Lecturer, Communication Design

Unist; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% super

Salary packaging options

Hybrid work options

Staff discounts

Job summary

Swinburne University of Technology in Hawthorn, Melbourne, invites applications for a Lecturer in the Communication Design Department. This ongoing, full-time role combines teaching, curriculum development and active engagement with industry and research partners.

You will deliver lectures, tutorials and workshops across undergraduate and postgraduate programs on campus and online. A PhD in a relevant field is essential and a strong research profile is desirable.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant discipline is essential.
• Proven teaching experience in higher education.
• Strong curriculum development and student engagement skills.
• Active research and scholarship record.

Responsibilities

• Deliver lectures, tutorials and workshops across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
• Develop and update curriculum and assess student learning.
• Foster an inclusive learning environment and support student success.
• Build industry partnerships and contribute to research activities.

Skills

Tertiary teaching experience

Curriculum development

Communication and engagement

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Communication Design or related field

Tools

Figma

Job description

Organisation/Company SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Research Field Arts Communication sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 22 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Australia Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

• Shape creative minds. Make an impact.
• Full-time, ongoing position at our Hawthorn campus
• Academic Level B salary + 17% super and staff benefits

About the Role

Are you passionate about communication design and inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers? Join Swinburne and help shape engaging, contemporary learning experiences that connect design education with industry, research and emerging practice.

As Lecturer in the Communication Design Department, you’ll deliver engaging lectures, tutorials and workshops across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, both on campus and online. You’ll play an important role in developing curriculum, supporting student learning and creating an inclusive environment where students can explore ideas, build their skills and reach their potential.

We’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates with expertise in Motion Design, User Experience (UX)/Interaction Design, or a combination of these areas. However, we also welcome applications from talented educators and practitioners with expertise across other areas of Communication Design.

Alongside your teaching, you’ll contribute to the Department’s research profile through high-quality publications, collaborative research and opportunities to attract external funding. You’ll also build and maintain relationships with industry and professional partners, bringing real-world perspectives into the classroom and helping strengthen connections between design education, research and practice.

You’ll join the Department of Communication Design, which offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and is committed to delivering high-quality, personalised education. With a strong research culture spanning international collaboration, competitive grants and high-quality publications, the Department provides an exciting environment to contribute to teaching excellence and research impact.

This is an opportunity to bring your expertise, creativity and industry experience to a collaborative academic community that values innovative teaching, meaningful research and strong industry connections.

Areas of Expertise

We are particularly interested in strengthening our expertise in Motion Design and UX/Interaction Design. Candidates may bring expertise in one or both of these areas, although applications from other areas of Communication Design are also strongly encouraged.

Motion Design

• Visual storytelling, typography, composition, animation principles, editing and sound.
• Concept development, storyboarding, style frames, animatics, art direction and motion branding.
• 2D and 3D animation, including lighting, materials and rendering.
• VFX compositing and post-production techniques such as keying, rotoscoping, masking, tracking and matchmoving.
• Procedural animation, simulation or creative coding.
• Real-time animation, VFX or immersive experiences using platforms such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
• Creative and critical application of AI across concept development, asset generation, animation and post-production.
• Contemporary production workflows, including asset organisation, colour management and delivery across platforms.

UX / Interaction Design

• Human-centred and user experience design, including user research, information architecture, user journeys, interaction design, wireframing and usability testing.
• UI and interface design, including typography, layout, colour, responsive design and component design, with experience using tools such as Figma.
• End-to-end design and innovation processes, from research and project scoping through to prototyping, implementation, evaluation and optimisation.
• Ideation and creative conceptualisation, helping translate research insights into meaningful design outcomes.
• Design systems that support consistent and scalable digital products and experiences.
• Accessibility and inclusive design principles that support usable and equitable digital experiences.
• Creative and responsible application of AI across research, ideation, concept development and prototyping.
• Critical engagement with emerging technologies, including the ethical, social and professional implications of generative AI for design.

About You

You’re an engaging educator with a strong background in communication design (particularly in the areas of Motion Design, UX Interaction Design or both) and a genuine commitment to helping students succeed. You enjoy exploring new approaches to teaching, collaborating with colleagues and connecting academic learning with professional practice.

You’ll bring:

• Experience in tertiary teaching, with the ability to engage and inspire students through effective, relevant learning experiences.
• Strong teaching and curriculum development skills, including experience coordinating subjects and delivering teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programs in communication design.
• A strong portfolio of design work and relevant industry experience that brings contemporary professional practice into your teaching.
• A passion for innovative education, including blended and online learning, case studies and interactive approaches to learning.
• A commitment to research and scholarship, including experience using a range of research methods and contributing to quality research outputs.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, colleagues and external industry partners.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to contribute to the coordination and development of teaching teams.
• An interest in research funding and collaboration, including the ability to attract external research funding or contribute to funded research projects.
• Established or developing connections with industry and professional networks that can support industry engagement, collaborative projects and opportunities for students and graduates.

Qualifications

An earned doctoral qualification in the relevant discipline or a related field is essential.

It would be advantageous if candidates also held a teaching qualification and/or membership of an appropriate professional body, (particularly in the areas of Motion Design, UX Interaction Design or both).

About Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne’s strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

Our Ad Astra strategy is the cornerstone of Swinburne’s bold ambition to lead globally in technology-driven education and research. This strategy positions us to create transformative solutions, empower learners, and partner with industry to thrive in an ever-changing world.

What We Offer You!

• Work your way with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options and generous parental leave to support a balanced lifestyle.
• Exclusive staff discounts, including discounted Medibank health insurance, 50% off Swinburne courses and other partner offers.
• Swinburne offers 17% super and salary packaging options, including car leasing and extra super contributions.

Please note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail]

Applications Close: Sunday 22 November 2026, at 11.00pm

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

Swinburne is proud to be recognised as an AWEI Gold Employer, reflecting our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where LGBTQIA+ employees, students and communities can thrive.

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

We support applicants with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments can be requested at any stage of the recruitment process.
For reasonable adjustment requests - including accessible formats of the position description, application form, or other documents, please contact [e-mail] or call [phone]. Please note: this phone number is for disability and reasonable adjustment enquiries only. General enquiries about the role can also be emailed to [e-mail] .

Victoria’s Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes.

As a signatory to Victoria’s Commitment to Action , Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant.