Lecturer / Senior Lecturer, Social Work Programme

Te Kaupeka Oranga | Faculty of Health
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Continuing (permanent) position
• Generous annual leave provisions and professional development opportunities

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Pūkenga / Pūkenga Matua? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
Our Social Work Programme within Te Kaupeka Oranga | the Faculty of Health are looking for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Social Work to be a part of a dynamic team. In this role, you will join a team responsible for the delivery of Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) and Masters of Social Work (Applied), and the supervision of postgraduate studies. These qualifications are recognised by the Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board. Career pathways are very diverse, and include practice and policy roles in community development, research and advocacy along with careers in more traditional fields such as child protection, mental health, health, education, and criminal justice.

Mōu | Who You Are
Applicants with the experience and skills commensurate with this position are invited to apply. To be successful applicants will have experience in teaching at the tertiary level, social work practice experience, social work practice with Māori and indigenous populations an advantage and have a passion and desire to help students realise their potential. They will contribute to recognition requirements required by the Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro NZ Social Work Registration Board and will be a registered social worker. Thesis supervision and research experience is desirable, as is the ability and willingness to contribute to Social Work curriculum development.

Successful applicants will be expected to take on leadership roles in the Social Work programme in either teaching, research or school administration.

Staff provide leadership in a range of professional fields and are active in the community. There is a strong emphasis on developing students as critical thinkers and responsible members of society.

Applicants will need to demonstrate the following characteristics:

• Hold Social Work registration with the Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro New Zealand Social Work Registration Board.
• Hold a doctoral degree, or commitment to completion of a doctoral degree, in social work.
• Have experience in social work.
• Preference for relevant and effective teaching experience in their specialist area(s).
• Have research and/or teaching experience in social policy and social justice/macro social work practice.
• Hold a commitment to upholding the values, tikanga, kawa and traditions as guided by Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the mana whenua. Ability in te reo Māori me āna tikanga would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of how to embed mātauranga Māori across curriculum areas
• Confidence in working with local iwi and runānga is required
• Plans for future research, grant funding and publications consistent with appointment at Lecturer rank.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
Te Kaupeka Oranga | Faculty of Health offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and research activities that respond to the dynamic nature of the health and sport sectors and their workforce. We offer undergraduate programmes in Social Work, Sport and Health as well as postgraduate programmes in Social Work, Counselling, and Child and Family Psychology and Nursing, and various population health and clinical endorsements within the Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Health Sciences.   

Key initiatives embedded in the Social Work programme strategy include giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi; engagement with the Waitaha Canterbury context; transformative practice and research; academic excellence; and interdisciplinarity. The Social Work programme implements its strategic initiatives throughout the curriculum and in our engagement with community. In making this appointment we are seeking a candidate who shares our commitment to fostering transformative learning with Māori and diverse groups of students. 

For more information about our team and qualifications, please click on the links to the Faculty of Health

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Tangata Tū, Tangata Ora -- Engaged, Empowered, Making a Difference. 

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

What we offer
The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment, this includes:

• relocation support
• five weeks annual leave and five days university holidays
• UC Parental Leave (up to 9 weeks paid) + 26 weeks Government paid parental leave and onsite childcare facility
• widely accessible sabbatical provision
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• University and Faculty scholarship support for post-graduate students
• flexible working arrangements
• supportive working environment
• professional development and study opportunities
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as the recreation centre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

For more information on our Benefits, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus/benefits/

This role sits within the Academic Staff, Associated Staff and Academic Support Staff Collective Agreement and the following salary scale applies:  Lecturer $92,334 - $111,388 p.a, Senior Lecturer $117,241 - $132,971 p.a.

The closing date for this position is: 10 August 2025 (midnight NZ time)

Please note, applications will be reviewed after the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply
Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website and should include the following:

• a cover letter which includes a 2-3-page statement outlining your research interests and goals and teaching philosophy (combined)
• a Resume which includes a list of relevant research publications (combined).

We do not accept applications by email, however, we are happy to answer any queries at WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz

For further information specifically about the role, please contact: Yvonne Crichton-Hill at yvonne.crichton-hill@canterbury.ac.nz

For overseas applicants, please visit Immigration New Zealand website, to review the latest health and visa requirements for visiting and working in New Zealand.