Change of R&T Job Title and/or Career Path Version 2.0 Last amended: August 2015 Process to Change Career Pathway and/or Job Title within the same Research & Teaching (R&T) Job Family Level Introduction Staff within the R&T Job Family will be following a career path: where the focus of the role is on a combination of research and teaching; where the focus of the role is mainly carrying out research; where the focus of the role is mainly carrying out teaching and learning. Scope The University values the diversity of its people and is committed to promoting equal opportunities and eliminating discrimination. Therefore, staff will apply and operate this process fairly and in doing so ensure that there is no discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, trade union membership/activity or marital status. There will be circumstances where the focus of a role changes which requires either a change to the job title and/or a transfer from one career pathway to another within the R&T Job Family. For example, changing from a Senior Research Fellow () to an Assistant () because the role has moved from being predominantly research based to a combination of research and teaching or changing from a job title of Senior Course Tutor () to a job title of Assistant (), but still within the teaching and learning career path. If this is the case, the process described below should be used. Appendix 1 details the R&T core job titles which should be used in the majority of cases for staff in this job family. This process should not be used if a change of job title and/or career pathway is combined with an application for promotion to the next level in the R&T Job Family. This should be done through the promotions procedures available on the HR web site. How to change R&T job title and/or main R&T career path within the same level This process can be used when giving consideration to the following: a change in job title only, a change in job title and/or career path Change in R&T Job Title only Where it is considered appropriate to change the job title, but not the career path of a member of staff in the R&T Job Family, the Head of School/Department should discuss this with their HR Business Partner, who should complete the pro-forma in Appendix 2. If the suggested new job title is anything other than the core job title for that appropriate level (as detailed in Appendix 1) then this should be detailed on the pro-forma. The HR Business Partner should confirm with the Head of School/Department that the requested change in job title has been discussed and agreed by the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor. The suggested job title change should not impact the main focus of the role significantly enough to require a change of employment contract. Once agreed by the HR Business Partner, they will forward the details to the HR Employment Services team where a letter confirming the change will be sent to the individual member of staff (with a copy sent to the Head of School/Department), and the details will be changed on the individual s HR record and HR system. Staff Groups & Job Families
Should the HR Business Partner not agree with the reasons from the Head of School/Department for requesting a change in job title or the actual suggested change of job title itself then the pro-forma will be sent, by the HR Business Partner to the Pro-Vice- Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange/Education and Student Experience for consideration. The HR Business Partner may also, if needed, consult with the Pro-Vice- Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange/Education and Student Experience (or any other appropriate person) with regard to the change of job title. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange/Education and Student Experience may consult as appropriate on whether the recommended change of title is appropriate and will inform the HR Business Partner of the decision. The HR Business Partner will then inform the Head of School/Department of the outcome accordingly. Change in R&T Career Path, with or without a change in Job Title The Head of School should consider how the proposed change of career path fits and benefits the academic area and the area s objectives to include: the strategic/operational need for this role impact on students and/or research any budget and/or funding implications potential impact on REF, HESA, HEFCE Advice and information may be sought from Human Resources, Strategy, Performance and Planning and Research, Graduate Services and Finance to help develop the career track change case. Having considered the above, and if it is considered appropriate, the Head of School/Department should discuss this with the roleholder. If the roleholder is in agreement, the Head of School/Department, should complete the relevant application form available at: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/hr/guidesandsupport/jobfamiliesstaffgroupsandsummarytermsa ndconditions/rt-career-change-pathway/rt-career-change-pathway.aspx. This should include any relevant supporting data eg for a move from being research focussed to now being research and teaching focused, evidence of SET scores should be included. Once the details on the pro-forma have been completed by the Head of School/Department and Faculty Pro-Vice- Chancellor this should be submitted to the HR Business Partner who will schedule the case for consideration to the Change of Career Track Panel. If agreed by the panel, HR and the Head of School/Department will agree an effective change date. HR will send the appropriate change of contract to the individual and will make the relevant HR records and system changes. The Head of School/Department should ensure that the individual s PDPR goals and targets are reviewed in light of the change of career path and that a revised role profile form is agreed with the roleholder. The process is summarised below. Page 2 of 5
Head of School & individual discuss and agree change of focus Head of School completes the template Approval is sought from the Faculty PVC The case is submitted to the Career Track Change panel via HRBP The panel meets to assess the case and outcome confirmed to Head of School Page 3 of 5
Appendix 1 R&T Job Family Core Job Titles (approved by MB 7.9.09, amended November 2013) Research and Teaching Roles Assistant Associate OR Associate (Reader) Research Roles Level 4a Level 4 Career Training Grade Level 4 Research Assistant Research Associate Research Fellow Senior Research Fellow Principal Research Fellow Teaching and Learning Roles Level 4a Level 4 Teaching Assistant Teaching Associate Assistant Associate Page 4 of 5
Appendix 2 REQUEST TO CHANGE A R&T JOB TITLE (to be completed by the HR Business Partner) Name of Role Holder School/Department Current R&T Job Family Level and Job Title Current career path (please tick) Request submitted by (please give name, title and School/Department) Proposed job title change 1. Focus of the role is on a combination of research and teaching. 2. Focus of the role is mainly research. 3. Focus of the role is mainly teaching and learning. To be completed by HR Business Partner (after discussion with Head of School/Department (and any other appropriate person) Please detail the reasons for the proposed change to job title, including confirmation that the HoS/D has discussed and agreed this with the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Signed Date. To be completed by HR Business Partner Agreed: Yes/No If yes, please insert the agreed date the job title will change If no, please briefly describe the reasons why and forward to Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange/Education and Student Experience on (insert date sent to PVC ) To be completed by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange/Education and Student Experience (if appropriate) and returned to the HR Business Partner: Please confirm if this application for a change of job title is approved. If not, please briefly describe the reasons why. Signed Date. Page 5 of 5