Senior Lecturer - Graduate Director for Our Future Oceans

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best
  

This Job is based in Australia

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best
  

The Graduate Director is responsible for leading the development and implementation of an integrated researcher development program at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Our Future Oceans. This program spans five universities: UNSW, ANU, The University of Tasmania, The University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland. The key participants in the researcher development program are PhD students and early to mid-career research associates. The program also extends to honours students and undergraduate students undertaking summer research projects as well as providing opportunities for ongoing mentoring and professional development opportunities for all Centre research staff.
The Centre’s integrated program of researcher development activities includes targeted training and workshops, creating mentoring opportunities and establishing linkages for cohorts of young researchers across the Centre, its partner organisations and beyond the university sector. The Graduate Director will ensure that students and postdoctoral researchers gain a world-class ‘value-added’ learning and development experience throughout the candidature or contract duration.

About The Role

• Level C - (161k – 185k) - plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Fixed Term – 3 years (with possible multi year extension based on performance and funding)
• Full-time (35 hours per week)

Specific Responsibilities For This Role Include

• Lead, develop and implement the Centre’s inter-disciplinary Researcher Development Program in Oceanography. This program includes fundamental scientific research and communication skills, professional development, mentoring and leadership opportunities and will involve all Centre researchers
• Provide advice and mentoring to students and early career researchers in the Centre of Excellence
• Design and develop learning activities and resources using a range of suitable approaches and learning environments for post-graduate students and early career researchers
• Maintain and develop links within the discipline industry and profession (e.g. contribute to professional development activities)
• Attract quality research students by nurturing and developing an interest and awareness of research in prospective students, research students and postdoctoral fellows
• Conceptualise, coordinate and run a suite of training and development opportunities for students and early career researchers including scientific winter schools, writing workshops, technical training sessions and sessions that address professional and personal development
• Establish a research performance culture that fosters and develops research students in order to maintain high PhD completion rates and employment opportunities
• Develop strategies to recruit and retain students and researchers from under-represented groups
• Work in collaboration with enrolling institutions to identify student internships and other work integrated learning opportunities for graduate students in the Centre
• Work collaboratively to identify and apply for additional funding that benefits the Centre of Excellence and the career progression of the Centre’s HDR and ECR cohorts
• Make a positive contribution by leading Centre meetings and seminars and be a member of Centre committees as required
• Make independent contributions to research that have a significant impact in their field of expertise and create a nationally recognised research track record.
• Undertake independent research in discipline or related area (as per the norms of the discipline), making an independent contribution through professional practice and expertise.
• Develop research groups in area of specialist expertise and research methods that are appropriate to the discipline.
• Attract peer recognition and establish research network/s (based on the norms of the discipline) at national level.
• Obtain research income from nationally competitive research grants (and/or research fellowships) and research end-users as a member or leader, at or above the level that is relevant to the discipline in leading universities.
• Mentor and guide students, groups, and colleagues; supervise HDRs to timely completion as primary supervisor; and contribute to HDR review panels.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values
• 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.

About The Successful Applicant

(Selection Criteria)

To Be Successful In This Role You Will Have

• A PhD in a related discipline, and/or relevant work experience.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated experience in providing mentorship and professional development for HDR students and early career researchers at scale
• A track record of collegial leadership and a capacity to build and maintain effective collaborative partnerships within and external to the Centre to achieve the mission and objectives of the Centre of Excellence
• Proven influencing and communication skills to work with and motivate diverse groups of people, both within and outside the University, to achieve agreed goals
• Experience implementing educational technologies and online delivery methods.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness and passion for educational excellence and fostering this in others.
• Demonstrated success in initiating curriculum development and improvement.
• Demonstrated experience with industry or work-integrated learning.
• Evidence of ability to support and inspire students from diverse backgrounds and support student equity diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Demonstrated track record in research with outcomes of high quality and high impact with clear evidence of the desire and ability to continually achieve research excellence as well as the capacity for research leadership.
• Experience in successfully recruiting and supervising high calibre students.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines and build effective relationships.
• Evidence of highly developed interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with the profession and industry and attract funding for learning and teaching initiatives. 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.

Applications close: October 29th, 2026

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.