Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Screen Composition

Te Kaupeka Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts

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.

UC is a broad-based tertiary education and research provider with a strong profile in the creative arts. It has a long-established Music department which includes composition, performance, and creative music technology across a wide spectrum of styles. We are also investing in Aotearoa New Zealand’s creative economy through building capability, facilities, and technology for the digital screen industry.  In the first of its kind in Australasia, UC’s new Digital Screen Programme will provide training for future leaders in film production, game development, and cross-reality, helping New Zealand play a key role in the future of digital screen convergence.

We seek a dynamic academic with practice-based experience in composition, including industry-level composition for screen, to lead the composition programme in the School of Music and contribute to the Bachelor of Music Digital Screen (Honours), collaborating with colleagues in Music and Digital Screen, especially Screen Sound. You will prepare students to excel in music composition and in the screen industry by teaching across all levels, supervising creative projects, and building strong industry partnerships.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the development of the Composition and, in, particular, Screen Composition programmes
• Recruit undergraduate and postgraduate students in Composition, including Screen Composition.
• Connect music and screen at the frontier of a converging industry.
• Train students to produce industry-standard creative outputs.
• Develop graduates with the capacity to innovate, collaborate, and respond to real-world challenges
• Collaborate with community and industry partners to ensure impact and relevance.

Mōu | Who You Are

You will bring tertiary teaching and research experience, alongside strong links to the screen industry. Applicants working across both popular and art music are especially encouraged to apply. A research degree (DMA or PhD) in composition is highly preferred, though equivalent professional experience will be considered.

You will demonstrate:

• A strong portfolio of music, including some music for screen (film, TV, games).
• Recognised expertise and creative outputs in screen composition.
• Innovative and effective teaching practice.
• Strong practical composition, arranging, and orchestration skills
• Practical production skills using industry-standard tools and workflows.
• Awareness of current trends and best practice in music composition, including screen music.
• Ability to show how music enhances cinematic and perceptual experience.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with openness to te reo Māori or Pacific languages.
• Strong community and industry relationships that support student success.

This is an exciting opportunity to join UC at the forefront of creative education, helping shape the next generation of storytellers who will define the future of composition of music for screen.

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
• A unique bequest funded endowment (Erskine Fund) that supports an extensive visiting fellowship programme
• 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 Support Staff Collective Agreement and the following salary scale applies: Lecturer $94,181 - $113,616; Senior Lecturer $119,586 - $149,806. 

The closing date for this position is: 16 November 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).
• A portfolio of recent creative work 

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: Head of School, Aaron Kreisler, 

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