation of HE modules / programmes
• Experience or knowledge of higher education and ability to use a range of delivery techniques to inspire and engage students

Research / Scholarship

• Demonstrable experience of own discipline to enable the development of new knowledge and understanding within the field
• Experience of research / enterprise activity
• Evidence of active publishing in high-quality journals or other outputs in research or practice that will contribute to the REF or other areas identified in the College / University Research Strategy

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications which aid student learning
• Ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups
• Proficient in using IT to support own work and for application to technology-enhanced learning / teaching and research activities
• A working knowledge of CAD packages such as the Adobe Creative Suite, Gerber, XD, Express, Procreate, Fresco, CLO3D, Style3D Browzwear, Blender, Daz3D, Adobe Substance, and Embodee for digital pattern-making, garment visualisation, and textile design.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including networking and relationship building skills, both across the University and externally
• Able to demonstrate both independent self-management and team working
• Able to work with competing priorities and to tight deadlines
• Demonstrates competences, core behaviours and supplementary behaviours that support and promote the University’s core values
• Demonstrates professionalism in learning / teaching and the values of the UK Professional Standards Framework for HE
• A sound understanding of the current higher education environment and its implications for the student learning experience
• A sound understanding of the employability agenda and its relevance to learners and the curriculum
• A sound understanding of internationalisation and its relevance for learners and the curriculum
• Flexible to the needs of others
• Innovative and creative
• Committed to continual enhancement and a high quality student experience
• Committed to a high-performance culture, fostering continuous improvement and driving quality

Business requirements

• Able to take a flexible approach to work
  • Travel between sites and occasionally overseas for research or teaching
  • Some evening and occasional weekend teaching
  • Attendance at Open Days, Graduation events etc.
  • A commitment to own professional development
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Ven Harbisher, Subject Lead for Creative Arts via b.harbisher@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk .

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

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