Education Focused Academics (Sydney Horizon Educators) Faculty of Engineering

Full time and Part-time continuing academic Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor (Education Focused) positions at The University of Sydney

Opportunity for the best and brightest talented educators to be part of our future at the Faculty of Engineering

Base Salary Level B/C/D $127,436 p.a. - $207,069 p.a. (pro-rata for part time appointments) + 17% superannuation

Join the Horizon Educators cohort, with access to apply for Education Focused specialist grants up to a total of AUD$30K to support education-related activities, primarily in the areas of scholarship of teaching and learning and improving current educational offerings at the University of Sydney.

About The Opportunity

The University of Sydney welcomes applications for Education Focused Academics (Sydney Horizon Educators) in the 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) academic positions across the Faculty of Engineering. Successful candidates will join the Sydney Horizon Educators cohort. For further insights into this exciting opportunity, we invite you to watch this video.

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 for talented educators with a passion for, and demonstrated excellence in, teaching, the student experience, pedagogical practice, and educational innovation. 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.

You will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to teaching and learning design, delivery, and evaluation in your specialised field while you also contribute to research in relation to your discipline and/or your educational practice. As part of this role, you will also contribute to the governance, leadership, and engagement work of your employing school, particularly as it relates to education.

As part of its Strategic Plan 2025–2028 the Faculty of Engineering is committed to driving world-leading research with global impact, cultivating future-ready engineers, delivering innovative, student-centred education, and fostering a diverse, supportive, and collaborative community.

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.

Successful candidates will be expected to dedicate most of their contribution to teaching and teaching-related activities (70%), while also engaging in research (20%) and governance, leadership, and engagement (10%).  Successful appointees support, coordinate, and teach undergraduate and postgraduate coursework Units of Study. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, laboratory demonstrations, tutorial and studio class deliveries, marking of student work, and workshop management and teaching. These positions may also assist and guide the academic coordinators of other units of study.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• undertake a leadership role in educational innovation, curriculum design and review, contributing to outstanding educational delivery and outcomes
• design and engage in high-quality teaching and learning experiences which meet the University’s expectations and standards for education
• delivering outstanding teaching and learning outcomes for students
• develop teaching and unit materials
• maintain relevant Work, Health and Safety requirements and management including laboratory and/or field work
• through research and scholarly creative work, contribute to knowledge within your discipline or area of expertise, particularly as it relates to teaching and learning in your discipline
• develop and refine your education research skills, particularly as they relate to evaluating and improving teaching and learning in your discipline
• contribute to the governance, leadership, and engagement work in your school.

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.

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

Faculty Of Engineering

• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Engineering and Computing Education (Education Focused) Level B/C/D

Based in the Faculty of Engineering, this role will co-lead the Faculty’s research initiatives in engineering education pedagogy and teach units of study within the Faculty and its Schools, as appropriate to the successful applicant’s disciplinary background. Passion and creativity in the practice of teaching, including student experience, course design, curriculum reform and industry engagement, are key pre-requisites for the role. Collegiality, inter-personal skills, and independence of thought are also critical to success in the role. The successful applicant will be a key driver in the newly established Centre for Applied Research in Engineering and Computing Education (CARE), leading other education-focused academics in research into engineering education.

School of Project Management 

• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Project Management (Education Focused) Level B/C/D

The School of Project Management at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Sydney is looking for an education focused academic for a continuing role. The ideal candidate in this role will focus on areas of teaching including but not limited to the following domains:

• Legal aspects of projects,

• Project Contract Management,

• Project procurement and finance,

• Project Pedagogy.

Candidates with a legal background in projects will be highly prioritised. The successful candidate will demonstrate passion for preparing students for their future careers and strong commitment to enhancing the student experience. Teaching and coordination of new and existing units of study will be expected. A proven track record of scholarship and publication associated with project management education, or related areas such as the focus of courses, is highly recommended (and is expected for appointment at Level D). The candidate is required to specify their experience on the topics within the discipline.

School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Aeronautical Engineering (Education Focused) Level B/C

The successful candidate will be passionate and experienced in teaching several aspects of aeronautical engineering, e.g. introduction to aerospace engineering, aerospace design and manufacturing, flight mechanics and dynamics, propulsion, and/or aerospace numerical methods including machine learning, in a university of similar standing to the University of Sydney. The successful candidate must have a proven ability to manage units of study with large to very large enrolments and to provide a positive learning experience in such units. The successful candidate would have a demonstrated track record in education leadership as well. A solid research record either in aeronautical engineering or in the scholarship of teaching and learning, or both, will also be necessary and strengthen the application.

School of Computer Science

• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Computer Science (Education Focused) Level B/C/D

The successful candidate will demonstrate passion for preparing students for their future careers and the strongest commitment to enhancing the student experience, through teaching and educational innovation leadership in units of study and courses administered by the School of Computer Science (CS). Enrolments in CS units of study and courses are generally very strong and successful candidates must be prepared to manage this demand and to undertake continual training and review to further develop their large unit teaching skills. Teaching and coordination of new and existing units of study will be expected. Evidence of interest and involvement in scholarship in computer science education is highly recommended (and is expected for appointment at Level D).

The aims of these education focused roles are to attract and retain the best and brightest emerging academics, within a specialised category of academic engagement for talented educators with a passion for, and demonstrated excellence in, teaching, the student experience, pedagogical practice, and educational innovation.

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.

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

• a PhD or nearly-completed PhD in an academic field relevant to the discipline
• experience in assessment, feedback and learning by design
• experience in contributing to outstanding educational design, delivery, evaluation and outcomes
• 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.

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
• their experience as an effective unit, course or program coordinator or director (especially for large classes), as evidenced by student and staff feedback 
• 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.

Associate Professor who, in addition to the above can demonstrate:

• service, governance, and engagement through their prior work in university and/or complex non-university organisations
• their ability to attract nationally competitive research funding
• leadership of curriculum development than enhances student learning in the discipline curriculum
• sustained record of excellence in teaching and learning design and practice
• extensive experience conducting original research and engaging in scholarly activity, with an established record of high-quality scholarship of teaching and learning research
• extensive experience supervising and mentoring others
• a wide network of established relationships with academic, industry and professional partners and stakeholders
• their ability to obtain competitive grant funding for their education scholarship
• their leadership within the higher education sector, including demonstrated success in supervising and/or mentoring others (including honours students) to achieve career progression or professional advancement
• establishment of relationships with key academic, industry and professional institutions, partners and stakeholders that can be leveraged to enhance the standing of education in the discipline, School, Faculty and University.

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 LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, including women. 

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 Engineering 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 Helen Efstathiou, Recruitment Consultant, Recruitment Operations, Human Resources on +61 2 8627 7137 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 roles:

• Lecturer (Education Focused) – Level B
• Senior Lecturer (Education Focused) – Level C  
• Associate Professor (Education Focused) – Level D

Applications Close

Monday 01 December 2025 11:59 PM