Assistant Professor (Research and Education) in Sport Pedagogy and Coaching Sciences - School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences - 106235 - Grade 8 at The University of Birmingham

Position Details

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 15th September 2025

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop

Role summary

The School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK, is a world-leading department that combines innovative and translational research with evidence-based professional practice to promote lifelong engagement in physical activity, optimising health, wellbeing and performance for everyone. Consistently in the top 10 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject and in the top 5 in the latest UK’s Research Excellence Framework our research allows us to address societal challenges from multidisciplinary perspectives and enriches our degree programmes. 

We are seeking to appoint a full-time Assistant Professor in Sport Pedagogy who will substantially contribute to research, education, and administration. The role holder will be expected to: (1) demonstrate high quality research outputs and impact; (2) lead and teach a range of sports pedagogy-related modules, with a strong evidence-informed practical component; and (3) show excellent academic citizenship, likely to be demonstrated through generous, mutually respectful, and supportive working relationships with all staff and students.

As part of our efforts to enhance the professional development and employability of our graduates across our portfolio of sports-related courses, we would welcome applications from individuals who can evidence involvement in sport pedagogy research, including scholarship in physical education, sport coaching, sport psychology or other related fields; and who can clearly articulate how their research and scholarly activity informs and shapes their teaching. We welcome applications from applicants with a background in teaching, coaching or practical experience in sport or physical activity settings. Links to professional organisations related to physical education and/or sport coaching is desirable.

You will join a thriving community of multi-disciplinary academic community, with access to excellent research and teaching facilities. We work closely with educational and sporting organisations and have a strong focus on extending our research and impact to the communities we serve. 

You will have a clear research vision for initiating, conducting and disseminating original research in sport pedagogy or related fields. This includes but is not limited to sport participation and performance, effective teaching/coaching, inclusion in PE/Sport, professional development for teachers and coaches, technology-enhanced teaching and coaching, motor skill development, physical literacy, sport psychology (e.g., motivation in PE and sport, determinants of physical activity for children and young people, mental health and well-being). Your research will have clear translational and/or applied elements that generate impactful outcomes in the relevant context (e.g., education, sport, health, policy or economic impact). Through collaboration across disciplinary areas within the School, University and beyond, you will deliver impactful outcomes within the field of education, sport, physical activity, and health and generate considerable research income through external and/or commercial funding. 

In education, you will be an inspiring educator, able to communicate your work to researchers, students, and the public. You will substantially contribute to our high-quality teaching assessment and programme delivery; plus, the enhancement of the student experience and employability, ensuring an excellent educational experience for our students. Examples of modules that you may be involved in delivering include “Development of Teaching and Coaching”, “Applied Teaching and Coaching”, “Global Challenges in Sport and Physical Education”, and “Innovation and Professional Practice”.

In the area of management and administration, you will actively contribute to and support various initiatives within the School, with opportunities for broader involvement across the University. This may include leading or significantly contributing to activities such as knowledge exchange, enterprise development, business and public engagement, widening participation, outreach to schools, or similar strategic efforts. These contributions will help advance the School’s and University’s mission and may have meaningful impact in academic, community, or policy contexts.

The School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, as a proud awardee of Athena SWAN Silver status, is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity, and therefore welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds to join our global community. In our diverse community where we believe in integration, acceptance and support for everyone with different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, faith, and gender, you will actively respect and uphold these values. 

The University of Birmingham holds Advance HE Race Equality Charter and Athena Swan Charter bronze awards and is a Stonewall Global Diversity Champion. Further information about working at the University of Birmingham, including information about employee benefits and childcare provision is at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/index.aspx 

Main Duties

Research 

To pursue sustained research activity in sport pedagogy and related fields, through original research and scholarship. Where appropriate this will include:

• To plan and carry out high quality research in line with the School’s research areas and the School/University of Birmingham’s research strategy, using appropriate methodology and techniques.
• Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support for research. 
• Plan, execute and publish high quality research outputs. 
• Manage personal research activities. 
• Effectively supervise and mentor PhD students or early career researchers. Examine PhD students both within the institution and externally.
• Participate in research-related enabling activities.
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding.
• Develop and make substantial contributions to impact and engagement into sport, exercise and/or community settings. 

Education

To deliver teaching in applied sport and exercise sciences, this may include: 

• Teaching, and assessing courses at a range of levels. Teaching could include lectures, seminars and practical sessions (e.g., team games, gymnastics, swimming).
• Planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches. 
• Designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content, which uses appropriate learning and teaching approaches, relevant to sport pedagogy, sport psychology and related fields. 
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment.
• Using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment.
• Developing module proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely in the School. 
• Devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work. 
• Supporting knowledge transfer and enterprise that enhances the student experience and/or employability. 
• Engaging in core recruitment activities (e.g., Open Days, Offer Holder Visit Days), including delivering talks, taster lectures, and practical/lab demonstrations. 

Management/Administration 

To contribute to School administration, this may include: 

• Contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the School. This includes contribution to departmental, college and university service activities (e.g., committees); and support community outreach initiatives.
• Leading and managing a team to devise and implement new and/or revised teaching and research processes. 
• Contributing to the development of external relationships with key stakeholders in education, sport, physical activity and other related sectors. 
• Advising on personal development of colleagues and students.
• Contributing to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University. 
• Promoting a culture (including policies and procedures) that embeds equality and values diversity and inclusion.

Citizenship 

• Taking collective ownership of challenges faced by the School or College and working with colleagues to develop solutions.
• Positively engaging in School strategic initiatives.
• Contributing to some administrative activities within the University (e.g., appeals panels, working groups, Open days).
• Contributing to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, outreach activities. 
• Actively supporting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Person Specification

Essential 

• Doctoral qualification in sport pedagogy or related fields. 
• Ability to conduct and manage own and original research. 
• Excellent academic writing skills for publication of research articles in high impact journals.
• Experience conducting research in sport pedagogy , sport psychology or related fields, with a applications in real world settings. 
• Experience of teaching, coaching or other applied contexts. 
• Experience of leading and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate learning and teaching, including applied sports pedagogy and practical teaching delivery.
• Ability to design, deliver, assess, and revise learning and teaching content and curriculum. 
• Experience in the development and delivery of transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• Evidence of contributing to the development of successfully funded research projects. 
• Established research partnerships with external organisations. 
• Ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes. 
• Experience of post-graduate supervision at masters and doctoral level - ideally in projects related to sport and exercise sciences. 
• Links to professional organisations related to physical education, sport and / or physical activity.

Desirable: 

• Evidence of contributing to the development of successfully funded research projects. 
• Established research partnerships with external organisations. 
• Ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes. 
• Experience of post-graduate supervision at masters and doctoral level - ideally in projects related to sport and exercise sciences. 
• Links to professional organisations related to physical education, sport and / or physical activity.

Informal enquiries to Kyriaki Makopoulou, email: [email protected] 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.