Assistant Lecturer In Regenerative And Circular Design Strategy FTE

Assistant Lecturer in Regenerative and Circular Design Strategy FTE 0.5

· Dublin, Ireland

· Part-time, (FTE 0.5), Specified Contract, 2 years duration

· Salary-NCAD Assistant Lecturer - €48937-66558* per annum

· Candidates should note that as per Department of Finance guidelines, entry will be at the first point of the salary scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government pay policy. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

· Closing Date:18th of May 2026

Who We Are?

NCAD, changing the world through bold and curious thinking, making and doing.

The National College of Art & Design is Ireland’s leading provider of art and design education. Our campus on Thomas Street in Dublin’s historic city Centre is home to a student population of 1,900 full and part-time students engaged in a wide range of study and research across the disciplines of Art, Design, Education and Visual Culture.

The National College of Art and Design has been the most significant provider of Art & Design education in Ireland for over 275 years. NCAD is ranked 53rd in the world, 16th in Europe and 1st in Ireland for Art & Design, QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026. NCAD is a Recognized College of University College Dublin (UCD).

NCAD is a bold and curious organization. We welcome all applicants - even if you feel you might not fit all of our criteria fully. Give it a try!

We honor our obligations under the Employment Equality Acts (1998-2015) and under the Public Sector Equality Duty. Discrimination on account of the protected grounds (Gender, Marital Status, Family Status, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Age, Disability, Race, and Membership of the Traveler Community) is not tolerated in any means.

We actively encourage those who have been underrepresented in Higher Education to apply. This includes but is not limited to: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Racialized, and/or otherwise Global Majority applicants, disabled applicants, trans applicants, applicants exiting a career break, applicants with caring responsibilities, care-experienced applicants, and LGB+ and queer applicants.

Data provided are confidential. If you wish to speak to somebody with any questions you may have prior to making an application, you can contact the HR Department at staffappointments@staff.ncad.ie.

Description

School/Unit: School of Design

Department: Design for Body & Environment

Post Title & Subject Area: AssistantLecturer in Regenerative and Circular DesignStrategy (FTE 0.5)

Grade: AssistantLecturer

Post Duration: 2 year specified purpose contract

Reports to: Head of Department of Design for Body & Environment

Salary: Salary-NCAD Assistant Lecturer - €48937-66558* per annum

*Candidates should note that as per Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines, entry will be at the minimum point of the scale and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving civil or public servant.

Location: This position is ordinarily based at the NCAD Campus, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8.

Background

NCAD drives radical and creative innovation through excellence in research-led art and design education. It empowers its students to shape the contemporary world through critical practice, studio-based learning, research and engagement.

The aim of the School of Design is to create a design culture engaged in ongoing debate on all aspects of design; a culture that thrives on new ideas, new ways of doing things and new areas of exploration. We encourage our students to experiment and take risks in order to carve new aesthetic paths and make technical innovations within, and beyond, their design discipline. We have extensive links with Industry, and students regularly work on live projects within a commercial, social or cultural context. The College seeks to ensure that our design students develop the necessary creative, technical, thinking and interpersonal skills to become highly employable graduates, entrepreneurs and thought leaders.

This post will be an integral part of the academic staff within the School and College. Lecturing staff actively contribute to the teaching and learning, research and commercialization/knowledge transfer and internationalization agendas of the College.

MA in Circular by Design

The MA in Circular by Design is currently a part-time programme for those who want to build a deep and nuanced understanding of sustainability and circularity and practically apply that knowledge to their own practice. The programme combines theory and practice and champions collaborative and pre-competitive processes. The MA reimagines design as a catalyst for systemic change challenging linear production models and enabling regenerative, life-centered approaches to materials, ecosystems, society, and culture. It supports creative practitioners in interrogating and disrupting current systems and in designing alternatives that are circular by intent.

The Assistant Lecturer will be part of a cross disciplinary team of academics responsible for the delivery and ongoing development of NCAD’s Circular by Design programmes. This specific role is focused on delivering and teaching sustainable, circular, and regenerative design principles and practices to enable the rethinking of systems through transformative circular strategies and policies and ecosystem-based approaches. The role will also contribute to related undergraduate and postgraduate awards, and support the integration of sustainable, circular, and regenerative design across NCAD’s wider curriculum.

