ADJUNCT LECTURER JOB DESCRIPTION

Adjunct Lecturer means part-time faculty member with full instructional accountability. The role owns the complete arc of a course section: designing or adapting materials to an approved syllabus, delivering lectures in face-to-face or online formats, and evaluating student performance against program standards. Across postsecondary and continuing education settings, this work is governed by institutional grade submission deadlines, learning management system compliance, and program-level accreditation requirements that vary by discipline. Where full-time faculty set curriculum direction, the Adjunct Lecturer executes it with practitioners' credibility.

As the Adjunct Lecturer, you deliver credit-bearing instruction within a defined course section, translating field expertise into measurable student learning outcomes that meet program and accreditation standards. The position typically operates within a department or school under the oversight of a program director or department chair, with a per-semester appointment scope covering course preparation, student assessment, and grade reporting.

Career Impact: Teaching as an Adjunct Lecturer in postsecondary education establishes a verifiable record of university-level instruction that strengthens candidacy for full-time faculty or curriculum development roles.

Business Impact: Students in credit-bearing or continuing education programs depend on this role to progress through their degree plans or professional certifications on schedule.

Growth Opportunity: Repeated appointments across multiple semesters build a teaching portfolio spanning course design, hybrid delivery, and adult learner assessment - skill sets that command value in both academic hiring and corporate L&D markets.

• Deliver course instruction in assigned sections, covering all scheduled sessions in face-to-face, online, or hybrid formats.
• Design and maintain course materials including syllabi, lecture content, assessments, and supplementary readings aligned to program objectives.
• Evaluate student work including assignments, projects, and examinations, returning grades within institutional deadlines.
• Monitor student academic progress and communicate concerns through program channels such as academic alert processes.
• Conduct office hours or scheduled consultation sessions to address individual student questions and learning needs.
• Coordinate with program directors and academic staff on subject delivery, curriculum reviews, and course requirements.
• Manage course administration within the institutional learning management system, including grade entry and attendance records.

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent combination of advanced coursework and professional credentials.
• 3 or more years of professional industry experience in the subject area being taught, with demonstrated applied expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to design instructional materials, including assessments and syllabi, aligned to defined learning outcomes.
• Experience delivering instruction to adult learners in face-to-face, online, or hybrid environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse student populations.
• Ability to manage concurrent academic responsibilities, including grading, attendance tracking, and grade submission by posted deadlines.

• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline, or active pursuit of one, particularly for graduate-level course assignments.
• Prior university or continuing education teaching experience of 2 or more years at the college level.
• Demonstrated familiarity with learning management systems used for course delivery and student communication.
• Active industry certifications or professional affiliations in the subject area that reflect current field practice.

• Course completion rate per section, measured against program cohort benchmarks.
• Grade submission compliance rate, tracking on-time delivery against institutional deadlines each semester.
• Student assessment pass rate per course, indicating alignment between instruction and program learning outcomes.
• Office hours utilization rate, reflecting availability and responsiveness to enrolled students.
• LMS engagement rate, measured by student access frequency relative to posted materials and deadlines.

• Base Salary Range: $3,000 to $5,500 per 3-credit course section per semester
• Bonus: Not typical for adjunct appointments; content development stipends may apply
• Equity: Not applicable
• Health Benefits: Generally not provided for part-time adjunct roles; varies by institution and credit load
• PTO: Not structured; schedule follows academic calendar
• Common Perks: Library access, institutional email, LMS credentials, professional development workshops

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment in this role is contingent on successful completion of a background check as required by institutional policy. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request during the application or employment process. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Embedded within Columbia University's graduate programmes, the Adjunct Lecturer for Storytelling with Data leads weekly class sessions and develops instructional materials that train students to communicate data-driven narratives across written, verbal, visual, and interactive modalities. Working closely with students through office hours and ongoing assessment, this role advances the University's mission of rigorous academic inquiry by equipping learners with applied skills in data visualization and strategic communication.

Core Functions

• Lead class lectures, instructional activities, and classroom discussions.
• Attend all class sessions (classes generally meet once per week for up to 2 hours).
• Prepare instructional materials, including the oversight of the course Canvas webpage (learning management system), weekly lecture presentations, supplementary class readings, etc.
• Monitor and address student concerns and inquiries.
• Evaluate, grade student work, and assessments.
• Conduct office hours.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate degree, with a preference for a doctorate, in a disciplinary area related to data science with a focus on data visualization, visual perception, and strategic communication.
• 10+ years of related professional experience, including 2+ years of university teaching experience, ideally at the graduate level.
• Proven ability to design and deliver compelling, data-driven narratives.
• Professional experience and demonstrated success in communicating data across multiple modalities, including written, verbal, visual, and interactive.
• Proficient in Tableau.

Reporting to the academic programme lead, the Adjunct Lecturer for Applied Artificial Intelligence conducts face-to-face and online lessons for part-time adult learners, covering software development, machine learning, and natural language processing. Partnering with students through coaching and project mentorship, this role shapes learner capability in AI and directly supports the institution's outcomes in industry-relevant technology education.

