Key Responsibilities

• Teaching: Deliver practical, project-based courses in 3D animation covering polygon modelling, UV unwrapping, texturing, basic rigging, lighting, and rendering using Autodesk Maya.
• Curriculum Development: Design and update course materials, syllabi, and assessment rubrics that align with industry standards and local context.
• Student Supervision: Guide students through project development, critiques, technical troubleshooting, and portfolio preparation.
• Assessment: Evaluate student work and provide clear, constructive technical feedback that supports learning outcomes.
• Production Pipeline Oversight: Teach and demonstrate the end-to-end 3D production pipeline from modelling to final render and presentation outputs.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Integrate 2D animation and motion graphics concepts into 3D workflows and collaborate with colleagues across film, sound, and game design.
• Industry Engagement: Foster links with industry partners, support internships, and, where appropriate, contribute to commercial or community-facing production projects.
• Academic Service: Participate in departmental meetings, student recruitment, outreach, and quality assurance activities.

Required Qualifications

• Degree: A PhD in Animation or a Master’s degree in Animation, Digital Media, or a closely related field.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrable proficiency in Autodesk Maya, including polygon modelling, UV unwrapping, texturing, basic rigging, lighting, and rendering.
• Teaching Experience: Experience teaching or tutoring 3D animation or related subjects, with evidence of practical, hands-on course delivery.
• Production Knowledge: Clear understanding of the 3D production pipeline and basic rendering workflows and presentation outputs.
• Assessment Skills: Ability to assess student work and provide actionable technical feedback.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Industry Experience: Professional or studio experience in animation, motion graphics, or related production environments.
• 2D Background: Background in 2D animation and motion graphics with the ability to relate 3D concepts to 2D workflows.
• Software Breadth: Familiarity with complementary tools (e.g., Substance Painter, Arnold/RenderMan/Redshift, After Effects, Unreal Engine) is an advantage.
• Research and Supervision: Experience supervising undergraduate or postgraduate projects and contributing to applied research or creative practice.
• Contextual Awareness: Experience working in African higher-education contexts or with local creative industries.

Skills and Competencies

• Technical: Strong understanding of 3D modelling principles, clean topology, and efficient workflows.
• Pedagogical: Ability to design practical assignments and scaffold learning from introductory to intermediate levels.
• Problem Solving: Aptitude for diagnosing technical issues and guiding students through solutions.
• Collaboration: Team player who can work across disciplines and with external partners.
• Student-Centred: Commitment to inclusive teaching practices and mentorship.

Teaching Load and Assessment Expectations

• Teaching Load: Typically, 3 courses per semester, including lectures, labs, and supervision of practical projects.
• Assessment: Mix of project-based assessments, portfolios, presentations, and written reflections.
• Professional Development: Expectation to engage in continuous professional development and to contribute to departmental training workshops.