Pūkenga/Pūkenga Matua | Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Criminology

• Do have a completed, or nearly completed, PhD in Criminology or cognate discipline?
• Have you got a passion for developing new curricula and research in areas of your expertise?
• Are you an outstanding scholar and innovative teacher with a focus on socially engaged research?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role 

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting one Pūkenga - Lecturer and one Pūkenga Matua - Senior Lecturer (equivalent to tenured assistant professor) in Criminology to join Te Kura Mahinga Tangata - School of Social and Cultural Studies on a permanent, full-time basis.

These permanent positions represent an exciting opportunity for an outstanding scholar to join the Institute of Criminology. The successful applicant must have a completed (or nearly completed) PhD in Criminology or a cognate discipline. They will demonstrate excellence in teaching, a developing research profile, and commitment to public engagement. 

Preferred commencement will be in January/February 2027. These roles are based at our Kelburn Campus.

Key responsibilities:

• Contributing to the development and delivery of courses in Criminology.
• Developing new curricula and research in areas of expertise. 
• Supervising MA and PhD research on a broad range of topics in Criminology.
• Contributing to hautūtanga/leadership, administrative roles, and engagement with the wider community. 
• Being part of an active, collegial team committed to equity and diversity, and supporting research and teaching that addresses issues relevant to Māori, Pasifika and minority people, and that engages mātauranga Māori and upholds our programme’s responsibilities to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will be a collaborative scholar-educator, committed to high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, who is developing an innovative independent research agenda.  

Key requirements:

• A completed (or soon to be completed) PhD in Criminology or a cognate discipline. 
• Some experience in teaching at a tertiary level or, in the case of Pūkenga Matua - Senior Lecturer, demonstrated evidence of successful teaching at tertiary level.
• A developing record or, in the case of Pūkenga Matua - Senior Lecturer, an established record of scholarly research, publications and a research agenda.
• Strong capacity to work as part of a collegial team.

We welcome applications from diverse areas of expertise within Criminology. Applicants should specify in their application which position they are applying for, Pūkenga - Lecturer or Pūkenga Matua - Senior Lecturer.

Role Descriptions: Click the below links to see further information, including salary details. 

Pūkenga – Lecturer

Pūkenga Matua - Senior Lecturer

If these links are not available, click 'apply' to view them on the University careers page. 

Close date for vacancy: 03 August 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Associate Professor Lynzi Armstrong (lynzi.armstrong@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter. Applicants who do not have residency or citizenship and require a visa to work at the University must clearly indicate their visa status in their application and understand that if they do not have a current, relevant visa, they will need to secure this independently.

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.