Director, Disability Research Centre — Lead National Impact

La Trobe; Australia; Remote; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts for staff and their family

Job summary

La Trobe University invites applications for the Director, Summer Disability Research Centre, a strategic partnership with The Summer Foundation. This fixed-term, full‑time appointment leads a national program of disability research.

The Director will shape the Centre's research agenda, secure funding, build a multidisciplinary team and ensure findings inform policy, practice and systems change for people with disability with high support needs.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent qualification in psychology, public health, social sciences, rehabilitation or disability studies.
• Distinguished research record at Associate Professor/Professor level or equivalent with high-impact publications and funding.
• Strong track record translating research into policy, practice or systems change in disability, housing or health sectors.
• Experience providing strategic leadership to a research centre or large program, including staff leadership and performance management.
• Proven success building partnerships with government agencies, disability organisations and lived-experience groups.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and inclusive research practices.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to supervise HDR students and develop research capability.
• Discounts for staff and their family to La Trobe courses.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Centre's research agenda and strategic direction.
• Secure competitive and philanthropic funding for the Centre.
• Build a high-performing, multidisciplinary research team and translate findings into policy and practice.
• Foster collaboration with The Summer Foundation and national/international partners.
• Champion co-design and inclusive research with people with lived experience.
• Engage with stakeholders to translate evidence into policy reform and systems change.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Policy translation

Equity and inclusion

Research collaboration

Team leadership

HDR supervision

Education

PhD or equivalent in psychology/public health/social sciences/research disability studies

Associate Professor/Professor level or equivalent

Job description

La Trobe University invites applications for the Director, Summer Disability Research Centre, a strategic partnership with The Summer Foundation. This fixed-term, full‑time appointment leads a national program of disability research.

The Director will shape the Centre's research agenda, secure funding, build a multidisciplinary team and ensure findings inform policy, practice and systems change for people with disability with high support needs.