Lecturer​/Senior Lecturer

Title of Position

LECTURER/ SENIOR LECTURER

739S (0490)

University of the Western Cape ->
Natural Sciences ->
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Permanent - Full Time

N/A

30/9/2026

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) enjoys national and international acclaim for its continuing contribution to democratic change in South Africa, for making quality education accessible to all South Africans and developing centres of excellence of national importance. Part of this striving for excellence is a commitment to biodiversity conservation and research.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of the Western Cape is internationally recognised for its excellence in teaching and research. The faculty comprises nine academic departments, a School of Pharmacy and a number of world-class research institutes and centres. The faculty offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the major scientific disciplines and a professional degree in Pharmacy.

The Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology is located within the Faculty of Natural Sciences. It is a dynamic department with strong research foci on Marine Biology, African Biodiversity, Ecology, Behavioural Ecology and Systematics. The department provides undergraduate teaching broadly focused on themes within Botany and Zoology, and offers service courses in Life Science, as well as Plant and Animal Diversity, to several other Faculties within the University.

The department seeks to appoint a highly motivated, dynamic individual to join the department and initiate a research programme in Marine Biology with a strong interest in Conservation Biology.

• Conduct research and publish in local and international peer-reviewed, accredited journals relevant to the broader research field.
• Undertake undergraduate and postgraduate supervision.
• Provide academic leadership and administration.
• Undertake curriculum development and assessment content creation, course readers, tutorial worksheets, assignments, etc.
• Participate in community engagement and outreach.
• Develop and update learning and teaching materials
• Develop and lead an internationally competitive, externally funded research programme (in the case of Lecturer this will be a future expectation).
• Attend local and international conferences.
• Actively contribute to stakeholder engagement and outreach.
• Perform administrative functions such as representing the department on university committees, and management of marks administration.

• Ph.D. in Marine Biology and/or Marine Conservation Biology or related discipline.
• Proven record of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at a tertiary institution in the relevant field.
• Evidence of curriculum development or renewal.
• A record of research and research dissemination by publications in national and international peer-reviewed, accredited journals and conference attendance.
• Proven record of securing research funding from external sources.
• Demonstrated experience of successful postgraduate supervision, especially at Master's level.
• Proven record of community engagement

• M.Sc. in Marine Biology and/ or Marine Conservation Biology, or a related discipline currently registered for a Ph.D with clear completion plan.
• 1-2 Ph.D related publications already completed.
• Proven record of undergraduate teaching at a tertiary institution in the relevant field commensurate with level of appointment.
• Record of research or participation in ongoing research.
• Record of community engagement.
• Proven verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Time management, planning and organisational skills.
• Computer literacy and e-learning skills.
• Ethical use of AI for research and/or teaching.

• Experience in departmental academic governance/management.
• Record of teaching large undergraduate classes (>200 students).
• Prior experience in the practice of marine conservation, e.g. implementation of strategies or policies.
• Evidence of active engagement with conservation management or related activities.

In line with the University’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our Employment Equity Targets.