Shape UNSW’s research strategy for the future
Play a pivotal role in driving the research agenda and enhancing our global reputation for excellence in research, innovation and enterprise.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise
UNSW is one of the world’s leading research and teaching-intensive universities, known for innovative, pioneering research and high-quality education with a global impact. Since our foundation in 1949, we've aimed to improve and transform lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to identifying areas where UNSW can have the greatest positive impact on society.
We’re embarking on a global search for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise. This position reports to the Vice-Chancellor & President, Professor Attila Brungs.
Ranked 19th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings, UNSW has an ambitious research agenda. The DVCR&E is responsible for overseeing and driving the strategic direction and excellence in research, innovation and enterprise initiatives for UNSW, shaping and advancing the University's research agenda and cultivating strategic partnerships to enhance UNSW’s research output.
As a senior academic and member of University Leadership Team, the DVC will shape UNSW's impact on global research. The role will be responsible for growing UNSW’s reputation as a leading university for research translation, communicating the wider economic and social benefits of our research in order to drive real-world change and positive societal impact. With disciplines ranging from climate change to quantum computing to building smarter cities to noncommunicable diseases, UNSW’s research output is broad and deep.
The DVC will build and sustain excellent relationships with industry and government to ensure the interests of the University are effectively promoted and supported, and develop initiatives with external partners, cultivating strategic alliances to support commercialisation, entrepreneurship and innovation. As the region’s leading start-up university, the DVC will lead UNSW’s innovation ecosystem in driving research, entrepreneurship and innovation with local and global impact.
The DVC will develop and Implement a distinctive recruitment and retention strategy to attract and retain world-leading researchers and high-quality postgraduate researchers to UNSW, including the UNSW Scientia Fellowship and the Strategic Hires & Retention Pathways (SHARP) program.
Message from the Vice-Chancellor
UNSW Sydney is proud to be a world-class university and a rich source of expertise. It is home to incredible people who are driven to make the world a better place. We exist for the public good and play a major role in seeking innovative solutions to the many challenges we face today and in the future, both locally and globally, creating positive societal impact.
We are searching for a Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise to drive research translation and knowledge exchange to achieve societal and economic impact, lead the facilitation of cutting-edge research initiatives, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research projects, foster and maintain collaborative relationships with industry, government, and community partners to enhance research opportunities and technology transfer initiatives.
As Deputy Vice-Chancellor at one of the top 20 universities globally we are recruiting for an exceptional leader responsible for leading and implementing UNSW’s strategy, providing leadership, management, and operational support to the division and working closely with members of the executive team to ensure the continued focus on outstanding research, translation and entrepreneurship at UNSW.
At UNSW the DVCs, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Provost, Vice-Presidents, Deans and members of the University Leadership Team, drive the vision, strategic planning, and resource management of the university. You will continue to develop the high-performance culture across the division, enabling world-class education and research as well overseeing the university’s academic operations and driving a culture of research excellence.
UNSW is a wonderful and supportive place to work and collaborate. If you feel you have the passion and commitment to help the faculties address inherent disadvantages in the health system, improve health care in Indigenous and rural communities, harness underused technology and be a part of a global community that improves health and helps people live better, we hope you’ll consider joining us.
Professor Attila Brungs
- Position description
- Terms
- How to apply
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The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Research and Enterprise is responsible for overseeing and driving the strategic direction and excellence in research, innovation, and enterprise initiatives for UNSW. The DVC will play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the university's research agenda and cultivating strategic partnerships to enhance the institution's research output and industry engagement.
As a senior academic position and a member of University Leadership Team, the DVC will shape UNSW's impact on the global research and industry collaboration. The role will be responsible for growing UNSW’s reputation as a leading university for industry engagement and translating and communicating the wider economic and social benefits of our research to society.
The DVC Research and Enterprise reports to the Vice-Chancellor and President and leads a team promoting a culture of research excellence and collaboration across UNSW.
Accountabilities
Specific accountabilities for this role include:
- Operate as a member of the University Leadership Team, contributing to decision-making and ensuring the effective management of the university.
