Education Focused Academics (Sydney Horizon Educators)/Teaching and Research Academics Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Full time and Part time continuing (tenure-track) academic Lecturer/Senior Lecturer Education Focused and Teaching and Research positions at The University of Sydney

Opportunity for the best and brightest talented educators and researchers to be part of our future at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Base Salary Level B/C $127,436 p.a. - $179,998 p.a. (pro-rata for part time appointments) + 17% superannuation

About The Opportunity

The University of Sydney welcomes applications for various academic disciplines outlined below, during an exciting and innovative time. With the introduction of the new University of Sydney Enterprise Agreement 2023-26, the University has committed to establishing and advertising new continuing education-focused (EF) and teaching and research academic positions across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

You will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to teaching in your field of expertise while you also continue to build substantial research contribution, expertise, connections, and impact. As part of this role, you will also contribute to the governance, leadership, and engagement work of your employing school.

Over time, staff appointed to these roles will be supported to engage with professional development opportunities to build their capability to lead change and improvement in teaching and research at the University.

Education Focused Academics (Sydney Horizon Educators) Opportunities

Successful education focused candidates will join the Sydney Horizon Educators cohort. For further insights into this exciting opportunity, we invite you to watch this video.

Sydney Horizon Educators will have access to apply for Education-Focused Specialist Grants of up to AUD$30,000 to support education-related activities, primarily in the areas of the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the enhancement of current educational offerings at the University of Sydney.

By offering these education focused roles the University aims to attract and retain the best and brightest emerging academics, within a specialised category of academic engagement. Positions in this opportunity are for talented educators with a passion for, and demonstrated excellence in, educational practice and innovation, and research capability (in disciplinary and/or education-related research). This newly recruited group of educators will support an uplift in the teaching capability and student experience at the University of Sydney, while also developing as leaders in the education space at the University.

Teaching and Research Opportunities

By offering these teaching and research roles the University aims to attract and retain the best and brightest emerging academics. To support an uplift in the teaching and research capability and student experience at the University of Sydney, these positions are for talented researchers who also have a passion for, and demonstrated excellence in, pedagogical practice. 

For further information regarding the Education Focused Academics (Sydney Horizon Educators) and Teaching and Research roles and responsibilities please refer the following link.

The University of Sydney is recognised as one of the top research and teaching universities in the world.  A globally ranked university, ranked 25th in QS University World Rankings 2026, 2nd for sustainability in Australia.

(Please note when submitting your application, select the position(s) you would like to apply for). To build on this performance, the University is seeking applications for the following positions:

Faculty Education Team

• Senior Interdisciplinary Lecturer (Education Focused) Level C

This role is designed for an academic who is passionate about supporting students to engage in experiences that are grounded in authentic, complex problem-solving and/or creative or cultural projects in collaboration with industry and community organisations.

In this role, you will make a significant contribution to industry-engaged teaching and learning practices, as well as to curriculum design and evaluation across the Faculty, through strong collaboration with the central Education Portfolio’s Work Integrated Learning team. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of educational innovation, which may include an Advance HE Fellowship and/or a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, or a willingness to undertake such a qualification. Applicants should have a track record of education-related research, or a willingness to develop one, to complement their work in the arts or social sciences. The applicant must also demonstrate an interest in educational leadership, consistent with their aspiration to build a career in the education-focused space.

Selection Criteria:

• a PhD in an arts, social sciences, or a higher-education specialisation
• experience in partnership-based research and teaching engagements with industry or community organisations
• a demonstrated track record of coordination and curriculum development, including technology-enabled learning
• expertise in, and passion for, experiential teaching and learning in a tertiary environment, particularly in industry and community-engaged, project-based curricula (such as interdisciplinary, immersive, or work-integrated learning)
• ability to conduct teaching oriented toward authentic problem-solving or project-based work on issues and projects posed by industry and community partner organisations, including those in the galleries, libraries, and museums sector
• a collaborative working style with receptiveness to new ideas and feedback
• publications in relevant journals and fields
• advance HE Fellowship and/or a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, or a higher qualification in higher education (desirable)
• experience in teaching large student cohorts and group-assessed programs of work (desirable)
• experience in teaching student cohorts from diverse cultural backgrounds (desirable).