NCAD recognizes the urgent need to build circular innovation capacity across Ireland’s design sector. Its programmes aim to equip the next generation of changemakers with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to rethink the purpose, processes, and outcomes of design. The MA in Circular by Design and its constitutions programmes (Prof Cert and Prof Dip) as well as modules housed within our BA provision contribute directly to this mission.

Combining theory and practice, our Circular by Design provision invites participants to engage through seminars, collaborative mapping, speculative design tasks, and peer dialogue. Using their own creative practice, research, and experience, participants will critically explore local and global challenges, positioning themselves as changemakers within their professional contexts.

Through live, industry-informed projects, participants collaborate with peers and external partners such as designers, policy makers, retailers, manufacturers, circular innovators, social enterprises, and local councils.Together, they will question, critique, test and innovate new circular ecosystems, tools, products, and services.

Focused on rethinking design processes, ecosystems, and creative tools to drive change, our Circular by Design provision supports those who wish to develop a deep and nuanced understanding of sustainability and circularity within the creative sector. It encourages the application of knowledge to design practice, policymaking, and addressing ecological and social challenges across interconnected systems.

Role

This specified purpose contract supports a cross-disciplinary Circular by Design team in the development, coordination, and delivery of NCAD’s part-time MA in Circular by Design and related programmes as well as delivering and supporting our BA provision. The role has a particular focus on design strategies, ecosystems, and policy, and involves delivering and teaching sustainable, circular, and regenerative design principles and practices to learners across the College as required.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

● The Assistant Lecturer will be responsible for the ongoing development, reviewing, coordinating and delivery of NCAD’s part-time MA in Circular by Design and constituent awards as well as supporting NCAD’s sustainable, circular, and regenerative design curriculum across the College as required

● Develop and implement course curriculum including the co-ordination of course content, delivery and assessment.

● Enhance and promote the reputation of sustainable and circular design, encompassing strategy, policy, ecosystem-based approaches, and transformative circular systems at NCAD, by liaising and co-operating with other national and international institutions.

● Ensure Sustainable and Circular Design Strategies reflect and meet with the requirements of related industries, including regularly reviewing and adapting course content and structure.

● Engage in the student recruitment process including interviews, selection, assessments and examination procedures as required to ensure appropriate number and level of student cohort.

● Undertake and publish high quality research and scholarship in your field of expertise/specialist interest.

● Engage with industry and research partners, leading commercialization projects and knowledge exchange within research.

● Supervise post graduate students.

● Participate in Department/School/College committees and boards.

● Provide students with feedback in relation to assessment performance and evaluate performance in the professional and practical elements of the course.

● Engage in continuing professional development in subject area by research, creative practice and other appropriate means of engagement in the sector.

● Proactively engage with developments within the field including changing and developing technology and techniques.

● Contribute to the general administration of the school.

● Contribute to the academic life of the School and College.

● Contribute to the wider educational community.

● Undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the Appropriate Officer from time to time.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Selection Criteria

● Strong understanding of the opportunities and barriers involved in driving circular transformation across the textiles, fashion, design and craft supply chain, with demonstrated experience advancing circular economy practices in the sector.

● Proven track record in sustainable and circular design, strategy and policy development, and building cross-sector ecosystems and partnerships towards sustainability outcomes.

● A track record in social and cultural sustainable and circular strategies and policy development and ecosystems.

● Post-graduate degree in sustainable and circular design strategies or a related Fashion, Textile, Design & Craft field, or equivalent professional experience

● Capacity and enthusiasm for working in a transdisciplinary context within the School and College

● Experience of delivering quality teaching and learning within a higher education environment

● Ability to design, deliver and assess a range of modules in and related to specialist areas of research/professional interest

● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

● A strong understanding of the creative sector and experience of working with designers, policy makers strategists from creative communities and/or microenterprises to SME’s, multinationals and representative bodies

Desirable

● Experience of working in Higher Education

● Demonstrable record of developing and validating academic programmes

● Experience of working with industry to develop training, education and CPD

For Further information on this role please contact:

Angela O’Kelly Head of Design for Body and Environmentokellya@staff.ncad.ie

Closing Date:18th of May 2026