Stipendiary Lectureship in German Language and Literature 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2026

This is a fixed-term contract, based at Wadham College. The lecturer will be required to give on average three hours per week of tutorials for Wadham College during the eight-week term, and to be available during both term and for some periods of the students’ vacation to offer organizational, pastoral, and admissions support. Together with the College’s other tutors in Modern Languages and Joint Schools, the lecturer will be expected to share pastoral and organizational responsibility for Wadham students reading German.

*Key duties include arranging teaching, setting and marking collections (college termly examinations), writing and authorizing reports, organizing and participating in subject social events, and arranging regular one-to-one meetings with undergraduates. They may also be expected to play a role in the undergraduate admissions process (finishing in mid-December), and they will accordingly be expected to participate in appropriate admissions training by the beginning of November 2025 if they have not already done so.

The lecturer will be expected to share responsibility for the teaching of German Literature in the college. The period to be covered ranges from the late eighteenth century to the present. This will/may involve the first-year literature and commentary papers (Papers III and IV) and, for the Final Honours School, the Modern Period Paper (Paper VIII) and those Special Authors (Paper X) which they are able to teach. While German grammar, conversation and essay writing are taught centrally, the ability to teach translation either into or out of German would be an advantage.

The current undergraduate handbooks in German are available as PDF files on request (please email tutorial@wadham.ox.ac.uk). This link provides general information about German at the University of Oxford and about the syllabus: http://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/german.

*As well as the main Honour School of Modern Languages the college admits students in English and Modern Languages, History and Modern Languages, Philosophy and Modern Languages, European and Middle Eastern Languages, Linguistics and Modern Languages, and Classics and Modern Languages. (We are expecting 12 students reading German within Modern Languages, including joint schools, to be in residence 2025-26.)

Applications will be judged only against the criteria which are set out below. Applicants should make sure that their application describes very clearly how they meet these criteria, with reference to prior experience where applicable.

1. The ability to provide excellent tutorial and small group teaching within the field of appointment as outlined above. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of the learning needs of undergraduate students and how to address them.

2. The ability and willingness to undertake College administration and the willingness to participate in College business more generally. Applicants should demonstrate sympathy for the nature and aims of the College and a willingness to engage in collegiate life, and in particular in the College’s access and aspiration programmes.

3. The ability to undertake pastoral responsibilities for undergraduate students.

4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

5. Excellent organisational skills, including personal initiative.

6. Evidence of active scholarship that demonstrates the ability to contribute to the modern languages research community. Potential applicants are invited to find out more about Wadham College from the College website: http://www.wadham.ox.ac.uk

It is expected that the successful candidate will have, or be close to completing, a doctorate, and must have proven teaching experience in the subject range to be covered.

The successful applicant will be asked to provide proof of right to work in the UK before the post can be confirmed. Please note that the stipend offered for this post means that the College is not in a position to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa.

The stipend will be on a scale from £8284 p.a. (the Senior Tutors’ Committee recommended scale), subject to revision in line with national adjustments to University teachers' salaries. The position is superannuable under USS. The lecturer will be a member of the College’s Senior Common Room, will have use of a room for teaching, and will be entitled to three meals a week, when the kitchens are open, free of charge. The lecturer will also be entitled to apply to research funds of up to £152 per annum.

Applications, consisting of a covering letter (detailing the candidate’s suitability for the post) and a curriculum vitae, should be emailed to tutorial@wadham.ox.ac.uk by noon on Tuesday 1st July.

Applicants should ask two referees to e-mail references directly to tutorial@wadham.ox.ac.uk by the same date, asking them to comment in particular on the applicants’ suitability for this post. The Selection Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank referees for their help and hopes that they will understand if no further acknowledgement of their assistance is made. Any information referees give will be treated in the strictest confidence. However, they are advised that under the terms of the Data Protection Act, all references are potentially disclosable to the applicant.

Wadham College is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford.

It is likely that interviews for this position will be held during the week commencing Monday 14th July. We expect to contact shortlisted candidates at least a week before the date of interview and ask them to submit a sample of their research. All reasonable interview expenses will be reimbursed.

The College welcomes applications from candidates who have a disability. These documents will be made available in large print, audio, or other formats on request. Applicants invited for interview will be asked whether they require any particular arrangements to make the interview more convenient and effective for them.

Wadham has a proud tradition of being at the forefront of advancing equality of opportunity, and celebrates vigorous debate, independent thought, and academic excellence. We seek to create a welcoming, accessible, and secure environment in which to work, study, live, and visit. Our community embraces people of all ages, backgrounds, races/ethnicities, nationalities, beliefs (including religious beliefs), genders, sexualities, dis/abilities, and appearances. This diversity, underpinned by mutual respect and consideration, enriches us all.