Location: York
Salary: £39,906 to £48,822 per annum (£15,962 to £19,528 pro rata)
Part time, permanent.
Introduction to YSJ university
York St John is an ambitious, modern university at the heart of historic York and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.
As one of the fastest growing universities in the U.K over recent years, we have a new strategy for the next decade, emphasising our commitment to widening opportunity through the power of education and contributing our talents to creating a fairer world, and a more prosperous region. We are putting inspirational learning and impactful research at the heart of this strategy, recognising our academic expertise as our greatest asset.
The School
The School of the Arts offers a range of degree programmes including undergraduate, postgraduate taught degrees and research degrees across four departments: Fine Art (Art, Photography, Illustration), Design (Graphic design, Interior Design, Animation, Games Design, Product Design, UXD, VR/AR), Performance (Acting, Musical Theatre and Music), and Production (Media Production, Music Production, TV and Film Production, Journalism and Sports Journalism). We have a diverse PGT portfolio and a rapidly growing PGR community. As a School, we are committed to student-centred teaching, applied creative practice, and live industry briefs and challenge our learners to think critically.
We are active in projects involving work-related learning, including partnerships with a variety of external industries and organisations. We work to decolonise the curriculum and to build supportive and inclusive pedagogies. We have a thriving research community with opportunities for colleagues to share their research, join interdisciplinary and specialist research groups, and develop research-informed teaching. Both our early career and experienced researchers engage with a range of academic interests that impact our excellent teaching provision and expanding research portfolio. With around 70 staff in the School in total, we are a friendly, creative and collegiate community.
The Role
This role is permanent and part time (14.8 hours per week).
Applications are invited for a Lecturer in Critical Studies for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Fine Art, Illustration and Photography. The postholder will have the opportunity to shape and deliver lecture-, seminar- and tutorial-based learning and teaching, and assessment. They will also contribute to research supervision and provide pastoral and academic support to students. The Lecturer will undertake independent research leading to outputs and funding applications and contribute effectively to academic citizenship requirements in the programme. Programmes in the Fine Art department pride themselves with delivering an ambitious, rigorous and challenging Critical Studies curriculum that enables practice students to produce nationally recognised art-historical and -theoretical writing, for example, winning the 2025 Association for Art History (AAH) UG Dissertation Award and the 2026 Henry Moore Institute PG Dissertation Award.
Required skills and experience
Candidates will have a track record of contributing to the learning, teaching and assessment provision of Critical Studies modules for practitioners at undergraduate level. The successful applicant will have an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical, historical and contextual dialogues within contemporary visual practices, and be able to communicate with practice-based students in clear and engaging ways. The successful candidate will have a PhD in art history, art theory or research-engaged practice and the ability to develop, teach and organise module content more broadly than their specific research area. Applicants will be active researchers, who will contribute to the research profile of the School.
Additional information
Contact for informal candidate queries: Helen Turner, h.turner@yorksj.ac.uk
The selection process will include a presentation at interview and an observed teaching session. Further details will be provided if you are shortlisted for interview.
It is anticipated that the advert will close on 7th August 2026 and the provisional interview date will be on 7th September 2026. Please note that there will be some time between application submission and invite to interview for successful applicants.
We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive policies and facilities and welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive working environment, consideration is given to all requests for job share or flexible working arrangements.
This vacancy is scheduled to close on the date indicated at the bottom of this advert, but we encourage you to please apply as early as possible as we may consider closing earlier if we receive a high level of applications. If the vacancy is closed earlier, all pending applicants will be notified and provided with 24 hours' notice to submit an application.
Application process support
We are keen to support you throughout the recruitment process. Before starting your application please refer to the attached candidate application form guidance below which provides advice about completing the application process.
If you require a reasonable adjustment in order to apply for this position please contact vacancies@yorksj.ac.uk. Within the application form there is an opportunity for you to request a reasonable adjustment at the interview stage of the process, however if you wish to discuss this in further detail at any point in the process please do not hesitate to contact us. The following resource may help you adapt the device you are using to apply to suit your needs My Computer My Way (abilitynet.org.uk)
Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form. Within the application process you will be asked to answer a selection of work-related questions. Our aim is to get to know you, and understand your individual skills and experience, and how you would apply these within the role. We are aware that AI can be helpful in shaping your responses, but we encourage you to share your answers in your own words.
Our benefits package
We offer a wide range of employee benefits including -
- Excellent annual leave entitlement, including five discretionary university closure days over the Christmas period
- Disability leave (applies to staff who have disclosed a disability and is also available to staff with disabled dependants)
- Pension scheme
- Health Cash Plan after six months service
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists
- On-campus courses, one-to-one tutorials, and online resources to help you develop your digital skills and work with new software
- Relocation expenses package for certain roles
- Reimbursement of Skilled Worker Visa application fees and Visa loan scheme for additional costs (if applicable to the role)
Further information about life at YSJ
Our attached 'further information' document below provides further information about our culture, achievements and testimonials from our employees.
Read more about our culture, inclusive community, working arrangements and benefits for York St John employees
Read the latest news, views and stories from our staff and students.
Read more about our commitment to managing and reducing our environmental impact and to promoting sustainable development wherever we can.