- Provide strategic advice to the Vice-Chancellor and President, and where appropriate to the University Council, on all aspects of research and enterprise activity and planning across UNSW.
- Develop and implement UNSW’s research and enterprise strategy in alignment with university wide goals and industry trends.
- Work with the President of the Academic Board, Faculty Deans and Associate Deans on strategic and operational matters relating to research and enterprise.
- Drive research translation and knowledge exchange to achieve societal and economic impact.
- Lead the facilitation of cutting-edge research initiatives, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research projects.
- Take a leading role in the debate on matters relating to research and innovation in Australia, implementing strategies and support processes which ensure UNSW's reputation as a leading research-intensive university is continually enhanced.
- Oversee the effective management and administration of research funding, ensuring compliance with regulatory and funding bodies' requirements.
- Ensure the university maintains high standards of research integrity, ethics, and compliance with regulatory frameworks and government policies.
- Foster and maintain collaborative relationships with industry, government, and community partners to enhance research opportunities and technology transfer initiatives.
- Cultivate strategic alliances to support commercialisation efforts and foster entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Implement a distinctive recruitment and retention strategy that attracts and retains world-leading researchers and high-quality postgraduate researchers.
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Represent the University at a local, national, and international level and on boards and committees through interactions with Government, industry, and other major University stakeholders.
- Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Values in Action: Our Behaviours and the UNSW Code of Conduct.
- Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.
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Skills
- A distinguished academic background with a PhD or equivalent in a relevant field.
- Significant experience in senior academic or research leadership roles within a higher education or research institution.
- Proven success in driving research strategies, building partnerships, and fostering innovation.
- Excellent negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrated capacity to contribute to the university's agreed strategic direction.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal and people management skills.
- Strong influencing skills and the ability to consult widely to reach negotiated agreed outcomes.
- Significant senior level experience conducting, analysing and/or making decisions and recommendations.
- A demonstrated capacity to represent the University effectively in a variety of external settings through networking, partnership building and influencing skills.
- Extensive experience leading and maintaining international and national partnerships and collaborations.
- Demonstrated ability to make sound and balanced decisions on complex problems in the context of governance and/or regulatory requirements.
- High level communication skills with a highly developed capacity to liaise and consult with senior stakeholders and the ability to write and present reports and papers at an Executive and Council level.
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets and department financial performance.
- An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
- Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training
Pre-employment checks required for this position
- Verification of qualifications
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As places of great inspiration and innovation, Australian universities are crucial intellectual environments where knowledge is created, communicated and challenged. In partnership with government and business, academic research and technologies help to develop vital industries. In addition, Australian universities provide students with the skills to compete in increasingly global workplaces and are ourselves major employers.
Universities are key to Australia’s economic success. In 2018, Australian universities contributed $41 billion to the economy and supported a total of 259,100 full-time jobs. In addition, 1,426,594 students studied at Australia’s 39 universities in 2018. Of these, 71 per cent (or 1,014,027) were domestic students and the remaining 29 per cent (or 412,567) were international students. In the same year, 325,171 students completed their degrees.[1]
When it comes to world university rankings, Australia has a strong, proven track record. Across all global ranking systems, criteria and fields of study, Australia ranks highly for quality of education, student satisfaction and global reputation. The latest ranking shows more than eight Australian universities are ranked in the top 200 universities and almost two-thirds of Australia’s 39 universities are in the top 500.[2] In addition, Australia consistently ranks highly in the Universitas 21 Report – in 2020, it ranked ninth.[3]
Australian university students pursue a wide range of academic disciplines, from health and education to engineering and information technology. While the majority of students study full-time, others balance a part-time load with family or work responsibilities and, in the current environment, many combine on-campus and online study for maximum flexibility.
