Lecturer/Senior Lecturer - Politics of the Middle East

The Politics Programme

About us

Our Politics Programme was established in 1967 and has a well-established record of teaching and research. We offer a range of research-informed undergraduate and postgraduate courses in comparative politics/area studies, Aotearoa New Zealand politics, international relations, and political theory. We have a strong record of working in both teaching and research with scholars and programmes in the Division of Humanities and from across the university.

The Politics Programme has a long-standing commitment to teaching and researching Politics of the Middle East, having for over twenty-five years offered a range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and supervised a significant number of research students in this area. The Programme was instrumental in establishing MEISA (Middle East and Islamic Studies Aotearoa), an interdisciplinary academic network that promotes research on the Middle East and Islamic worlds from a New Zealand perspective.

The role

Applications are invited for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer position (Politics of the Middle East) in the Politics Programme. The position offers an academic career in a well-established programme with a proud teaching and research record. We are looking for a candidate with a demonstrated record of producing engaging, innovative teaching and research. Our ideal candidate will contribute to existing courses and develop new courses in Politics of the Middle East and Comparative Politics.

The successful candidate will teach lower-level undergraduate courses on Politics of the Middle East and Comparative Politics, develop a 3rd year course in their area of research expertise, and either contribute to existing courses at Master's level or develop their own course in their area of research expertise.

They will be expected to:

• Supervise research at Master's and PhD levels.
• Develop and maintain a strong research profile, including showing a willingness to seek external research funds.
• Undertake administrative roles and community/professional service activities that contribute to the overall effectiveness and standing of the Programme.

Skills and experience

The successful candidate is expected to have a PhD in Politics or related discipline and to be able to demonstrate a record of high-quality research, teaching, and service.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate:

• A commitment to being a productive collaborator with a track record of working collegially.
• An excellent research profile along with a commitment to and/or established connections with international and/or national researchers.
• A record of delivering high-quality tertiary-level teaching.
• Ability in teaching Politics of the Middle East and Comparative Politics.
• A working knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language.
• A commitment to deliver their own specialist courses to our programme.
• A commitment to contribute to team-taught courses.
• A commitment to undertake media and community outreach and engagement.
• Experience working with students and staff from differing academic and cultural backgrounds.

Further information

This is a permanent, full-time position, based in Dunedin, and is available from February 2027.

The appointment ranges for this role are:

• Lecturer - $97,377 to $114,943 per annum.
• Senior Lecturer - $120,494 to $137,444 per annum.

Appointment level will be determined by the candidate's academic achievements, skills, and experience.

Specific enquiries may be directed to Associate Professor James Headley, Head of Politics Programme, via james.headley@otago.ac.nz

To submit your application, please apply via our website. Applications quoting reference number 2601152 will close on 11:59pm (NZST) on Sunday, 13 September 2026.

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