Employment Opportunities

The Catholic Theological Institute (CTI) in Port Moresby, Papua New
Guinea, is seeking an academic dean to take full responsibility for the
institution’s academic programmes. The Institute serves Catholic
seminarians studying Philosophy and Theology at the university level,
along with a few lay students. As one of the two primary administrators
on campus, the dean works alongside the president to maintain
institutional operations, balancing teaching and administrative needs
with long-term academic planning. The dean, who lives on campus, is a
visible presence, providing direct support for both faculty and students while ensuring the institution
meets changing regulatory demands. This position is offered as a 3-year contract.
Application deadline: Ideally, the incoming academic dean would begin in the academic term 3 of 2026,
which begins on 24 August. This will allow the incoming dean to overlap with the current academic dean.
We will also consider applicants who cannot start until later in 2026.

Primary responsibilities

Programme delivery
● Teach one course per term, coordinate comprehensive exams for graduating Theology students in
term 3, and advise research paper writers in Philosophy or Theology, according to specialty.
● Devise course distributions among available faculty and timetables for weekly class meetings;
assign each individual student to a set of courses each term to enable completion of their
programmes of study.
● Respond creatively to lecturer absences and scheduling conflicts.
● Manage the application of the academic honesty policy.
Administration duties
● Chair various committees within the shared governance structure and participate in weekly
administrative meetings.
● Oversee student record-keeping, confirm the accuracy of the work of the registrar and bursar, and
produce term reports for bishops, religious superiors, and benefactors (3 times per year). This
includes communicating with past students who need references.
● Manage ongoing communication and reporting to the Department of Higher Education (PNG)
and the University of Santo Tomas (Manila, Philippines).

Faculty & student support
● Orient new faculty, co-ordinate student feedback to faculty, and propose moderation of marks in
accordance with marking policies. Help inexperienced faculty develop particular teaching skills.

● Organise opening day, graduation, and internal/external guest lectures. Assist the president with
planning other special events as needed.
● Help recruit faculty, track potential future students in the seminary pipeline, and maintain records
of PNG seminarians studying abroad.
Institutional support
● Provide general support to library and IT staff and oversee campus operations (e.g., unlocking
classrooms and operating the generator) when necessary.
● Fill in for the president, especially regarding money, when he is not on campus.

Required skills and qualifications
● Academic qualifications: Expertise to teach and to advise research at bachelor’s level in
Philosophy or Theology. Master’s degree in Philosophy or some branch of Catholic Theology
required, with teaching experience; Licentiate or Doctorate with teaching experience preferred.
● Commitment to seminarians’ vocational discernment and to maintaining high expectations.
● Reliability: Roughly 130 students and 20 faculty depend on you for the academic programme to
run. If you don’t do something (or delegate it and oversee the delegation), it won’t get done.
● Administrative diligence: A high level of accuracy in record-keeping and the ability and patience
to audit the work of the registrar and some of the bursar’s work. Basic competence with Excel.
● Adaptability and prioritisation skills: The ability to manage unexpected practical challenges in a
small institution in a developing country while maintaining stamina and a collegial atmosphere,
including the ability to admit your own failures and move on without getting discouraged.
● Communication: Proficiency in drafting formal reports for ecclesiastical and governmental
accreditors. Cleverness in navigating multi-lingual environments, where English is the standard
but accents and English competence vary widely.

Salary & benefits
Transportation to and from the country at the beginning and end of contract, on-campus housing and
utilities, use of shared vehicles, and sufficient remuneration in local currency to live comfortably, even if
cooking for yourself.