Lecturer in Criminology

Salary: £41,885 - £46,970  per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 13 November 2026

The role

We are seeking to appoint two Lecturers in Critical Criminology to commence 1st January 2027 or soon after. These are open-ended teaching and research lectureship and key responsibilities for the posts will be primarily teaching at undergraduate level on our new Criminology and Criminology & Sociology programmes. We are particularly interested in critical criminology profiles that include either environmental criminology or digital criminology/digital justice.  We encourage applications from racially marginalised/minoritised scholars.

The Sociology Unit in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology is home to a diverse and friendly community of staff and students, committed to excellent, innovative and socially engaged teaching and research. Our research spans medical sociology, the sociology of crime, gender, migration, poverty and environment, drawing insights from sociology and social anthropology. Concerned with social inequalities and social justice more generally, our research makes a real difference in the world; we work with third sector organisations and policy makers at the local, right through to the international level. We increasingly host international visitors and have a dynamic community of postgraduate researchers. We're based in the refurbished Henry Daysh Building, bringing our school community closer together. For more information about the school, please click here. For information about research in Sociology, please click here.

Application method: Please provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in ‘The Person’ within the Academic Job Description by uploading a letter of application (maximum 3-sides A4 font 12) along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

For these roles we encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

You will conduct research in critical criminology, and we are particularly interested in critical criminology profiles that include either environmental criminology or digital criminology/digital justice and contribute to teaching in these areas on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. You will contribute to ongoing curriculum development especially for our new criminology programmes, including developing student internships and placements. You will also contribute to enhancing the national and international profile of our unit.

You will have a proven track record in researching and teaching (module development, design and delivery) in critical criminology, ideally including either environmental criminology or digital criminology/digital justice. You will have a track record of engagement and evidence of the impact of your research beyond academic settings.

You will have a track-record of publications in high impact (Q1) criminology and related journals and other outlets, suitable for submission to REF UoA 21 (Sociology). You will have significant experience of teaching undergraduates. You will be collegial and keen to develop your academic career in a collaborative and equitable environment that values and supports research, teaching, and engagement. We welcome evidence of engagement with non-academic audiences, especially with international organisations and other international actors.

The roles are full time, permanent.

Informal enquiries can be made to: Professor Ruth McAreavey ruth.mcareavey@newcastle.ac.uk; Interviews are likely to be held in November.

Expected interview dates are 10th and 11th December. 

Key Accountabilities

• These Lecturer positions are designed to provide excellent scholarship, as well as fulfil key teaching, research and administrative roles in the Sociology Unit, in particular:

Teaching & Learning

• To provide high quality teaching and learning in line with School and Faculty teaching objectives and timetabling requirements
• Teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate modules, especially in criminology and including co-teaching on some modules
• Leading teaching in either environmental criminology or digital criminology/digital justice
• Dissertation supervision at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
• Student pastoral support through academic advising
• Provide high quality and timely feedback and support to students throughout their studies ensuring an optimum student experience
• Set and mark assessment of modules in accordance with University standards and utilise on-line and digitised curricula and education frameworks
• Contribute to curriculum development and the development of modules and programmes within the School and Faculty

           Research and Innovation

• Plan, organise and carry out research, to ensure the contribution of new knowledge, insight, and innovation within critical criminology
• Prepare and submit applications for external funding, to carry out an area of research, or contribute to this activity as a member of a team working on a broader programme
• Disseminate research results through appropriate channels including peer reviewed journals, monographs, edited volumes, media and policy outlets to advance knowledge in the field and enhance the University’s reputation for high quality research
• Attract and supervise PhD students to ensure their successful completion (initially as a member of the supervisory team)
• Contribute to the wider internal and external research community e.g. reviewing journal articles and research grants; active engagement with relevant university research clusters and with leading conferences; and proactive membership in professional bodies
• Where appropriate, initiate or contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations to maximise the benefits for the School, Faculty and University
• Where appropriate participate in formal knowledge transfer activities and consultancy

          Administrative

• Undertake a range of administrative tasks to support your area of teaching, student recruitment and overall student experience
• Contribute to the wider work of the School, Faculty and University through input to project teams, working groups and committees
• Operate as an active citizen in the Sociology community
• Contribute to the school’s international, programme and professional body accreditations
• To have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and ethics, responsibility and sustainability

The Person (Essential)

 Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• A track record/evidence of designing and delivering high quality teaching and learning materials, resources and activities in line with the Unit’s new Criminology programmes
• A track record of high quality and impactful publications in Q1 journals and other relevant outlets in the area of critical criminology especially relating to the environment or digital criminology/digital justice
• A track record of working with external organisations, locally and nationally
• Evidence of pursuing external research income
• Evidence of developing, marking and assessing student assignments and the provision of timely feedback to students 
• Evidence of providing supervision and wider pastoral support to students
• Evidence of providing mentoring to colleagues
• Evidence of using virtual learning environment
• Evidence of developing international research networks
• Evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organisational, time management and presentation skills

Attributes and Behaviour

• Demonstration of successful team working and of working on own initiative
• Willingness and ability to assume administrative responsibilities
• Commitment to collegiality including maintaining and supporting a diverse and inclusive working environment, in which all colleagues and students are treated fairly and respectfully

Qualifications

• You will hold a PhD in Critical Criminology or a closely related discipline
• Teaching qualification such as from the HEA/Advance HE

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29863