Lecturer, School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

• Have you got an interest in a permanent role within the Human Geography and Development Studies team?
• Will your teaching, research, and engagement interests complement and extend to those of the existing team?
• Are you knowledgeable about diverse approaches to research and can communicate in a variety of ways to suit the situation?

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is a global civic university with our marae at our heart. This iho draws off our heritage and is further defined by our tūrangawaewae, in particular Wellington, Aotearoa, and the Asia-Pacific, all of which are expressed in our position as Aotearoa New Zealand's globally ranked capital city university.

Our core ethical values are respect, responsibility, fairness, integrity, and empathy. These core ethical values are demonstrated in our commitment to sustainability, well-being, inclusivity, equity, diversity, collegiality, and openness. With, and as, tangata whenua, we value Te Tiriti o Waitangi, rangatiratanga, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, whai mātauranga, whanaungatanga, and akoranga.

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

TeHerenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Lecturer to join the Human Geography and Development Studies team in the Te Kura Tātai Whenua - School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences (SGEES). We are looking for colleagues who are excellent team members, and whose teaching, research, and engagement interests both complement and extend those of the existing team.

Key responsibilities:

Undertaking impactful research and scholarship:

• Within and across the broad spectrum of Human Geography and Development Studies, which may include, geographic theory, development theory, Indigenous and community-based development, activism and advocacy, transnationalism and globalisation, economic geography, political economy, international development aid policy, and practice
• That demonstrates ethical and reciprocal links with Māori and/or Pasifika communities
• Evidenced by a range of activities (e.g., building positive relationships with communities and relevant organisations, publishing in international and domestic journals, research funding, community engagement, and outreach)
• That engages constructively and productively with colleagues within and outside the University
• That successfully attracts and supports research students into the discipline, School, or Faculty
• Commitment to teaching and learning as evidenced by:
• Academically rigorous, research-led teaching that stimulates student learning
• Attracting and successfully supervising thesis students to conclusion
• Coordinating and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses
• A pedagogical approach that reflects Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our location in the Pacific, and a diverse student body that includes international and former refugee students from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of the policy-practice nexus and/or community engagement will be considered an asset

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will do the following:

• Have a strong understanding of the wicked problems impacting people at different scales and different approaches to tackling them
• Have an understanding and experience of development aid policy and practice, and/or Māori and Indigenous communities' approaches to development
• Be knowledgeable about diverse approaches to research and their relationships to policy change or social action
• Hold a Ph.D. in Human Geography, Development Studies, Māori Studies, Pacific Studies, Indigenous Studies or a closely related discipline
• Demonstrate a dynamic programme of research and a growing research profile
• Be able to contribute courses that draw upon your own expertise or networks, and which seek to embed diverse knowledge (including mātauranga) and supervise postgraduate students

Key requirements:

• Communication - communicates clearly and in a variety of ways to suit the situation and needs of the recipients
• Academic Integrity - committed to their discipline(s) and to collegial decision-making, maintains high professional and ethical standards, and has enthusiasm for teaching and research
• Student Focus - listens to and understands the needs of students including those from diverse backgrounds and meets those needs through a professional, courteous, and empathetic approach
• Collegiality and Innovation - works with colleagues and others respectfully and collaboratively; willing to enhance Human Geography and Development Studies programmes through innovative initiatives and fostering a collaborative academic environment

Ētahi kōrero hai āwhina i a koe - Why you should join our team

The Human Geography and Development Studies team at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington likes working collaboratively. We offer an opportunity to guide programme development, teach within a cooperative team, and pursue independent research. In terms of Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF), this position will be lodged within our Geography team, which ranked first in Quality overall in the last round. Internationally in the QS rankings, Development Studies is #43, and Geography is within the top 100. Our capital city location brings proximity to government agencies, aid organisations and NGOs, city councils, and community and activist organisations with whom we have highly productive inter-institutional relationships.

Applications close on Monday, 15 January 2024.

We will be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Monika Hanson (monica.handler@vuw.ac.nz). However, applicants should follow all steps listed below.

Important - Application steps and information

Download and complete the University Application Form. Then, please combine your cover letter, CV, and the University Application Form into a single file (preferably in pdf format). Click Apply and follow the process to enter your contact details and attach your combined file (CV, cover letter, and the University application form) using the 'CV/Resume' button.

If you are unable to combine your documents or have further supporting documents, please email these to erecruit@vuw.ac.nz stating the reference number and position title from the advert in the subject line.

Reference 457.