Job opening - Academic Director: Master's program Coastal Communities and Regional Development
The University Centre of the Westfjords, UW, is searching for an energetic individual to fill the demanding role of Director of the master’s program in Coastal Communities and Regional Development. UW offers two international, multidisciplinary master's programs, Coastal Communities and Regional Development, and Coastal and Marine Management, with roughly 80 registered students in total. Both programs are in cooperation with the University of Akureyri.
The Academic Director works in a small but progressive university and research environment in Ísafjörður, in the Westfjords region of Iceland, and has ample opportunity to show initiative with the aim of creating an outstanding study and work environment for an international group of students. The Academic Director organises teaching, maintains relationships with the program's partners, and is first-step advisor to students on their master’s theses. The role demands excellent organisational skills, professional working habits, and the desire to provide an excellent service. The role demands a high level of cooperative working, as both master's programs must run simultaneously in harmony. The Academic Director needs to carefully follow students’ thesis work in close co-operation with thesis advisors and therefore must have a good professional overview and knowledge of the main research methods used in human geography, social sciences, and/or economics. The Academic Director should ideally have experience as a thesis advisor to master's students. The Acedemic Director may also undertake some teaching activities. After fulfilling these requirements, research activity is highly desirable.
Necessary qualifications and experience
- Multidisciplinary training and/or research experience in a relevant field
- Experience in teaching organisation on an academic level
- Master’s degree or PhD
- Service-minded and a good communicator
- Well-organised
- Initiative and flexibility in the workplace
- Experience in research and as a thesis advisor desirable
- Excellent spoken and written English. Knowledge of Icelandic highly desirable
In assessing applications, considerations will be paid to how well applicants fit the University Centre's needs with regard to making sure the two master's programs develop in a cooperative but complementary manner. The University Centre reserves the right to refuse all applications. The position is advertised as a four-year fixed-term contract with the option of extension, as the current office holder has received a research grant. The new Academic Director should be able to start during autumn term 2025. For further information contact Peter Weiss, Director of the University Centre, telephone: (+354) 450 3045 or weiss@uw.is. Applications (cover letter and CV with list of published work, list of teaching experience, and other academic work, if applicable) should be sent by e-mail to weiss@uw.is.
Deadline for applications is 15.05.2025.