Academic Director - Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences

Australian Research Council; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Research Council in Canberra seeks an Academic Director for Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences to lead strategic priority areas, strengthen partnerships with universities, and ensure alignment of funding programs with research practice.

Reporting to the CEO, you will guide governance, recruit and advise College of Experts, and collaborate across ARC staff to deliver outcomes that advance Australia's research impact.

Qualifications

• Australian citizenship is required.
• Strong leadership and governance experience in engineering or information sciences.
• Experience with ARC or research funding programs is desirable.
• Ability to engage with national stakeholders and universities.
• Must undergo pre-employment screening and security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead ARC priorities and strategic projects as directed by the CEO.
• Advise the senior leadership team on research matters and policy development.
• Coordinate with universities and national stakeholders to align programs with practice.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector governance

Policy development

Research administration

Strategic thinking

Tools

Grant management

Job description

Academic Director - Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences

Australian Research Council – Canberra ACT

Could the Australian Research Council be right for you?

Academic Directors are part of the ARC’s senior leadership team. They bring their inter-disciplinary, sector and research administration and management expertise to provide high-level advice that supports program delivery, policy development and implementation, and other strategic and operational priorities. Academic Directors work collaboratively within the ARC to drive agendas set by the ARC Board and CEO and to ensure the ARC’s approach to research funding, evaluation and policy matters are aligned with the research system.

Their role is to enable strong relationships between the ARC, its university partners and the broader research sector. They facilitate collaboration and understanding between the research community and the ARC. The role provides an opportunity to gain insights into federal government, and the ARC’s operations and its contributions to the research sector.

The key duties of the position include:

The Opportunity

The ARC is seeking to recruit an Academic Director (Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences) to build strong relationships with the university sector, engineering, information and computing sciences research communities and national stakeholders, and help ensure ARC programs are informed by contemporary research practice and perspectives.

The Academic Director (Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences) reports to the ARC’s CEO. Their main responsibilities include:

Projects and Priorities

• Lead or contribute to ARC priorities and strategic projects as directed by the CEO, ensuring engineering, information and computing sciences perspectives shape project design and implementation.
• Provide advice to the senior leadership team and broader agency on research matters, sharing insights into emerging cross-disciplinary developments, and innovative approaches to research and research administration and management.
• Participate in hybrid working groups to support collaboration and ensure sector expertise is embedded in priority projects for the ARC, including:
  • Providing sector-specific advice on relevant policy, programs, ICT (especially research management systems), communication or strategic topics/projects.
  • Participating in relevant governance discussions to inform prioritisation and investment.
  • Attending the Strategic Leadership Group as required, to contribute to strategic discussions.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the ARC in external engagements, including consultations, roundtables, peak body engagements and national events ensuring communication is consistent with ARC priorities.
• Strengthen the ARC’s internal capability in understanding and engaging with the research sector, including facilitating opportunities for ARC staff to undertake outreach and build networks within the research sector.

Program Delivery

• Work closely with ARC staff on ARC grant programs, including:
  • Ensuring appropriate academic expertise underpins ARC peer review. This includes supporting recruitment and operation of the College of Experts, providing recommendations for selection panel membership, and assignment of assessors as required.
  • Providing input as an advisor for specific NCGP schemes, such as round budgeting, scheme documentation, and complex technical pre - and post-award matters, including eligibility, project variations and reporting, consistent with ARC legislation and the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles.

Our ideal candidate

The Academic Director (Engineering, Information and Computing Sciences) role sits within the Australian Public Service and the candidate must exhibit impartiality, be committed, accountable, respectful, and ethical. Our ideal candidate will demonstrate well-developed leadership and management skills, as well as an ability to work as a team and deliver on the ARC Board and CEO’s priorities.

A strong candidate will bring:

• Deep experience in engineering, information and computing sciences research leadership, policy or governance.
• Strong relationships with engineering, information and computing sciences researchers, communities and/or organisations.
• A candidate must be able to demonstrate a distinguished history of accomplishment at a national and/or international level, and research leadership and management in their field.
• Personal drive and integrity are essential, as is the ability to lead, contribute strategically, achieve outcomes, cultivate effective working relationships, and communicate with influence.

Suitable backgrounds include universities, private sector research leadership, and public sector research leadership.

Eligibility

• Must be an Australian citizen
• Undergo pre-employment screening
• Must obtain or be able to obtain a Commonwealth Security Clearance Baseline Level

Getting to know the Australian Research Council

The ARC is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (ARC Act). It is located within the Australian Government’s Education portfolio and reports to the Minister for Education. The ARC is a vital component of Australia’s innovation and research system. It plays an integral role in supporting the research sector to produce excellent and impactful research for Australia’s economic, social, environmental and cultural benefit through the delivery of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). The NCGP funds excellent pure basic, strategic basic and applied research in all disciplines except medical research. The ARC’s broader remit includes the provision of high-quality research policy advice to the Australian Government and supporting research security and integrity. It also includes promoting ethical research, evaluating the excellence, impact and depth of Australian research and expanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems. It also facilitates partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community.