Tutor (Some Kind of Nature Atelier)

The Manchester School of Architecture is ranked 5th in the prestigious QS world university rankings and enjoys the unique context of being a collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester. It is one of the largest Schools of Architecture in the country with over 1200 students (typically representing some 85 countries) and over 150 staff from diverse backgrounds and is proud to retain both its quality and sense of community despite its size.

This role is 7hrs per week, for 37 weeks.

The School is characterised by excellence, ambition, boldness, inquisitiveness, innovation, and social justice and responsibility. These facets generate a unique blend and balance between research led teaching, impressive and relevant research outputs (84% of research activity is world leading or internationally excellent), and extensive professional industry links, all of which encourage our students to cultivate their own unique approach to architecture and their careers thereafter. Imagination, we take it seriously! The School was responsible for 3 of the 9 impact case studies returned with Art & Design in the last REF, namely; “A neighbourhood model for age-friendly policy and practice: engaged design and research for urban ageing”, “Heritage action: discovering, preserving and celebrating post-war modern architecture”, and “Complex sustainable futures: disruptive technologies in urban transformation”.

This specific tutor role is to work within the Some Kind of Nature atelier which centres non-human actors as a response to the climate and ecological emergency. By de-centering humans we aim to act in humanity's best interests: we are, after all, biological too (See here for an in-depth description of the atelier: https://bit.ly/3r8pij4). This is an interdisciplinary atelier with cohorts from both landscape and architecture, and colleagues from architecture, social science, and landscape architecture.

We are seeking tutors with an understanding of the architectural application of sustainable design approaches. The successful candidate will be a qualified architect and able to evidence sound knowledge and experience in the design and delivery of architectural projects from conception to completion. Teaching experience is desirable.

We are looking for tutors who can contribute towards teaching the following principles: low-tech, repairable, simple systems/ minimising site disturbance, maximising vegetation, and biodiversity gain/ low embodied and operational energy / reused, recycled, locally sourced, natural materials / efficient scale and form of intervention / minimising unsustainable or polluting materials.

The post holder must be able to:

• demonstrate strong professional practice experience in architecture
• bring creativity and an openness to engage with unconventional forms of architecture
• evidence of up-to-date technical knowledge in sustainable architectural practice
• communicate knowledge and interest in the climate and ecological emergency

Informal discussions can be held with Atelier leader Becky Sobell via b.sobell@mmu.ac.uk

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring and particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in the University workforce.

We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this throughout the application process.