School of Languages and Cultures

• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies (Education Focused) Level B/C

The position is open to a candidate capable of providing high-quality teaching, unit coordination, and student supervision in Modern Greek culture and language. The candidate will be required to teach a broad range of topics in the field of Modern Greek and Byzantine literature, history and culture, participate in the teaching of language units at all levels (beginners, intermediate and advanced); and take an active role in supervision of Honors, Masters and PhD.

Key Responsibilities:

• teach, coordinate and design a broad range of topics in the field of Modern Greek and Byzantine literature, history and culture
• participate in the teaching of language units at all levels (beginners, intermediate and advanced)
• contribute to collaborative teaching in the School and work flexibly and collaboratively in a team environment
• fulfil the necessary administrative and leadership tasks to ensure the smooth running of the Discipline
• supervise honours and postgraduate research students in Modern Greek and congruent areas of Studies
• maintain a research profile compatible with the Discipline, School and Faculty research programmes through publication and research grant applications (this may take the form of disciplinary research, or Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, or a mixture of both fields)
• engage in community outreach activities of the Discipline and the School and work with the Greek community in fundraising and the promotion of Greek Studies
• actively participate in governance and academic community at School and Faculty levels.

Selection Criteria:

• a PhD in Greek literature/culture/history or related areas
• demonstrated experience in teaching/research in higher education institutions
• a strong research record of academic publications in the field of Greek Studies in reputed academic journals
• a track record of experience in organisational and administrative within the Discipline of Modern Greek and the School of Languages and Cultures.

School of Social and Political Sciences

Our School is one of the top schools for social sciences in Australia, focusing on five research themes: health, markets, governance, inequality, and environment. The School is proudly home to one of the most successful academic groups in the world for research and teaching in the social sciences, whose work interprets and makes sense of societies, nation-states, and people.

• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Political Economy (Education Focused) Level B/C

The position is based in the School of Social and Political Sciences (SSPS) and will make a significant contribution to the Discipline of Political Economy’s pluralist, heterodox and interdisciplinary program of political economy teaching and learning at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The appointee will also conduct research in their area of study and/or in pedagogical practice, design and evaluation, and contribute to educational and other leadership and governance priorities in SSPS. Applicants with capabilities in teaching foundational political economy, international political economy and interdisciplinary units of study are particularly encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria:

• a PhD in political economy or a cognate field
• demonstrated teaching excellence at the undergraduate and/or postgraduate level
• demonstrated leadership in educational innovation, curriculum design and review, relative to opportunity
• the ability to teach core and selective units of study in the Political Economy undergraduate major, Master of Political Economy and Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (BPPE). These may include postgraduate units of study in International Political Economy or interdisciplinary BPPE units co-taught with Economics and/or Philosophy
• a high-quality research agenda in political economy and/or pedagogical practice, design and evaluation (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning).

We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and candidates from all backgrounds. At the University of Sydney, our shared values of diversity and inclusion drive our commitment to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive.

Sydney School of Education and Social Work

• Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Practice (Education Focused) Level C

This role will contribute to excellence in teaching in core pedagogy and professional experience units within our secondary education degrees.

The successful candidate will also have opportunities to contribute to educational leadership in the areas of curriculum development and professional experience. Applicants may also contribute to teaching in an area of curriculum specialisation, and priority will be given to candidates who with a background in secondary science or HSIE education. The successful candidate will contribute to research and scholarship of teaching and learning in their area of expertise.

Selection Criteria

• a PhD in a field of education
• demonstrated knowledge and experience in secondary education
• ability to teach core professional experience (practicum) units
• demonstrated experience in teaching/research in higher education institutions
• a research record of academic publications and/or projects in the field of Education or the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• preference will be given to candidates with a background in secondary science or HSIE education.
• Senior Lecturer in Primary Numeracy Level C

This teaching and research role will lead curriculum development and teaching across our primary numeracy units, including the primary mathematics specialisation.

The successful candidate will have an established research program in an area that aligns with the School’s focus, such as but not limited to mathematics and numeracy education, initial teacher education, and education policy and practice.