Primary Duties

• Conduct lessons (face-to-face and online) to part-time adult learners and carry out all relevant responsibilities related to the teaching role.
• Design, develop, and review course materials, as well as assessments.
• Develop student capabilities in project work, including e-learning and self-directed learning.
• Assess and evaluate student assignments and their academic performances.
• Coach and mentor students to support their learning.

Skills & Qualifications

• Relevant experience in Information Technology, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of industry experience in software development, machine learning, deep learning, or natural language processing.
• Relevant industry certifications, e.g., Nvidia Deep Learning Instructor or equivalent, will be an advantage.
• Familiar with at least one of the following: Android Studio, Nvidia RAPIDS, Nvidia NeMo, Pandas, NumPy, Scikit Learn, REST API, NodeJS, Web Development, Database Design, Object-Oriented Programming and Design, or Robotic Process Automation.
• A passion and genuine interest in sharing knowledge and interacting with people.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Sitting at the intersection of studio practice and academic instruction, the Adjunct Lecturer shapes a curriculum that explores traditional and non-traditional representations of place, landscape, and the urban site, including work spanning painting, installation, and mixed media. Operating across synchronous and asynchronous delivery on Microsoft Office Teams, this role supports a diverse student body in developing creative problem-solving skills and contributes to a programme that bridges painting and sculpture.

Duties

• Develop and teach to the objectives of the approved curriculum.
• Submit syllabi and other instructional materials promptly.
• Develop a hybrid teaching model incorporating both synchronous and asynchronous delivery appropriate to the course content.
• Maintain and deliver course content on Microsoft Office Teams for Educators.
• Maintain records of student academic progress and attendance, evaluate the level of achievement, and assign grades for the program.
• Maintain regular communication with students and, when appropriate, use the Academic Alert notification process.
• Assess student work in a timely manner and submit course grades by the posted deadline.
• Incorporate inclusive and effective teaching methods and infuse multicultural and diverse perspectives into the instructional process as appropriate.

Education & Experience

• Minimum Master's Degree in an appropriate area of Fine Arts or a related Master's Degree with 18 graduate hours in related art.
• 3 years of teaching experience.
• Evidence of teaching ability, curricular development, and scholarship.
• Able to model and cultivate open-minded inquiry, an appreciation for diverse perspectives, and creative problem-solving.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Sensitivity and ability to successfully interact with diverse populations.
• Ability to develop and maintain healthy and positive working relationships with students, staff, faculty, and administration.

A key member of the Digital Marketing Analytics programme team, the Adjunct Lecturer builds and delivers course content for a semester-long course, including developing materials, case studies, and PowerPoints grounded in social media and digital analytics. Collaborating across programme leadership and IT coordination, this role enables students to apply large data sets to real marketing decision-making and campaign evaluation in an online learning environment.

Functions

• Develop course materials, assignments, PowerPoints, and case studies based on the course description and syllabus.
• Work with the program director and IT coordinator to ensure the course meets all online development course requirements.
• Teach 3 credits per semester in Digital Marketing Analytics.
• Develop course content for an additional stipend, in addition to instructing the course.
• Integrate the core values of respect, compassion, integrity, justice, and service in all aspects of interaction.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Marketing, Data Analytics, Business Administration, or related field, PhD preferred.
• Demonstrated successful teaching experience at the college/university level, including the ability to teach in online formats.
• High level of competence in social media and digital analytics, including demonstrated knowledge of using large data sets to inform marketing decision-making and evaluate campaign effectiveness.
• In-depth and professional knowledge of the use.
• Understanding of data in social media and digital marketing.
• Experience using learning management systems, such as Blackboard.

The Adjunct Lecturer delivers instruction and curriculum development across Continuing Education and Training programmes in the School of Business, covering disciplines from Human Resources Management to Supply Chain and Logistics. Working with industry partners and academic teams, this role builds student capability through project-based learning and directly supports the school's mission of connecting professional practice with classroom outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct lectures, tutorials, and student consultations, which include supervision of projects.
• Enhance the quality of lesson design and delivery through appropriate teaching and learning strategies and methods for CET students.
• Prepare, develop, and/or review teaching and learning materials, which may include setting of assignments, assessments, and moderation of results.
• Inject and manage industry-based student projects.
• Adopt the use of IT resources for facilitation and communication where applicable.
• Attend team meetings on subject delivery and subject reviews.
• Carry out all relevant responsibilities related to the teaching role, such as invigilation, marking assignments, projects, tests, and examination papers, including systems entry of marks and attendance.

Required Qualifications

• At least 3 years of relevant industry experience in one or more of the following areas: Business Management, Human Resources Management & Development, Management Accounting and Cost Accounting, Problem Solving Skills & Techniques, Meetings/Incentives/Conventions/Exhibitions, Tourism Management, Supply Chain & Logistics Technology Application, Purchasing & Procurement, Operations & Quality Management, Transport & International Freight, Distribution Centre Management, Chemical Logistics & Cold Chain Management, Process/Productivity Improvements, Legal Communications, Legal Systems & Methods, and/or Law of Tort.
• Ability to establish collaborative links with industry partners and bring in industry-based student projects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Passionate about sharing knowledge with students.
• Possess sound planning, organising, and multi-tasking skills.
• A strong sense of commitment and responsibility for completing assigned duties on time.
• Prior teaching experience will be an advantage.