Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for University Teacher

🎯 Role Definition

A University Teacher (lecturer/faculty) is responsible for delivering high-quality instruction across undergraduate and/or graduate programs, designing curriculum and assessments, supervising student research, and contributing to scholarly research and service. This role balances classroom teaching, academic and curricular development, student mentoring, research activity, and departmental service. Ideal candidates demonstrate excellence in pedagogy, evidence of scholarly output or professional practice, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, students, and external partners.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Teaching Assistant / Graduate Instructor with proven instructional effectiveness.
Postdoctoral Researcher with teaching experience and scholarly publications.
Adjunct Lecturer / Part-time Instructor demonstrating strong course evaluations.
Industry or professional practitioner transitioning into academia.

Advancement To:

Senior Lecturer / Principal Lecturer
Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor (tenure-track progression)
Program Director, Department Chair, or Dean
Research Director or Head of Center for Teaching & Learning

Lateral Moves:

Instructional Designer or Director of Online Education
Academic Advisor / Student Success Coordinator
Research Scientist in an affiliated research institute

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and deliver engaging undergraduate and/or graduate courses using evidence-based pedagogical practices; create clear syllabi, learning outcomes, lecture materials, assignments, and rubrics that align with program competencies and accreditation standards.
Prepare and present lectures, seminars, labs, and seminars that foster critical thinking, discipline-specific knowledge, and student engagement across diverse learner populations.
Assess and evaluate student learning through formative and summative assessments, provide timely and constructive feedback, and maintain accurate grade records in accordance with institutional policies.
Supervise and mentor undergraduate capstone projects, master's theses, and doctoral dissertations — guide research design, methodology, analysis, and ethical conduct of research.
Conduct original scholarly research or creative work in a relevant field, publish results in peer-reviewed journals, books, or professional outlets, and present findings at national and international conferences.
Develop, write, and submit competitive research proposals and grant applications to secure external funding; manage awarded grants including budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements.
Integrate technology and instructional tools (e.g., LMS such as Canvas/Blackboard, online assessment platforms, interactive tools, virtual labs) to enhance learning and support hybrid or fully online course delivery.
Participate in curriculum review and program development initiatives including course sequencing, program learning outcomes, and development of new degree or certificate programs.
Provide academic advising and career mentoring to students, supporting course selection, academic progress, professional development, and postgraduate opportunities.
Recruit, train, and supervise teaching assistants, lab technicians, and adjunct instructors; develop training materials, evaluation procedures, and oversight protocols.
Ensure academic integrity and enforce institutional policies on plagiarism, grading standards, and classroom conduct; adjudicate student conduct issues within policy frameworks.
Collaborate with colleagues across departments to develop interdisciplinary courses, joint research projects, and cross-listed programs that increase institutional and student engagement.
Contribute to departmental and university governance by serving on committees related to curriculum, hiring, tenure and promotion, assessment, diversity and inclusion, and faculty development.
Engage in community outreach, industry partnerships, and public scholarship to promote the program, attract students/funding, and translate research into practical impact.
Design and deliver continuing education, professional development, and executive education courses for nontraditional students and working professionals.
Implement inclusive teaching practices and course materials that support diverse learners, accommodate accessibility needs, and promote equity in the classroom.
Monitor and evaluate program learning outcomes and accreditation requirements; compile assessment evidence and lead or contribute to accreditation self-studies and external review processes.
Maintain professional development through workshops, pedagogical training, certification in teaching technologies, and engagement with the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Manage laboratory and classroom resources, order equipment and materials, implement safety procedures, and ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory safety standards.
Prepare annual reports on teaching load, scholarly activity, service contributions, and professional achievements for performance reviews, promotion, and tenure dossiers.
Mentor junior faculty and adjuncts on teaching strategies, research pathways, publication strategies, and grant-writing best practices.
Participate in student recruitment and retention efforts, open days, information sessions, and orientation activities to build program pipelines.
Lead or support departmental fundraising, alumni relations, and donor-engagement activities that support scholarships, labs, and program growth.
Maintain updated knowledge of disciplinary advances and pedagogical innovations to continuously improve curriculum relevance and learning outcomes.

