Senior/Principal Lecturer in Early Years

The role

Post title: Senior/Principal Lecturer in Early Years

Salary: Grade J-K. Placement on the grade is dependent on experience and qualifications, assessed against the person specification

• Senior Lecturer: Grade J, £45,969- £50,966
• Principal Lecturer: Grade K, £53,005- £58,768

Hours: Full time, all year round

Location: 39-41 Upper Oldfield Park, Bath, BA2 3LB

About Norland University of Early Childhood

Would you like to work for a university steeped in history but focused on the future and recognised worldwide as a centre of excellence? An organisation that promotes a healthy work/life balance and recognises and rewards achievements? If so, then Norland is the place for you.

Our TEF Gold-rated award-winning early years undergraduate degree and integrated diploma programme is world-renowned for delivering outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students. We also offer an MA in Early Childhood Education and Care designed for educators, early childhood practitioners, leaders and policymakers. We have received multiple awards, including being named the UK’s top Small or Specialist Provider on several occasions and the leading university for Enhanced Graduate Outcomes at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards. In 2025, Norland was also highly commended in the Specialist Institution of the Year category at the Times Higher Education Awards.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, abilities and experiences, particularly those from underrepresented groups. We believe that difference enriches our organisation and strengthens what we do. All appointments are made on merit and we are dedicated to ensuring all candidates have equal opportunities throughout our recruitment and employment practices.

About the vacancies

We are looking to appoint a Senior or Principal Lecturer in Early Years to join our busy and thriving Learning, Teaching and Research department as soon as possible.

Undergraduate students at Norland study a unique combination of the full-time BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme together with the Norland diploma, a practical based course which prepares students for working with babies, young children and their families. Postgraduate students study the part-time online MA Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme which offers the opportunity to build specialist knowledge in sleep hygiene, food and nutrition, behaviour and self-regulation, and home-based pedagogy and care. The successful candidate will need to be a self-starter, with the ability to get on well with people, be highly organised in order to meet deadlines and work to a high level of accuracy in a fast-paced environment. A flexible approach to work and a friendly, approachable nature are key to being successful in this role.

Senior/Principal Lecturers in Early Years at Norland may teach across the undergraduate degree programme, Norland diploma and postgraduate degree programme. This includes planning, delivering and assessing, undertaking module leadership responsibilities and leading the enhancement of curricula that incorporate effective digital pedagogies and evidence-informed educational practice. The role also requires the post holder to be a personal tutor and a dissertation supervisor to students. You will be expected to actively seek external examining and/or advisory roles outside of Norland.

Senior Lecturer in Early Years

Senior lecturers will have proven and significant experience of teaching at HE level, with evidence of a sustained commitment to enhancement of the student experience. They will be able to demonstrate a history of actively seeking additional responsibilities and of contributing effectively to the organisation and development of the curriculum and department. They will be involved in internal and external reporting requirements and will contribute their expertise to the external scrutiny processes. They will be research active and may be published in credible, peer reviewed journals, relevant books and magazines and will be actively engaging in external networks and conferences. If they are not already published, they will actively be working towards publication in industry or academic books, journals and magazines.

Principal Lecturer in Early Years

Principal lecturers will typically have extensive academic experience (proven and significant experience in HE), which includes contributions in teaching, research and related administration. Principal lecturers will be expected to take leading roles in developing and overseeing the quality of teaching programmes at all levels, including supporting teaching and learning through observations, initiating new and innovative techniques and leading internal staff training. They will also be expected to participate in collaborative research projects or other scholarly activity (e.g., contributing to journals and/or academic books). They will promote and enhance the reputation of Norland within the wider sector and academic field, producing research that furthers sector understanding. They will be making a significant leadership and/or management contribution within their department or the wider Norland.

Norland employee benefits:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Generous holiday entitlement, including an extra day off on your birthday and 4 closure days at Christmas
• Teachers’ Pension
• Free onsite staff parking
• Support with continued professional development both financially and with study days
• Free onsite tea and coffee
• Occasional staff lunches
• Staff and departmental away days
• Life assurance scheme
• Income protection scheme with access to an employee assistance programme (EAP)
• Discounts with Sodexo
• Access to a corporate health cash plan
• Access to a digital mental health and wellbeing service
• Option to lease an electric vehicle.