Selection Criteria

• a PhD in numeracy education
• demonstrated knowledge and experience in primary numeracy education and curriculum
• demonstrated experience in teaching/research in higher education institutions
• a research record of academic publications and/or projects in the field of Education or the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• preference will be given to candidates with expertise in primary and early learning numeracy education.

About You

The University values trust, accountability and excellence. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talented academics who align to these values and who will lead our teaching and research work at the university in the years to come. You will join a dynamic, engaged group in a highly collaborative and supportive teaching and research environment.   

We are looking for education focused candidates who understand the principles and pedagogy of good curriculum and assessment design, and who will make a significant contribution to improving the student experience at the University. Successful candidates will understand or be willing to learn the research principles around teaching and learning design, delivery, and evaluation (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning). They will have a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with students, facilitating and guiding their learning in research, theory, and laboratory sessions. They will also have demonstrated ability to conduct research and (at all levels, but particularly at Level C and D) a willingness to develop a program of education-related research over time.

With the teaching and research candidates, we are looking for candidates who can make a significant contribution to teaching and learning design, delivery, and evaluation while continuing to build their research contribution, expertise and impact. They will have a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with students, facilitating and guiding their learning in research, theory and laboratory sessions. They will also have the capacity to build a significant research program over time, obtaining competitive funding as needed to support their research work.

We are therefore looking for Education Focused Academics (Sydney Horizon Educators) and Teaching and Research Academics who have:

• (for teaching and research) a track record of high-quality research outputs appropriate to the discipline that is on an upward trajectory
• (for education focused) a track record of high-quality research outputs appropriate to the discipline or education in the discipline
• a developing network of relationships with key academic, industry or professional institutions partners and stakeholders
• demonstrated experience in supervising or mentoring others and/or coordinating team activities
• a demonstrated commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching
• sound experience of teaching and learning, and the ability to contribute to teaching at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate levels in lecture, tutorial and practical settings.
• proven experience in designing, implementing and evaluating teaching and learning initiatives
• a record of excellent teaching, learning, and assessment practice in a tertiary environment, as evidenced through student and supervisor feedback
• the capacity to engage students and enable a supportive, inclusive learning environment
• a high level of interpersonal skills including the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
• the ability to work collaboratively with other staff, including professional staff, and foster principles of equity, diversity and inclusion
• high-level written and verbal communication skills.
• a PhD or nearly-completed PhD in an academic field relevant to the discipline
• (for education focused) experience in assessment, feedback and learning by design
• (for education focused) experience in contributing to outstanding educational design, delivery, evaluation and outcomes
• (for teaching and research) a record of attracting competitive, external funding to support their research

Senior Lecturers who, in addition to the above can demonstrate:

• their knowledge and understanding of the key, strategic, education-related issues in the higher education sector and/or the University
• (for education focused) their experience as an effective unit, course or program coordinator or director (especially for large classes), as evidenced by student and staff feedback 
• (for teaching and research) demonstrated record of driving a program of peer-reviewed research, creative work, or scholarship published or disseminated in high-quality outlets for their discipline some experience in people leadership within the higher education sector 
• (for education focused) significant experience conducting original research and engaging in scholarly activity, with a developing record of high-quality scholarship of teaching and learning research
• significant capability in leadership, service, governance, and engagement.

Pre-Employment Checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role-required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

Eeo Statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How To Apply

Please prepare and upload a statement indicating how you believe you meet the criteria outlined in the “About you” of the advertisement (maximum 3 A4 pages) and a CV which can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Current employee of the University or a contingent worker with access to Workday, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

Anticipated Timelines

Please refer to the Recruitment Guidelines for key information about this recruitment campaign.

Contact Information

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Rae Hao, Recruitment Consultant. Recruitment Operations, Human Resources on +61 2 8627 0063 or by email hr.recruitmentcampaign@sydney.edu.au

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the following Position Descriptions for these Education Focused roles:

• Lecturer (Education Focused) – Level B
• Senior Lecturer (Education Focused) – Level C  

Click to view the following Position Descriptions for these Teaching and Research roles:

• Senior Lecturer – Level C

Applications Close

Monday 03 November 2025 11:59 PM