Secondary Functions

Serve on institutional committees for assessment, curriculum, hiring, tenure, ethics, or research integrity as requested by department leadership.
Collaborate with instructional designers and e-learning teams to convert face-to-face courses to high-quality online or blended formats.
Provide expert consultation to external partners, regional schools, industry stakeholders, and government bodies on discipline-specific issues.
Represent the department at conferences, consortia, and professional organization meetings to build networks and partnerships.
Contribute subject-matter expertise to marketing materials, program descriptions, and recruitment content (web pages, brochures, social media).
Act as a liaison for accreditation site visits, prepare documentation, and respond to accreditation findings.
Support student clubs, honor societies, and extracurricular learning experiences that reinforce academic and professional skills.
Assist in designing assessment instruments, institutional research studies, and teaching effectiveness initiatives.
Provide short-term coverage for colleagues’ classes, workshops, or departmental events as operational needs dictate.
Facilitate workshops and seminars for faculty on inclusive teaching, assessment design, and use of educational technology.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design and learning outcomes mapping aligned to accreditation and program standards.
Proficiency with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle — course creation, gradebooks, and analytics.
Experience designing and delivering online/hybrid courses, using best practices for remote instruction and student engagement.
Research design and methodology (qualitative and/or quantitative), including experience with statistical software (R, SPSS, Stata) or qualitative analysis tools (NVivo, ATLAS.ti).
Grant-writing and external funding procurement, budget management, and grant reporting experience.
Scholarly publishing skills — peer-review process, manuscript preparation, and experience with journal selection.
Assessment development and student learning evaluation, including rubrics, program-level assessment, and learning analytics.
Laboratory management and safety compliance (for lab-based disciplines), including equipment procurement and SOP development.
Use of educational technology and instructional tools (video capture, polling systems, LMS-integrated tools, adaptive learning platforms).
Supervision of student research projects, thesis committees, and mentoring of junior researchers.

Soft Skills

Excellent oral and written communication tailored to diverse audiences (students, peers, administrators, external partners).
Strong mentoring and coaching skills with a demonstrable record of student success and scholarly supervision.
Collaborative team player with experience working in cross-disciplinary and multicultural academic environments.
Time management and organizational skills to balance teaching, research, service, and administrative responsibilities.
Leadership and initiative in curriculum innovation, program development, and academic program improvement.
Cultural competency and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive pedagogy.
Critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude for academic, administrative, and research challenges.
Resilience and adaptability to evolving institutional priorities, online modalities, and funding landscapes.
Conflict resolution and student guidance skills for advising, academic difficulty, and conduct matters.
Attention to detail for assessment accuracy, regulatory compliance, and research integrity.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master's degree in a relevant discipline is typically required for lecturer roles and many teaching-focused positions.

Preferred Education:

Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or other terminal degree) or equivalent professional terminal degree in the discipline — preferred for tenure-track and research-active positions.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Discipline-specific fields (e.g., Biology, Computer Science, English, Business, Engineering, Mathematics, Psychology)
Education, Higher Education Administration, Curriculum & Instruction
Interdisciplinary studies relevant to program offerings (e.g., Data Science, Environmental Studies)
Fields supporting professional practice for applied programs (e.g., Nursing, Law, Social Work)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–10+ years of relevant experience depending on rank (adjunct/lecturer vs. senior/tenure-track). Entry-level lecturer roles: 2–4 years; tenure-track: postdoctoral or early-career research + teaching experience.

Preferred:

3–7+ years of university-level teaching experience and evidence of effective pedagogy (course evaluations, teaching portfolio).
Demonstrated record of scholarly activity (peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations) and/or successful professional practice.
Experience supervising student research (thesis/dissertation) and prior involvement in curriculum development, accreditation, or grant-funded projects.
Prior experience with online course delivery, LMS design, and instructional technology integration is highly desirable.