Lecturer in Water/Sustainability Engineering

Job Description

• 2 x Full-time, ongoing positions
• Based at Penrith campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Salary: Academic Level B $123,327 – $145,625 per annum, plus 17% Super and Leave Loading.

Two Lecturer roles: one in Water Engineering and one in Sustainability Engineering, teaching solutions to emerging sustainability challenges.

The Opportunity
You will join the School of Engineering to teach and contribute to scholarship and research across two distinct appointments: one position in Water Engineering and one position in Sustainability Engineering. Cross-disciplinary expertise, including the capability to teach into either area, is encouraged. Our program prepares students to design solutions to emerging sustainability challenges and to progress sustainable development goals.

You will coordinate, design, deliver and evaluate units, including assessment design, feedback practices and continuous improvement. In both positions, we are looking for expertise to steer the systems towards addressing major global challenges such as climate change, sustainable cities, circular economy, and NetZero. In Water Engineering position, your teaching will primarily support core water domains, such as water resources, water systems, groundwater, and water-sensitive urban design. In Sustainable Engineering, your teaching will primarily support waste/water processing/management, sustainability/circularity assessment, and sustainable design of products and services. Across both roles, your teaching will be informed and underpinned by research, supporting student progression into postgraduate study and research training.

You will develop an active research and scholarship profile, including publishing in high-quality outlets and progressing scholarship of teaching and learning where relevant. You will contribute to supervision of Honours and higher degree research students, attract and develop higher degree research candidates, and prepare and submit internal and external research grant proposals. You will build productive relationships with academic colleagues and with industry and professional stakeholders, and you will contribute to School, Faculty and University service through administration and participation in committees and meetings.

What Success Looks Like:

• Deliver high-quality units with clear assessment, feedback and student support.
• Strengthen curriculum in Water Engineering or Sustainability Engineering, aligned to discipline needs.
• Publish peer-reviewed research and maintain an active grant application pipeline.
• Supervise honours and higher degree research students and attract strong candidates.
• Build effective collaborations across the University and with external stakeholders.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• You hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Civil, Environmental or Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• You’re passionate about teaching and can demonstrate strong teaching and learning outcomes, supported by student, peer and/or supervisor feedback.
• You have an emerging or established research profile, with peer‑reviewed outputs that reflect your career stage and opportunity.
• You bring experience supervising Honours and/or higher degree research students.
• You have contributed to the development of successful research grant applications, either independently or as part of a team.

We encourage applicants with expertise in core discipline areas, such as water, groundwater, sustainable city, waste, wastewater, climate change, sustainability, and the circular economy.

Benefits
We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct to Professor Sathaa Arumugam Sathasivan, Head of Discipline, Sustainability Engineering via S.Sathasivan@westernsydney.edu.au. Please include the job reference code REF1280K. 
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Sunday 14 June 2026.
• Working Rights: You must provide evidence of full-time working rights in Australia at application.
• How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered. As part of your online application, you will be asked to respond to screening questions addressing the key qualifications, experiences and skills required for this position.

Belonging at Western
We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For Reasonable Adjustments during the application process, please contact talentacquisitionteam@westernsydney.edu.au.

About Western
This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.