Career Development Fellow in French & Francophone Studies

Working at Durham University

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As one of the UK's leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it's also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential.

Our Purpose and Values

We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Career Development Fellowships

The University is committed to enabling all our colleagues to achieve their full potential. Durham University's Career Development Fellowships are fixed term positions, which include structured development support for early career academics to deliver outstanding education, innovative research/scholarship, and to engage in citizenship activities. The post-holder will be a full academic member of the Department, working alongside world-class colleagues, with the support of a designated mentor.

Career Development Fellows will benefit from tailored support to strengthen their skills, will be provided with a range of academic opportunities, and will benefit from protected time to foster different aspects of their career. The Career Development Fellowships will enable early career academics to acquire a strong and well-rounded foundation to support future applications for substantive academic roles at Durham or elsewhere (no guarantee can be given that a permanent role at Durham will be available for the CDF to apply for at the end of the Fellowship).

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures (MLAC) is one of the largest and most successful such Schools in the UK. It brings together research in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic Studies, Italian, Japanese and Russian Studies. Our reach spans Europe, the Arab world, Russophone Eurasia, Hispanic America, and East Asia, and their mutual socio-cultural, intellectual and linguistic relations.

MLAC federates expertise to generate innovative practices in teaching and research that cross historical, geographical and methodological boundaries. Our expertise ranges from the medieval and early period studies through to the contemporary era, with particular strengths in visual arts and culture, the relationship between the sciences and the humanities, textual scholarship, gender and sexuality studies, critical and cultural theory, travel literature, creative writing, and translation.

The depth and diversity of our expertise is reflected in a range of interdisciplinary degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. We offer undergraduate degrees in Modern Languages and Cultures, Chinese and Japanese Studies, and Visual Art and Film. Our taught postgraduate degrees offer advanced training in Translation Studies, Visual Culture and Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Meanwhile, the Centre for Foreign Language Study (CFLS) delivers an Institution-Wide Language Programme to students across the University via credit-bearing and non-credit bearing modules, giving as many of our students as possible the opportunity to learn languages in the way and at the level best suited to them.

More information on the School can be found on our webpages at: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/modern-languages-cultures/

The Role

The School seeks to appoint a two-year Career Development Fellow in French & Francophone Studies. Applications are welcome from those working in all areas of French & Francophone literary and cultural studies, and we are especially interested to receive applications from those with specialisms in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In line with institutional expectations for Career Development Fellowships, your time will be divided between the three core activities of teaching (60%), research (30%) and citizenship (10%).

The post offers an exciting opportunity to develop internationally excellent research/scholarship and teaching while providing unrivalled, tailored support for your career progression at an exciting and progressive institution. Given the developmental nature of the role it is not anticipated that the post will be extended beyond the initial fixed term of two years. Following the end of the term, the role-holder will be in a strong position to apply for relevant permanent academic roles, should they arise, at Durham or elsewhere.

Successful applicants are normally expected to be within 8 years of completing their PhD, although career breaks for parental leave and/or health reasons will be considered. This is because the role is aimed at early career academics who would benefit from a structured development programme and provision of both formal and 'on the job' training. The post is also open to those who are returning to academia after a career in another sector.

Successful applicants will ideally be in post by 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University provides a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

Potential Interview Date: TBC, likely late June or early July 2026

Key responsibilities:

It should be noted that the precise content of each Career Development Fellowship will vary dependent on the experience of the role-holder, their career aspirations, and the business need of the School.

At the outset of the Fellowship a personal development plan will be produced in discussion with the Head ofSchool or their delegate. This will outline any training needs the post-holder may have, and experience the post-holder wishes to gain, to develop their academic career.

The development plan is a tool to assist the post-holder's academic career progression and will be reviewed regularly during the Fellowship to ensure that development needs are being met.

During the course of the Career Development Fellowship the successful candidate will gain valuable experience in a wide spectrum of academic activities. Examples include:

Development

• Membership of School committees and appropriate professional bodies.
• Contribute to a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• Engage in citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• Engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses, as detailed in the personal development plan. Opportunities could include research project leadership, supported progression towards Higher Education Academy (HEA) membership, or participation in a relevant leadership training course.

Education

• Teach modules at undergraduate/postgraduate levels, developing an awareness of different approaches to and methods of teaching and supporting student learning.
• Develop the ability to manage own teaching and designing, planning and writing of engaging and innovative teaching materials.
• Develop and deliver an inclusive curriculum and make an active contribution to an inclusive community in which diversity is embraced and celebrated.
• Co-supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students, and where appropriate act as part of a PhD supervisory team.
• Provide student support, assessment of academic performance and provision of feedback, dealing with student disciplinary matters and complaints.

Research

• Demonstrate progress towards independent development of internationally excellent research.
• Develop clear plans for the pursuit of national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.
• Develop a personal research plan which supports and enhances the School's research strategy.
• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You'll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 42 days per year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
• We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Contact Information

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Edward Welch, Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, at [email protected]. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you're experiencing to [email protected]

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process please contact [email protected]

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence of all criteria.

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

Submitting your application

All applicants are asked to submit:

• A CV
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out in the Person Specification below.

• Personal Research Plan of no more than 500 words, setting out your research agenda and aims over the two years of the Career Development Fellowship and beyond.

We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

Next Steps

Assessment for the post will normally include an in-person interview involving a short presentation by the candidate on an aspect of their research. We currently anticipate that interviews will be held in late June or during the first or second week of July 2026.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Person Specification

Candidates will normally be within eight years of completing their PhD (career breaks due to parental leave or ill health will be accounted for) or be concluding their PhD. While candidates may have limited direct experience of the requirements of the post, they must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria.

Essential Criteria

1. Qualifications - a good first degree in French & Francophone Studies or a related subject and normally within eight years of completing a PhD in one of these fields.
2. Experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate the potential to deliver high-quality, effective and engaging teaching and assessments in the field of French & Francophone Studies, including first-language or near-first-language competency in French.
3. Demonstrate the potential to produce high-quality research outputs in an area of French & Francophone Studies that are recognised, or have the potential to be recognised as, internationally excellent or world-class.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills of a kind that equips them to work successfully in a collaborative interdisciplinary research project and departmental environment.
5. The ability to foster a respectful working and learning environment and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.
7. Experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to participate in the collegial/administrative activities or an academic Department.

Please note that colleagues who are undertaking/have completed a CDF role are not eligible to apply for a further CDF role (should one become available) so to allow others the opportunity of a CDF post and the career development that it provides.

SECONDMENT

The post is full time, fixed term for a 2 year period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager.