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Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music

Established in 1970 and autonomous since January 1993, Dundalk Institute of Technology provides higher educational opportunities in Nursing, Health, Applied Science, Business, Humanities, Engineering, Informatics and Creative Arts at a variety of levels (Levels 6 10), through full-time and part-time programmes. The Institute is divided into four Schools, including the School of Informatics and Creative Arts.

Dundalk Institute of Technology continues to grow and currently student numbers are c. 5,000 students. To accommodate these numbers, work began in June 1996, to further develop the Campus, which has led to improved facilities. A new Student Services facility, Library and Information Resource Centre, Restaurant and Theatre have been developed in recent years. In December 2004 the Muirhevna Building which accommodates the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Studies was opened. In September 2010, the School of Informatics and Creative Arts moved into the renovated P.J. Carroll Building which provides state of the art facilities for both students and staff.

The Institute is located on the south side of Dundalk, a town that combines a rich history with modern industrial development. It is located at the mid-point of the Dublin-Belfast road and rail route.

The Institute is a dynamic world-class Institute of Technology that recognises the fundamental importance of recruiting excellent academic staff.

Scoil na Faisnisochta agus na nEalaon Cruthaitheach School of Informatics and Creative Arts

The School of Informatics and Creative Arts is a multi-disciplinary school that spans and binds together areas of digital technology and the creative arts. It encompasses disciplines such as Computing, Mathematics, Creative Media (including Film and Television and Theatre Practice) and Music (including Music Technology and Production). The Schools mission is to CREATE an environment to foster Collaboration, Research and Enterprise in Arts and Technology through Education.

The School is currently undergoing an internal restructuring with the Section of Music and the Section of Creative Media being phased out and a new department being created, namely the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music. This will

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be one of three departments in the School on completion of the restructuring at the end of 2015. Some programmes and staff temporarily in the department for the first semester of 2015/16 may be moved to another department as part of the restructuring.

The Post: The School wishes to recruit a Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music. The person appointed will have responsibility for the management of a range of programmes at under and post-graduate level and on-going research within the Department. S/he will initiate and develop a new range of programmes, oversee a number of research initiatives and provide academic and research leadership to a strong and diverse team. The Institute seeks a person with broad vision and leadership qualities. S/he will be responsible for effective and efficient management and will be expected to initiate and implement new developments and to continue the contribution of the disciplines within the department to community engagement and to the region.

Qualifications:

Candidates must hold an honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, have five years relevant post qualification experience and ideally have a postgraduate qualification of at least Masters level in a relevant discipline.

Salary Scale: 72,205 - 91,718 (10 points)

Please Note: All appointees will be placed on the first point of the relevant scale as per new entrants circular to the Public Sector. The qualifications for appointment and conditions of service for this post are subject to the provisions of the Institutes of Technology Acts, 1992- 2006 and as amended.

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 04.00 p.m. on Friday, 03 July 2015.

Interviews for the post of Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music will be held during the week of 17 August 2015. All interviews will be face-to-face with no remote interviews being facilitated.

Dundalk Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunities Employer

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1. Terms and Conditions:

This position may be filled on a temporary or fixed term basis. It is a pensionable, whole-time position. Appointments will be subject to a one year probationary period.

2. Remuneration:

Remuneration will be 72,205 - 91,718 (10 points) per annum. Please note all appointees will be placed on the first point of the scale in accordance with Circular Letter from the Department of Education & Skills. The appointee will be offered public service pension terms and retirement age conditions in accordance with pension arrangements applying at the time in Institute o f Technology Sector as authorised by the Minister for Education and Skills depending on the status of the successful appointee:

(a) In general, an individual who has no prior pensionable Public Service history in the 26 weeks prior to appointment will be a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (Single Scheme) which commenced from 1 January 2013 (Section 10 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 refers);

(b) An individual who is on secondment will remain a member of the parent organisations pension scheme and the pensionable remuneration will be based on his/her substantive grade i.e. the grade at which the individual is employed in his/her parent organisation;

(c) An individual who was a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme as construed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 and who does not qualify for membership of the Single Scheme will be a member of the Education Sector Superannuation Scheme (formerly included in the Local Government Superannuation Scheme) and any Act replacing or amending , will apply as provided for in Sec t ion 11 (8 ) o f the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992/Dublin Institute of Technology Acts 1992 as adapted by the Education Sector Superannuation Scheme (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2001 (SI number 14 of 2001).

(d) Appointees status for superannuation purposes

At the time of being offered an appointment, the Institute in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills if necessary, will, in the light of the appointees previous Public Service (and/or other) employment history, determine the appropriate pension terms and conditions to apply for the duration of the appointment. Appointees will be required to disclose their full public service history.

3. Annual Leave:

Leave will be in accordance with the collective agreements approved by the Minister for Education and Skills from time to time for permanent whole-time Lecturers.

4. Hours of Work:

See attached list of duties.

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(These arrangements are subject to collective agreements arrived at from time to

time and authorised by the Minister for Education and Skills).

5. Sick Leave:

The Institute authorities must be notified on the morning of the first day of any absence due to illness and any subsequent day after that. Staff must furnish weekly doctors notes, for illnesses over two (2) days, and monthly doctors notes for long term sickness absence to the Human Resources Office.

Uncertified sick leave may not exceed seven days in any rolling period of two years.

Sick leave will be granted to the appointee in accordance with the arrangements authorised by the Minister for Education and Skills.

Referral of an appointee for a full medical report will be in accordance with a collectively agreed procedure.

6. (a) Compassionate Leave:

The Institute may allow up to 5 days, with pay, compassionate leave on the occasion of bereavement on the death of an immediate relative.

(b) Marriage Leave:

The Institute may allow up to 5 days, with pay, for marriage leave.

(c) Maternity Leave/Adoptive Leave/Paternity Leave/Parental Leave/Carers Leave:

Maternity/Adoptive/Paternity/Parental/Carers leave will be granted to the appointee in accordance with the arrangements as authorised by the Minister for Education & Skills.

7. Probationary Period:

A probationary period of one (1) year will apply. The Institute reserves the right to extend this probationary period and may terminate a contract at any time during the probationary period if in its opinion the candidate selected is unsuitable. Where the candidate intends to resign, he/she is required to give the Institute three (3) months notice.

8. Place of Work:

The person will normally be required to work in the Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk. The appointee will be required to work in any of the Institute Campus Buildings and may also be required to work off campus on Institute approved activities.

9. Termination/Dismissal:

The Institute reserves the right to terminate your employment. Termination in such situations can be (but not exclusively) for any of the following reasons:

(a) Incompetence or poor work performance;

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(b) Misconduct (serious or persistent); (c) Incapability; (d) Failure to carry out reasonable instructions; (e) Redundancy; (f) Other substantial reason.

In the event of such early termination, the Institute will give you one month's notice. Where you intend to resign, you are required to give the Institute one month's notice.

The following procedure will be adhered to before a decision to dismiss a person from the Institute is taken:

(a) The Institute will carry out a thorough investigation. The staff member may be suspended with or without pay pending such investigation.

(b) The staff member will be informed of the reasons for his/her proposed dismissal and he/she will be afforded the opportunity to state your case. He/she may be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative, if requested.

(c) The staff member may appeal to the President of the Institute if a decision is taken to dismiss him/her.

In the event of serious breaches of Institute rules or behaviour which, in the opinion of the Institute, warrants summary dismissal the staff member may be dismissed without notice or pay in lieu of notice.

10. Travel and Subsistence:

The staff member may be required to travel as a normal part of their duties. Travel and subsistence allowances are payable in respect of authorised journeys at the rates applicable to Institute Business.

11. Intellectual Property:

Any discovery or invention or secret process or improvements in procedure made or discovered by the staff member while in the service of the Institute in connection with or in any way affecting or relating to the business of the Institute or any of its companies, partners or clients which is capable of being used or adopted for use therein or in connection therewith shall forthwith be disclosed to the Institute and will belong to and be the absolute property of the Institute or such company, partner or client as the Institute may nominate for the purpose.

12. Confidentiality:

The Institute is obliged to maintain confidentiality in certain aspects of its work. It is the duty of the appointee to observe such confidentiality. This restriction shall continue to apply after termination of this appointment.

13. External Work:

Any external activity engaged in by the appointee must not be such as to interfere with the fulfilling of the appointees duties and responsibilities to the Institute.

Any eternal employment, self-employment, working partnerships or consultancy work entered into by the appointee must not conflict with the interests of the Institute and must have the prior written approval of the President of the Institute. Approval may be given where this activity is deemed by the Institute not to interfere with the fulfilling of the appointees duties and responsibilities to the Institute and/or where the activity is

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deemed not to interfere within the interests of the Institute. Any approval/refusal will be subject to ongoing review by the Institute.

14. Policies and Procedures

The appointee will be required to familiarise him/herself with all Institute Policies and Procedures and to ensure that s/he complies with their requirements.

15. Shortlisting Criteria and Documentation

The position will be filled in accordance with the selection criteria for filling Head of Department positions as determined by the Minister of Education and Skills. Candidates will be shortlisted for interview based on information supplied. Shortlisting criteria and shortlisted candidates will be agreed by the Interview Board prior to notification of all candidates on the status of their application.

16. Selection

Following the interview process, the Interview Board will make a recommendation on the appointment for ratification by the Governing Body.

17. References

The Institute will take up references for short-listed candidates prior to interview. Applicants should ensure that each referee will be available to provide these confidential references and, where possible, supply full referee contact details, i n c l u d i n g e m a i l address, telephone and fax numbers.

All applications will be treated in confidence.

Candidates external to the Institute will be required to complete a pre-employment medical examination prior to any offer of employment being made.

DUNDALK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

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DUTIES

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CREATIVE ARTS, MEDIA AND MUSIC

The appointee will report to the Head of School.

The appointee will be responsible through the Head of School to the President for the efficient and effective management and control of the assigned Department and for its development in accordance with institute policy and plans.

The appointee will lead, direct and manage the academic programmes at Department level including teaching, research, programme development and design, academic assessment and academic administration.

The appointee will act as advisor and leader in quality assurance issues and will implement agreed quality assurance procedures and other procedures including progression, complaints processing, grievance and disciplinary, etc.

The appointee will manage and direct the staff of the Department including timetabling and evaluating staff performance.

The appointee will work with the Head of School as part of the School Executive and develop, agree, implement and manage School and Department policy.

The appointee will carry out such duties as are assigned by the President including but not limited to:

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Developing a rolling strategic and operational plan for the Department consistent with School and Institute objectives and ensuring the staff are continuously advised on plans, policy and other necessary matters.

Providing overall management and administration of the Department, including managing the Department budget and maintaining appropriate records and making available information as required by senior management.

Playing a leading role in the development, implementation and maintenance of academic quality assurance arrangements.

Providing academic leadership and scholarship on existing and new courses, in course development and in course co-ordination.

Directing and supervising the work of members of staff of the Department, including evaluating staff performance and acting in an advisory capacity and as a professional support in academic matters to colleagues.

Advise on and participate in recruiting suitably qualified staff and to manage in consultation with the Head of School and other relevant members of Institute management the development and implementation of a staff development programme for Department.

Participate in appropriate activities, including external activities, necessary to the development and promotion of the Department, School and the Institute, advise on and participate in the promotion and marketing of the Department, School and Institute and its courses including the preparation of marketing literature and brochures and advise on student intake.

Teaching classes for up to 105 hours per annum and carrying out assessment, monitoring and evaluation of examination work and providing academic and consultative support to students in their learning activities; directing and supervising the work of Tutor/ Demonstrators and taking academic responsibility for the academic standards of this work.

Working with the central management team [e.g. Registrar, Vice President of Strategic Planning, Communications and Development, Secretary/Financial Controller and other Heads of School and Department] as required and participating in committees as required from time to time.

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Liaising with awarding bodies, trade and professional organisations, government agencies, etc. as required.

Advising on equipment and physical requirements.

Participating in committees and meetings, as required.

Carrying out such other duties as may be assigned by the Head of School from time to time.

The appointee will carry out the lawful instructions of the Director and comply with the requirements and regulations of the Minister for Education and Skills.

The performance of this work will require regular attendance at the Institute in addition to class contact hours during the normal working week.

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