Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for University Lecturer

🎯 Role Definition

A University Lecturer delivers engaging, evidence-based teaching and learning in a university setting, develops and updates curriculum and assessment, supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students, pursues an active research agenda (where applicable), secures external funding, and contributes to department and faculty service. The role balances teaching excellence, student support and mentorship, scholarly output, and continuous professional development to advance the institution’s academic mission and reputation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Postdoctoral Researcher pursuing a teaching portfolio
Graduate Teaching Assistant or Instructional Fellow with demonstrated teaching experience
Adjunct or Part-time Lecturer with proven course delivery and student feedback

Advancement To:

Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor
Programme Director or Head of Subject
Research Lead, Reader, or Full Professor (discipline dependant)

Lateral Moves:

Curriculum Developer or Instructional Designer in higher education
Learning and Development Manager in industry or professional bodies
Research Fellow or Principal Investigator (with research focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop and deliver high-quality lectures, seminars, tutorials and online/blended learning sessions aligned to programme learning outcomes, using inclusive, evidence-based pedagogies that engage diverse student cohorts.
Create, update and maintain detailed course materials, lecture slides, reading lists, assessment briefs, and practical guides that meet academic standards and accreditation requirements.
Design and administer formative and summative assessments that accurately measure student learning, provide timely and constructive feedback, and uphold academic integrity and moderation processes.
Supervise and mentor undergraduate dissertations, honours projects, and postgraduate research students, providing clear guidance on research design, methodology, ethics and professional development.
Lead the design and continuous improvement of curriculum, modules and learning pathways through curriculum mapping, benchmarking and alignment with professional standards and graduate attributes.
Plan and manage teaching schedules, timetables and learning resources in collaboration with programme managers and administrative staff to ensure smooth delivery of modules.
Maintain an active research program aligned with departmental strategy, publish original research in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and contribute to the university’s research profile.
Prepare and submit competitive grant and fellowship applications to external funders, manage awarded funds responsibly, and report on research progress and outcomes.
Engage with industry, professional bodies and community partners to inform teaching content, facilitate student placements, collaborative research, and knowledge exchange activities.
Participate as a member of examination boards, programme committees and accreditation panels, contributing to quality assurance, validation and periodic review processes.
Contribute to student recruitment and outreach activities, including open days, school visits, online recruitment campaigns and the development of marketing content that highlights programme strengths.
Provide pastoral support and academic advising to students, signposting to university support services, addressing academic concerns, and fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Employ and evaluate educational technologies and learning management systems (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas) to enhance online, hybrid and in-person learning experiences.
Design and deliver professional development workshops for staff and teaching assistants on assessment practices, academic integrity, inclusive teaching and the use of digital tools.
Lead or participate in pedagogic research and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) projects to evaluate and scale effective teaching practices across the faculty.
Contribute to departmental administration including module coordination, recruitment panels, budget planning and resource allocation to support programme delivery.
Monitor, analyse and report on student performance data and feedback, implement evidence-based interventions to improve retention, progression and attainment rates.
Develop and maintain up-to-date subject matter expertise, curricula vitae and public profiles (institutional pages, ORCID, Google Scholar) to attract students and collaborators.
Manage teaching teams, including briefing, training and supervising postdocs, sessional lecturers, demonstrators and tutors to ensure consistent quality across cohorts.
Ensure compliance with research ethics procedures, health and safety regulations (for labs and fieldwork), and data protection requirements in teaching and research activities.
Produce accessible teaching materials and reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, collaborating with equality and disability services to ensure equitable participation.
Contribute to the development of online short courses, continuing professional development (CPD) offerings and micro-credentials that extend the university’s educational reach.
Actively seek and incorporate student and peer feedback through teaching evaluations, observation and reflective practice to continuously improve teaching performance.
Support student employability by embedding career-relevant skills into curricula, coordinating guest lectures, industry projects and internship opportunities.

