Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Music

Sydney Horizon Educators/Teaching and Research (Sydney Conservatorium of Music) 

• Full time and Part time continuing academic Lecturer/Senior Lecturer Education Focused and Teaching and Research positions at The University of Sydney
• Opportunity for the best and brightest talented educators and researchers to be part of our future at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
• Base Salary Level B/C $122,830 p.a. - $173,492 p.a. (pro-rata for part time appointments) + 17% superannuation 

About the opportunity 

The University of Sydney welcomes applications for various 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) and teaching and research academic positions across the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

You will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to teaching in your field of expertise while you also continue to build substantial research contribution, expertise, connections, and impact. As part of this role, you will also contribute to the governance, leadership, and engagement work of your employing school. 

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.

The University of Sydney is recognised as one of the top research and teaching universities in the world. 

A globally ranked university, ranked 18th in QS University World Rankings 2025, 1^st for sustainability in Australia. 

Sydney Horizon Educators Opportunities

Successful education focused candidates will join the Sydney Horizon Educators cohort. For further insights into this exciting opportunity, we invite you to watch this video.

For the Sydney Horizon Educators, there will be access to up to AUD$30K to support education­ related activities, including education-related research and education-related professional development and learning. 

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. Positions in this opportunity are for talented educators with a passion for, and demonstrated excellence in, educational practice and innovation, and research capability (in disciplinary and/or education-related research). 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. 

Teaching and Research Opportunities 

The aims of these teaching and research roles are to attract and retain the best and brightest emerging academics. To support an uplift in the teaching and research capability and student experience at the University of Sydney, these positions are for talented researchers who also have a passion for, and demonstrated excellence in, pedagogical practice.  

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 continue to build substantial research contribution, expertise, connections and impact. As part of this role, you will also contribute to the governance, leadership, and engagement work of your employing school. 

For further information regarding the Sydney Horizon Educators and Teaching and Research roles and responsibilities please refer to the following link 

Located near the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Conservatorium of Music (SCM) is Australia’s premier tertiary music institution and one of the most active musical institutions in the country. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses from diploma to doctoral levels. Comprising 1400 music degree students and teaching many others through the other campuses of the university, the Sydney Conservatorium is part of The University of Sydney, Australia’s first university. 

The handbook for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music outlines the range of teaching that is offered. 

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
• Deliver outstanding teaching and learning outcomes for students
• Develop teaching and subject materials, working with more senior academics within the University
• 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 research skills, particularly as they relate to evaluating and improving teaching and learning in your discipline
• Maintain quality, standards and excellence in your educational activities and output
• 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. 

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

Sydney Conservatorium of Music 

• Senior Lecturer in Music Theatre, Level C 

This newly-created position will be part of the Music Theatre discipline at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

The successful applicant will have a doctorate or equivalent international-level professional experience and expertise. Alongside demonstrated professional experience at the highest level, the applicant will have evidence of successfully teaching singing to music theatre students and/or related performance skills such as dance/movement/acting at the tertiary level.  

As a Teaching and Research based role, the applicant's research and/or professional practice profile will form part of their current profile and inform their future research and scholarship plans.  The successful applicant will be highly organized, able to work in a high-pressure conservatoire-style environment with fast-paced music classroom, production and external performance goals. The applicant needs to possess the skills to manage the competing demands of delivering high-level student outcomes, build and maintain their own research profile and  uphold a demonstrated performance practice in a collegial, multi-disciplinary environment. 

Applicants will demonstrate knowledge and involvement in the music theatre sector nationally and internationally and evidence an ability to create unique performance and professional practice opportunities for SCM students.  

• Lecturer in Music Industry (Education Focused), Level B 

The Lecturer in Music Industry (Education-focused) is a new role at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.    

The successful candidate will have an outstanding track record with businesses and enterprises in the music industry, such as recording companies, arts organisations, performance venues or music festivals, equivalent in professional experience to a doctorate in music. The successful candidate ideally will have experience with teaching at the tertiary level, given that this is an education-focussed role.  If not, they will have equivalent professional experience and be able to make the case that this is equivalent.  

The successful candidate will have a wide range of contacts across the music industry, including across musical styles and paradigms, and be able to demonstrate how to prepare students to learn the professional skills they will need after graduation. This will include artistic, administrative and operational knowledge as well as more specific knowledge on particular issues (e.g. copyright, IP, marketing and promotion etc.).  

The successful candidate will also have a plan for research and/or professional practice into the future, including continued industry engagement. They may also have a secondary form of music practice they may wish to contribute to the Conservatorium, although this is not essential.    

About you

The University values excellence, trust, and accountability. 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. 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. 

With the teaching and research candidates, we are looking for candidates who can make a significant contribution to teaching and learning design, delivery, and evaluation while continuing to build their research contribution, expertise and impact. 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 the capacity to build a significant research program over time, obtaining competitive funding as needed to support their research work. 

We are therefore looking for Sydney Horizon Educators and Teaching and Research academics who have:

• A PhD or nearly-completed PhD in an academic field relevant to the discipline
• (for education focused) experience in assessment, feedback and learning by design
• (for education focused) experience in contributing to outstanding educational design, delivery, evaluation and outcomes
• (for teaching and research) a record of attracting competitive, external funding to support their research
• (for teaching and research) a track record of high-quality research outputs appropriate to the discipline that is on an upward trajectory
• 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
• (for education focused) their experience as an effective unit, course or program coordinator or director (especially for large classes), as evidenced by student and staff feedback
• (for teaching and research) demonstrated record of driving a program of peer-reviewed research, creative work, or scholarship published or disseminated in high-quality outlets for their discipline some experience in people leadership within the higher education sector
• Significant capability in leadership, service, governance, and engagement. 

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. 

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus. 

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 LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.  

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold 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 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 Frank McHenry, Recruitment Officer. Recruitment Operations, Human Resources on +61 2 8627 0063 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 Description for these Education Focused role: 

• Lecturer (Education Focused) – Level B 

Click to view the following Position Description for these Teaching and Research role: 

• Senior Lecturer – Level C