- 5-year leadership appointment and continuing professorial position
- Employment Type: Full time
- Remuneration: Competitive industry salary
- Location: Kensington Campus, New South Wales (Hybrid Flexible Working)
About us:
UNSW Law & Justice is a top-ranking faculty and a global leader in law and criminology education and research, setting the pace in Australia for over 50 years.
We ranked 13th globally for law in the 2023 QS World University Rankings and 24th in the Employer Reputation category by subject. UNSW climbed in the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, placing 20th worldwide for law. In the most recent round of research excellence rankings, UNSW received an ERA rating of 5 for law, the highest possible score.
We’re inspired by principles of law and justice and grounded in well-established legal skills. UNSW Law & Justice is committed to social justice and human rights, and to making a difference in this world.
UNSW School of Private and Commercial Law is home to world-leading experts in the areas of law that govern our commercial dealings and obligations to each other. In our teaching, research and policy-oriented work, we seek to engage critically with local and international laws.
We explore contracts and business transactions, property dealings, the conduct of corporations, financial institutions and trade organisations, the steps that need to be taken to avoid causing harm, and how to resolve personal and commercial disputes.
The school’s research is diverse, has intellectual depth and aims to make a real-world impact.
Why Your Role Matters:
As the Head of School you will exercise a special responsibility in providing leadership and in fostering excellence in research, teaching, professional activities and policy development within the School, within the Faculty, and across the UNSW community generally.
As Head of School you will demonstrate academic excellence, which may be evidenced by an outstanding contribution to research, teaching and the profession.
The Head of School sits within the Faculty and University leadership teams and plays a key role in providing the strategic direction and academic leadership to enhance the overall performance of research activity, quality of teaching and the student educational experience, and the enterprise culture of the School.
This role reports to the Faculty Dean and the academic staff of the School report to the Head of School.
Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities for this role include (but are not limited to):
Leadership Responsibilities
- Attract and retain high quality staff through recruitment, retention and development strategies and align to performance measures such as staff turnover and retention rates.
- Establish a culture that nurtures an interest and awareness of the needs of early career academics, and develop support systems to assist them achieve their career potential.
- Build the capability of staff through practices such as team building, coaching, mentoring, career development to lead and motivate academic and general staff to maximise performance.
Strategic Planning
- Work with the Dean and the Faculty Leadership Group to contribute to planning and implementation of policy and strategic directions of the Faculty.
- Lead, develop and implement the School’s priorities and plans for research, teaching and learning and community engagement consistent with University/Faculty strategic direction.
Student Education Experience and Teaching Performance
- Lead the design, development, delivery and assessment of teaching programs offered by the Faculty/School and ensure that the learning resources associated with the programs are consistent with University policy and procedures.
- Foster a culture of innovation and excellence in learning and teaching and monitor School performance via measures such as myExperience.
Research Performance
- Enhance the research profile of the School by supporting staff on the quality and quantity of research output and aligning to research performance measures.
- Work with the Director of Postgraduate Research to attract quality research students by nurturing and developing an interest and awareness of research in prospective students, research students and postdoctoral fellows.
Relationship Building
- Build and sustain excellent relationships with the profession, government, community leaders and alumni to ensure the interests of the School are effectively promoted.
- Lead, facilitate and develop cohesiveness and collegiality in the School and build teams which work co-operatively.
Operational Management
- Develop, implement and evaluate a comprehensive operational plan outlining the School’s academic and resource strategy and priorities that ensures that:
- University policies, codes and procedures are implemented within the School by establishing appropriate administrative and academic structures;
- Annual performance monitoring is undertaken consistent with the University’s quality management and improvement framework.
- Effectively and efficiently manage School resources and develop business measures to assess School performance against agreed objectives and provide regular reports to the Dean on the allocation of agreed resources to support teaching, enterprise, research and engagement.
Financial Performance
- Achieve the financial performance goals of the Faculty by effectively managing the School’s budget and financial resources and align to performance measures such as actual financial performance against budget allocation.
Skills and Experience
Specific skills and experience required for this role include (but are not limited to):
- An outstanding record of research in a discipline, which aligns with the research priority areas of the School. This is to be demonstrated by achievement through publications, funding, research supervison and leadership of research groups.
- An excellent record in university teaching in a relevant discipline, demonstrated by course deleivery and teaching, course/program development and Leadership.
- A substantial record of effective contribution and achievement in service and administration at school or faculty level, with demonstrated leadership.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to encourage staff to achieve their best and to have difficult conversations where necessary.
- Ability to effectively complement the School’s current expertise in research and teaching.
To learn more about this position, and view the comprehensive skills and criteria list, a copy of the Position Description can be found by clicking the ‘Apply’ link.
Benefits and Culture:
People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.
Our benefits include:
- Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
- Career development opportunities
- 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
- Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
- Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)
How to Apply:
Make each day matter with a meaningful career at UNSW.
Please upload a document outlining how your skills and experience match the skills and experience listed in the position description (up to 4 pages) and submit your application online before 9am on Thursday, 3rd August 2023 (Sydney, Australia time).
Get in Touch:
For questions relating to the role please contact:
Professor Andrew Lynch
Dean, UNSW Faculty of Law and Justice
For any questions regarding the recruitment process please contact:
Persa Tzakis
Please apply online – applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed above.
UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. 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.