Secondary Functions

Participate in faculty and institutional committees, working groups and governance activities that support strategic planning, equality, diversity and inclusion, and academic standards.
Support accreditation, external examiner liaison and programme validation activities by preparing documentation and representing the department at external visits.
Contribute to departmental marketing, communications and social media efforts to increase programme visibility and attract high-quality applicants.
Assist with the recruitment, induction and professional development of new academic and teaching staff.
Support alumni relations, fundraising initiatives and donor engagement to build long-term partnerships that benefit students and research.
Undertake occasional administrative tasks such as timetabling adjustments, room bookings, procurement and arranging visiting speakers or exam personnel.
Engage in community outreach, public engagement and knowledge exchange activities that translate research into public benefit and raise the profile of the institution.
Provide cover teaching and assessment support at short notice to ensure continuity of teaching when colleagues are absent.
Act as an academic mentor or appraiser for colleagues, participating in performance reviews and contributing to career development planning.
Contribute to cross-disciplinary projects, centres and institutes that advance institutional research priorities and interdisciplinary education.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Demonstrable expertise in curriculum and module design, including learning outcomes, syllabus development, assessment strategies and constructive alignment.
Proven competence using learning management systems (LMS) such as Moodle, Blackboard or Canvas, and integrating digital tools (e.g., lecture capture, polling, virtual labs) to support blended learning.
Strong academic research skills: literature synthesis, research design, quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies, statistical analysis and data interpretation.
Track record of academic publishing in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, and dissemination of research outputs.
Experience preparing and managing research grant proposals, budgets, project management and reporting to funders.
Supervision experience for undergraduate and postgraduate students, including thesis assessment and viva examination.
Proficiency in assessment design, marking, moderation, and maintenance of academic standards and integrity.
Familiarity with ethical review procedures, research governance, health & safety in research (where applicable) and data protection (e.g., GDPR).
Ability to develop online course content and deliver remote learning, including creating asynchronous materials, video lectures and online assessments.
Subject-matter mastery in the relevant academic discipline(s) with up-to-date professional knowledge and industry-relevant expertise.
Competence in using academic productivity and bibliographic tools (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, ORCID, Google Scholar) and basic data analysis tools (SPSS, R, Python or discipline-specific software).
Experience with programme accreditation standards, external examiner processes and academic quality assurance frameworks.

Soft Skills

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills tailored for lecturing, academic writing and stakeholder engagement.
Strong classroom presence and ability to create an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that supports diverse learning styles.
Excellent mentoring and coaching skills, with empathy and the capacity to support students’ academic and personal development.
Time management and organizational skills to balance teaching load, research commitments and administrative responsibilities.
Collaborative team player with the ability to work across disciplines, lead committees and build productive relationships with colleagues and external partners.
Adaptability and resilience to respond to changing institutional priorities, technology shifts and evolving student needs.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, applied to curriculum challenges, research design and student support scenarios.
Initiative and self-motivation in pursuing funding opportunities, research collaborations and continuous professional development.
Cultural competence and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in teaching, assessment and staff/student interactions.
Professional integrity, confidentiality and adherence to academic policies and codes of conduct.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with substantial tertiary teaching experience; many institutions require or strongly prefer a doctoral degree (PhD) for permanent lecturer positions.

Preferred Education:

PhD / Doctorate in the relevant academic field, or equivalent professional practice qualifications combined with strong evidence of teaching excellence and scholarly output.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Discipline-specific fields (e.g., Biology, Computer Science, Business, English Literature, Engineering, Psychology)
Education, Higher Education Studies or Pedagogy (for roles with a significant focus on teaching and curriculum development)
Interdisciplinary fields aligned with the programme portfolio

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of higher education teaching and/or research experience, including demonstrable experience in module coordination, student supervision and assessment.

Preferred:

3–8+ years of combined teaching and research experience at the tertiary level, evidence of peer-reviewed publications, successful grant applications, and a track record of positive student feedback and pedagogical innovation.