Senior Lecturer

The Senior Lecturer position sits within the Town and Regional Planning unit of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), a prominent South African university with campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. DUT is a large, comprehensive institution with a strong national and international reputation for teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement, and it operates within a clear strategic vision, ENVISION2030, that emphasises people-centredness, entrepreneurship, and societal transformation. This permanent academic role is central to the department’s mission to produce well-rounded planning graduates and to advance research and professional practice in the built environment.

Candidates for this senior academic post must hold a PhD or an equivalent NQF level 10 qualification in the Built Environment, with an undergraduate qualification in urban planning or a related town and regional planning discipline. At least five years of lecturing experience are required, supported by demonstrable evidence of research output and postgraduate supervision. The university also values professional experience in the planning field, strong communication and lecturing abilities, and a genuine passion for both teaching and research. Professional registration with SACPLAN, the South African Council for the Planning Profession, is viewed favourably, as is the ability to work collaboratively within a team and to help steer the department towards excellence. A solid research track record, or relevant research experience, is particularly important, as the role carries an expectation to actively develop the department’s research profile.

The incumbent’s duties are wide-ranging and central to the academic life of the department. Teaching and learning activities include curriculum development, student consultation, and academic administration, all in line with DUT policies. The successful candidate will be responsible for at least two modules per semester under a fair workload distribution, undertaking lectures, assessments, and supervision across theoretical modules at all levels. Beyond classroom teaching, the role requires active involvement in research and postgraduate supervision, contributing to the department’s research culture and output. Administrative responsibilities, as delegated by the Head of Department, form part of the role, along with facilitating departmental community engagement projects. There is also an expectation to serve as chair of a specialty area on a rotational basis and to coordinate a year level or programme within the department, ensuring smooth academic delivery and quality assurance.

DUT is committed to equal opportunities and follows its equity policy in making appointments, with preference given accordingly, while the university reserves the right not to appoint. This position offers a dynamic, supportive environment within a respected institution that is ranked among the top six percent of universities worldwide. It is ideally suited to an experienced planning academic eager to contribute to teaching, research, and societal impact through the built environment.