Department Chair, Education / Professor of Education

• Chair, Department of Education role within Swinburne University of Technology
• Full time position at our Hawthorn campus
• Attractive salary and benefits with flexible working options

About the Role 
The Chair, Department of Education will be a charismatic and established professor with demonstrated  achievements in academia.  Furthermore, the incumbent will have astounding leadership skills that can successfully create a department culture that is collegial, motivated and competitive.   In this role, the Chair will be responsible for the academic leadership and operational management of the Department which is within the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education. Reporting to the Dean of School, the Chair will work collaboratively with other Department Chairs, Associate Deans, Centre Directors, and other teams within the University and Swinburne Online to develop and implement strategies aligned with the University’s vision of ‘People and technology working together to build a better world’. Positions reporting to the Department Chair are the Deputy Chair of Department and academic staff within the Department.

In addition to the above, the Department Chair will:

• Create a department culture that is collaborative, collegial and competitive.
• Build, maintain and deepen ongoing relationships with external stakeholders to enhance the development and delivery of educational activities, market competitiveness and reputation.
• Lead the strategic development and management of the Department’s academic offerings
• Seek out and foster new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships among disciplines, departments, research centres and with external entities. 
• Create an environment that encourages innovation and excellence in teaching and learning to ensure quality education courses.
• Provide support in representing the University and School in external engagement and research activities relevant to the Department, School, and related areas.  
• Support the creation of an innovation ecosystem throughout the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education, contributing to the development of a rich culture of innovation in teaching and research through discipline groups.
• Work with the Directors of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programs and maintain oversight of Course Directors and Discipline Leaders. 
• Effectively manage and balance workloads and departmental objectives in line with University strategic plans and timelines

About You  

To be suitable for this role, the incumbent will have: 

• A demonstrated profile as an outstanding professor and leader in the field of teacher education and the ability to lead across broader discipline areas within the School. 
• A demonstrated ability to both lead and be an effective team contributor for the development of new course offerings in teacher education and to lead and manage staff to deliver innovative course design in multidisciplinary settings. 
• A thorough understanding of the tertiary education sector in Australia, including international activities, and trends in leadership and management of contemporary universities in a rapidly changing and competitive environment. 
• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to liaise with a wide variety of academics and professional staff, and work within a consultative, team environment in multi-disciplinary contexts. 
• The ability to liaise and contribute positively to the discipline landscape nationally with senior external figures across industry and government
• A doctoral qualification in a discipline relevant to the Department.

About Swinburne University of Technology 

Swinburne Horizon 2025 draws upon our understanding of future challenges. With this new strategic plan, 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, and proud of it. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research, so that:

• Every Swinburne learner gets a work experience
• Every Swinburne graduate gets a job
• Every Swinburne partner gets a tech solution
• Swinburne is the prototype of global best practice

The achievement of our 2025 moon shots depends on our capacity to work collectively, always, as One Swinburne.

About the Department of Education
The Department of Education is a unique and progressive department that engages with education’s most pressing questions and challenges. Our innovative initial teacher education programs in early childhood, primary and secondary education create outstanding educators. Through our research and teaching we explore the role of education systems, educators, children and young people in shaping equitable and remarkable futures.

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To Apply
Please submit your CV and detailed cover letter addressing your suitability.  

For further information about this role and to review the position description, please click apply at the bottom of the page or contact Eve at [email protected]  

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 Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on [email protected]  

Applications Close: October 10th,  at 11:00 PM

Swinburne offers flexible working options, leave and parenting/carer policies to support work life balance.

Equity and Diversity
Swinburne is a large and culturally diverse organisation and we are proud of our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion through key initiatives.  For further information on all our initiatives visit our Equity & Diversity website.

We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

We are committed to making the recruitment process fair and equitable for all our candidates. If you have specific accessibility or support requirements please contact Maree Norden, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at [email protected]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We welcome and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  

For any support please contact our Aboriginal Employment Coordinator at [email protected] or for more information on our Indigenous strategies please follow the link to our RAP Reconciliation Action Plan.

We are a 2022 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.

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