This position is no longer open for applications

• Have you got a strong understanding of the current state of New Zealand’s climate and broader environment?
• Do you have an established research profile with a PhD in a field relevant to Climate Change?
• Are you student focused and have an understanding of the needs of a diverse environment?

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, wellbeing, 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 

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Pūkenga | Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Climate Change to join the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences (SGEES). We are looking for someone who is an excellent team member, and whose teaching and research interests both complement and extend those of the existing team.

We are also recruiting for an Ahonuku | Associate Professor position in Climate Change, if you are interested in applying for the Associate Professor position, please click here to apply.

Key Responsibilities: 

Undertaking impactful research and scholarship: 

• Within and across the broad spectrum of climate change science and policy, which may include climate change governance, policy and politics, greenhouse gas management, climate change adaptation planning, climate change impacts and resilience, and the underlying science and modelling of the climate system.
• 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).
• 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.
• Coordination and teaching of courses in international climate change policy, climate change mitigation, and climate change adaptation, and related topics.
• Maintaining a high standard of teaching as evidenced by student and peer feedback.
• Supervising and coordinating student placement and research projects.
• A pedagogical approach that reflects Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our location in the Pacific, and a diverse student body that includes international and refugee-background students from a range of backgrounds.
• Attracting and successfully supervising Honours, Masters and/or PhD students to completion.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will have a strong understanding of the state of Aotearoa-New Zealand’s climate and broader environment and its importance to Māori communities today and in the future. You will be knowledgeable about how science and policy can address the real-world problem of climate change through data gathering and analysis and be committed to an interdisciplinary research and teaching environment. You should hold a PhD in a relevant discipline and have an established research profile in this or related disciplines. You will be able to co-ordinate and develop undergraduate and postgraduate courses that contribute to our programmes in Climate Change Science and Policy and related programmes, draw upon your own expertise or networks to embed mātauranga into these programmes where relevant, supervise postgraduate students, and pursue a dynamic programme of research. Experience in the Global South would also be welcome.

Key Requirements: 

• 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.
• Academic Integrity - Committed to the discipline and to collegial decision-making, maintains high professional and ethical standards, and has enthusiasm for teaching and research.
• Communication - Communicates clearly and in a variety of ways to suit the situation and needs of the recipients.
• Collegiality - Deals with colleagues and others in a respectful and fair way.

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

The Climate Change Science and Policy and wider Environment and Geography teams like sharing ideas and working in a collaborative style. We offer an opportunity to guide programme development, teach within a cooperative team, and pursue independent research.

Our capital city location brings proximity to relevant government or Parliamentary bodies and provides unique opportunities for staff and students to focus on national and global environmental issues. Of particular relevance are our collaborative relationships with the National Institute for Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) and Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science). Both these Crown Research Institutes have their Headquarters based in Wellington and this position offers exciting opportunities to further strengthen these highly productive inter-institutional relationships.

This team and the disciplines they represent are vital to the University’s reputation in the physical and social sciences. In terms of Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF), this position will be lodged within our Geography and Earth Sciences team of 38 staff, which is among the largest across all New Zealand Universities and ranked first in Quality overall in the latest census. Internationally in the QS rankings, Development Studies at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington ranked #43, while Geography has been consistently placed in the top 100 range, and Earth Sciences in the 101-150 range in recent years.

Role Description – Lecturer in Climate Change

Role Description – Senior Lecturer in Climate Change

Close Date for Vacancy: 31 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 James Renwick (james.renwick@vuw.ac.nz). But 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.