Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism

Background

The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) was established by Act No. 34 of 2019. Located in Port Vila, its mission is to promote higher education and lifelong learning through academic and professional excellence, through training, teaching and learning in English and French, research and international cooperation.

The existing Bachelor of Tourism & Hospitality, delivered at NUV in partnership with the University of New Caledonia, the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès and Taylor’s University of Malaysia since 2018, has laid the groundwork for academic training in the field. However, evolving economic, changing environmental contexts, and policy development called for a locally designed, homegrown Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism that will better align with Vanuatu’s realities and leverages its unique cultural and ecological assets.

Purpose of the position

Coordinate the introduction of the new Bachelor, develop and deliver courses, teach, and conduct research in the field of Sustainable Tourism.

Position Summary

The National University of Vanuatu is seeking an experienced and dynamic academic to join our team as a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism. This is a leadership-focused role for an established scholar and educator who is looking for a new challenge. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction for and coordinate our sustainable tourism degree that launches in 2027, while also contributing to teaching, research and external engagement activities.

The successful candidate will play a leading role in the ongoing development of our Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism, ensuring the program remains innovative, stakeholder-relevant, and aligned with contemporary sustainability challenges. Expertise in sustainable tourism development and management within coastal and island destinations, or other environmentally and socially sensitive tourism contexts would be highly valued.

The role combines academic leadership, program management, curriculum innovation, teaching excellence, and research development. The workload allocation for this position is 40-50% teaching, 30-40% research, 15% Service /administration and 5% engagement and outreach. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues, students, industry partners, and other external stakeholders to strengthen the profile and impact of sustainable tourism education within NUV and beyond.

Key Responsibilities – Detailed Listing

Program Leadership and Academic Management

• Provide academic leadership and administrative coordination for our new Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism Degree which launches in 2027.
• Ensure that curricula reflect Vanuatu’s cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge systems, environmental priorities, community-based tourism models and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contexts.
• Lead future program review, curriculum design, and enhancement activities to ensure the degree remains academically rigorous, future-focused, and aligned with sector needs.
• Coordinate program delivery ensuring a high-quality student experience.
• Monitor program performance indicators and implement continuous improvement initiatives based on student feedback, graduate outcomes, industry needs and quality assurance reviews.
• Work with our team to lead student recruitment, retention, progression, and employability initiatives.
• Support and mentor new academic staff contributing to the sustainable tourism degree.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

Teaching and Student Experience

• Deliver outstanding teaching across the Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism.
• Lead the development of modules in areas such as sustainable tourism, destination management, tourism policy, tourism industry operations, climate resilience, regenerative tourism, and sustainability in the hospitality sector.
• Supervise undergraduate projects and industry placements.
• Develop experiential, field-based, and industry-engaged learning opportunities.
• Contribute to the enhancement of graduate outcomes and professional skills development.

Research and Scholarship

• Maintain and develop an internationally recognised research profile in sustainable tourism or a related field in tourism or hospitality.
• Produce high-quality research outputs and contribute to the University's research strategy.
• Lead or contribute to externally funded research projects and collaborative initiatives.
• Develop interdisciplinary research partnerships across the University and with external organisations.
• Disseminate research findings through peer reviewed publications, conference presentations, policy briefs and industry engagement activities.
• Produce research that contributes to sustainable tourism, informs policy, and supports climate resilience and community development in Vanuatu and the Pacific region.
• Support the development of research capacity among early-career colleagues.

External Engagement and Impact

• Develop partnerships with tourism organisations, government agencies, NGOs, destination management organisations, and international development donors.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange that translate academic research into practical outcomes for industry including communities and policy engagement activities
• Represent the University in professional, industry, and academic networks.
• Contribute to the University's internationalisation agenda, Pacific regional profile and external reputation.
• Promote NUV as a centre of excellence for sustainable tourism education and research in the Pacific.
• Develop a media and on-line profile that strengthens NUV’s broader visibility.

