Position Number: LBD025

The University

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier tertiary institution in the Pacific region. Established in 1968, USP upholds international standards of research and teaching excellence, with a particular focus on issues central to the region. It is jointly governed by 13 member countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Naoero, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Courses are delivered face-to-face and online, reaching students spread across 33 million square kilometres of ocean on both sides of the International Date Line. Situated at the heart of the world's most linguistically diverse region, USP is a uniquely stimulating institution in which to build a career.

The School
The successful candidate will be based in the School of Law and Social Sciences (SoLaSS) which is a dynamic, multidisciplinary academic community committed to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement across the Pacific region. With a strong regional presence and a commitment to producing graduates who can respond to complex political, social, legal, and development challenges, the School plays an important role in advancing knowledge and strengthening professional capacity across USP’s member countries. The School offers several undergraduate programs, including the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, which are internationally accredited and designed to provide students with rigorous academic foundations alongside professionally relevant knowledge and skills. The School also offers targeted postgraduate and professional qualifications, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Border Security, Professional Diploma in Legal Practice, and qualifications in Gender Studies, responding to emerging regional needs and the evolving demands of professional practice.

The Opportunity

SOLASS is seeking to appoint dedicated and experienced people to join the discipline as a Senior Lecturer Level in Development Studies. The Senior Lecturer in Development Studies will operate within this dynamic regional setting, contributing to the academic leadership, teaching, research, curriculum development, and postgraduate supervision of the Development Studies programme. The position requires collaboration with academic colleagues, students, University departments, and external stakeholders, including government agencies, regional organisations, civil society, and community partners, to strengthen the relevance and impact of development education and research across the Pacific. The incumbent will be expected to maintain high academic standards, develop research-informed curricula, supervise postgraduate research, and contribute to research initiatives and partnerships addressing contemporary development challenges in the Pacific and the wider Global South. The role requires a strong understanding of development theories, policies, and practices, alongside the ability to critically examine social, political, economic, environmental, and institutional issues affecting the region.

The position operates within a demanding academic environment requiring effective management of teaching, research, supervision, and administrative responsibilities, as well as responsiveness to evolving regional development priorities. The successful incumbent must demonstrate academic leadership, strong research and analytical capabilities, effective communication and interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines, campuses, and diverse stakeholder groups. Through these responsibilities, the Senior Lecturer will contribute to strengthening Development Studies at USP and advancing contextually relevant, inclusive, and transformative development scholarship across the Pacific.

The position will be based at Laucala Campus.

The Person we Seek

To be considered for this position, applicants must have:

• A PhD in the relevant discipline with relevant tertiary teaching experience and/or research experience;
• Teaching at higher education institution along with experience and capacity to design and develop courses and curriculum;
• A demonstrable record of scholarly and professional achievement in the relevant discipline at the Senior Lecturer Level;
• Demonstrated knowledge of development issues relevant to the Pacific, including the social, economic, political, environmental, and institutional contexts shaping development across Pacific Island countries;
• Demonstrated expertise in, or substantial teaching experience across, relevant areas such as development theories and alternatives, advanced research methodology, conflict and justice, NGOs and civil society, environmental change and green development, and contemporary Pacific development;
• Evidence of research and scholarly publication appropriate to the level of appointment;
• Demonstrated ability to teach and supervise at postgraduate level, including research methods and dissertation/research projects;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver high-quality, research-informed teaching in face-to-face and online environments;
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural academic environment.

Enquiries and further information: myhr@usp.ac.fj Ph:323100
The position is available for a term of 5 years and may be renewed by mutual agreement

The position description can be downloaded from the link:https://www.bfound.net/Company/2090-20265106015147.pdf

Salary Range

• FJ$122,768 to FJ$141,655 per annum