International education is Australia’s fourth-largest export and the largest services export industry. In 2019, the industry generated $40.3 billion in export income. The higher education sector contributed around 70 per cent (or $27.8 billion) of international education export income in 2019.[4]
The 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) national report, which provides information of the quality of research undertaken by Australian universities, assessed that more than 90 per cent of Australian university research was performing at, or above world standards in 2018.[5]
UNSW is a founding member of the Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, and the prestigious Universitas 21 international network. In world rankings Go8 universities are consistently the highest ranked in Australia. Seven of the Go8’s members are in the world’s top 100 universities and all Go8 members are ranked in the world’s top 150 universities: in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Times Higher Education Rankings (THES) and the QS World University Rankings (QS).[6]
[1] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[2] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[3] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[4] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[5] 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2018 report, produced by the Australian Research Council (ARC
[6] Group of Eight, Australia -
Sydney was recently ranked the sixth best city in the world to live and work in by Global Finance magazine. With world-famous beaches and a thriving arts, music and food scene full of cultural communities to immerse yourself in, our coastal city is not just a destination, but a life experience.
Coastal living
It’s easy to see why the sunshine and coastline of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs beaches attract so many visitors, and UNSW’s Kensington campus sits right next door. It’s less than 30 minutes from campus to Bondi by car or bus, or just 10 minutes to Coogee.
If the beach isn’t your thing, we’re five minutes from beautiful Centennial Park or a short stroll to Randwick’s buzzing shops, cafés and restaurants.
Expand your network
Sydney’s the financial capital of Australia, and our international city is home to many global firms, offering countless opportunities to gain experience, meet people and build your networks.
A city for students
Sydney was ranked as the eighth best student city in the world in the QS Best Student Cities Index 2022. Our large and inclusive student community benefits from Sydney’s unique blend of outdoor and metropolitan lifestyles. Sydney offers a diverse range of opportunities for employment after graduation.
Something for everyone
There’s always something to do in Sydney, whether you’re flying solo or you’re looking for something the whole family can enjoy. You can find the best swimming, snorkelling and surfing spots or watch a film at the local Randwick cinema – one of the cheapest in Sydney. Ride a bike around Centennial Park, stop for a picnic or enjoy an Aussie barbecue with new friends.
Sydney is also home to a number of incredible annual events, including Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas; the New Year’s Eve Fireworks (possibly the most famous fireworks display in the world), and Taste of Sydney – an annual festival celebrating food and culture.
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We will offer the successful candidate a salary package commensurate with the position responsibilities and the candidate’s skills, qualifications and experience.
All of our employees (excluding casuals) are entitled to receive 17% employer superannuation contributions. New employees are entitled to select their preferred superannuation fund or UniSuper, the industry fund for the Tertiary Education sector.
Our salary-sacrificing initiatives allow you to pay some or all of the offering before tax.
We also offer the option to salary package a fully maintained vehicle under a lease known as a novated lease. Car parking is available on campus with the ability to pay via fortnightly payroll salary sacrifice deductions.
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Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all required pre-employment or background checks. In addition, your ongoing employment is based upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements.
UNSW requires that all employees have eligible working rights within Australia. As one of Australia’s top employers, we understand that some candidates may benefit from support to relocate and join our university.
If you are offered a position at the university and are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the university may be able to assist with sponsorship arrangements. This includes obtaining the appropriate visa to allow you to work at UNSW.
The type of visa arrangement would depend on the length of your appointment at UNSW. Our external providers, Visa Lawyers Australia, will initially make that assessment of your application on behalf of UNSW and the UNSW Recruitment team will also guide you through this process.
We may also offer financial assistance to successful candidates who are required to move from their current residence in order to take an appointment at UNSW.
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UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. But what makes us different isn’t only what we do, it’s how we do it. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical and purposeful in all we do.
Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s why we come to campus each day.
We make it as easy as possible for our staff to have a rich and balanced life at work and home. As part of our approach to flexible working, we have introduced greater flexibility across location, hours, full-time equivalents, schedules and job sharing.
In terms of other benefits, we offer various types of leave, lifelong learning, discounts, entitlements, health and wellbeing support. Further information can be found on Jobs@UNSW.
If you wish to discuss this role further in confidence, please contact Mazin Almaimani at Perrett Laver via +61 2 8075 4605 or at mazin.almaimani@perrettlaver.com, consisting of an up-to-date CV and a cover letter/response to selection criteria.
For more information and to submit your application please visit the Perrett Laver website quoting reference number 7071.
Applications close Monday 19th February 2024 at midnight AEDT.
UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.
The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