Academic Citizenship

• Contribute to departmental and NUV leadership activities.
• Participate in strategic planning and decision-making processes.
• Undertake administrative and leadership responsibilities commensurate with academic rank.
• Support equality, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability initiatives across the institution.

Critical Competencies

Academic Leadership

• Demonstrable experience of program leadership and curriculum development responsibilities in higher education.
• Experience leading quality assurance, program review, accreditation, or enhancement activities.
• Evidence of successful academic leadership and collaboration.

Teaching and Learning

• Proven record of excellence in teaching and student support within higher education.
• Experience designing and delivering innovative and inclusive curricula.
• Experience in working with industry professionals who can contribute to the teaching environment through class-room engagement or involvement in practical activities.
• Lead initiatives that enhance graduate employability through internships, industry projects, professional certifications, entrepreneurship opportunities and employer engagement.

Research

• Strong publication record that is appropriate to career stage.
• Evidence of securing, or significant contribution to securing, external research or consultancy funding.
• Demonstrated ability to develop applied research that can support national policy objectives and industry needs.

Strategic Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to establish and grow academic programs.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives within higher education.

Industry Engagement

• Strong professional networks within tourism, hospitality, conservation or sustainable development sectors.

Communication and Influence

• Ability to build collaborative relationships across government, industry, communities and international agencies.
• Proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders and influence policy and practice

Qualifications

• PhD in Tourism, Sustainable Development, Tourism Management, Geography, Hospitality Management, Environmental Studies, or a closely related discipline.
• Established expertise in sustainable tourism, destination management, tourism industry management or related fields.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and organisational capability.
• Commitment to student success and educational excellence.

Required Experience

• Expertise relating to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), island tourism, climate adaptation, blue economy initiatives, or tourism resilience.
• Experience leading international partnerships or transnational education initiatives.
• Experience in engaging with and securing funding from donor agencies.
• Experience working in/leading multidisciplinary academic teams.
• Experience engaging with tourism policy development or advisory activities at regional, national, or international levels.
• Experience working with community-based tourism enterprises
• Experience in Tourism planning, destination management or sustainable development projects within island environments
• Experience incorporating indigenous or local knowledge systems into higher education curricula

Language

An ability to deliver course content and communicate fluently in English and French or an adequate knowledge of the French language (written and spoken) with a strong commitment to mastering the French language at the proficiency level (An institutional learning support program is offered to all lecturers wishing to learn French or improve their communication skills.)

Equal Opportunity

The National University of Vanuatu is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. All employment decisions within the NUV programme must be based on merit and equal opportunity. The NUV programme is committed to ensuring fair, equal, and impartial treatment of all employees in all aspects of employment. The NUV programme is also committed to respecting gender balance in employment and providing employment opportunities for people with special needs. In carrying out its employment decisions, the NUV programme will not discriminate based on sex, religion, nationality, race, language or disability.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Annual salary range: 6.2 M – 6.5 M VT depending on qualifications and experience + 25% benefits

Full-time three-year local contract, with the possibility of extension depending on performance.

Need to meet the Republic of Vanuatu immigration requirements and commit to living and working in Port Vila "full time"

Contact Person

Potential applicants with specific questions are welcome to contact the human resources’ service at apply@univ.edu.vu

Application Procedures

The application must include the following:

• a cover letter providing a comprehensive description of the applicant's teaching, research, and academic leadership philosophy, and addresses the required and preferred qualifications, experience, skills, and competencies relevant to marine studies.
• A complete Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing educational qualifications, professional and academic experience, teaching experience, research achievements, publications, conference presentations, consultancy work, and grants or research funding secured…
• Certified copies of academic qualifications and official academic transcripts
• Contact details of three (3) professional referees who can comment on the applicant's academic, research, and professional capabilities
• NUV_ACADEMIC_APPLICATION_FORM

Please send your application documents in PDF format to apply@univ.edu.vu with the following subject line:

Application [YOUR NAME] NUV – Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism,