Writing and Communication Instructors, School of Sciences and Humanities

Company Description

Nazarbayev University was launched in 2010 as a premier national and regional university, partnering with some of the most internationally recognized names in higher education. NU ranks among the 501-600th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.

Admission to NU is highly competitive, and the student body is selected from the top high schools throughout the country and region. All classes are taught in English.

Nazarbayev University is a residential campus. Faculty are based in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Job Description

The School of Sciences and Humanities (SSH) at Nazarbayev University invites applications for Instructors of Writing and Communication to join our growing faculty in the Writing Center Program in August 2025. 

The Writing Center Program teaches writing and communication courses to undergraduate and graduate students and supports a robust culture of writing across the university. We have several openings for talented educators who want to teach motivated students in our core writing courses and graduate programs and contribute to the growth of our program in the areas of digital rhetoric, STEMM writing, professional communication, writing center pedagogy and research, and graduate student writing support. 

Successful candidates will be able to teach our first-year undergraduate Rhetoric and Composition course and/or Public Speaking, as well as discipline- or division- specific writing and communication courses at intermediate and advanced levels. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in the rhetoric of science, technology, health and medicine, and business. Instructors may also serve as tutors in the Writing Center and support students and faculty across the university through our Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing Fellows initiatives. 

Instructors teach the equivalent of a 4/4 course load. We teach onsite and in-person. Successful candidates would be expected to arrive in Astana in the second week of August 2025.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

•    A master’s degree in Rhetoric and Composition, Creative Writing, Writing Studies, English, Communication, Digital Rhetoric, Science Writing, Professional/Technical Writing or 6 years’ experience teaching university-level writing with an unrelated master’s degree.
•    Experience teaching university-level writing and communication courses
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
•    A demonstrated commitment to supporting a collaborative and inclusive learning and work environment
•    An interest in continuing professional development

Preferred, additional qualifications

• A PhD in Rhetoric and Composition, Creative Writing, Writing Studies, English, Communication, Digital Rhetoric, Science Writing, Professional/Technical Writing, or a related field
• Experience teaching courses in technical writing, technical communication, science writing or similar.
• Experience teaching graduate students
• Experience teaching advanced-level multilingual writers
• Experience teaching Central Asian students
• Experience supervising teaching assistants
• Experience teaching STEMM writing
• Expertise in writing center theory and practice
• Demonstrated contributions to Writing Across the Curriculum and/or Writing Fellows programs
• Experience working in international settings
• Knowledge of regional languages

This is a three-year appointment with the possibility of renewal.

Additional Information

Applicants must submit:

• a cover letter showing how the applicant’s experience and expertise fit the criteria listed above
• a curriculum vitae with the names and contact information for three referees, including one from a recent supervisor and one from someone who can address the applicant's teaching abilities
• a teaching philosophy demonstrating reflective practice

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Please submit all application materials via Smart Recruiters.

Application deadline: 

Applications received before July 25th receive preference, but applications received after will be considered on a rolling basis.

Nazarbayev University offers an attractive benefits package including:
•    housing based on family size and rank
•    relocation allowance
•    air tickets to home country, twice per year
•    no-cost medical insurance with global coverage
•    educational allowance for children

Additional information can be found on the official website of Nazarbayev University: www.nu.edu.kz.

More about the Writing Center Program can be found here: https://nuwritingcenter.nu.edu.kz 

Questions regarding the program or the positions can be addressed to the Acting Program Director, Thomas Duke, at thomas.duke@nu.edu.kz or to the Assistant Director/Hiring Manager, Brandon Brock, at brandon.brock@nu.edu.kz.