UNSW - Dean Of Engineering

The University of New South Wales, Sydney (UNSW) invites inquiries, recommendations and applications for the position of Dean of UNSW Engineering. UNSW is a community of 60,000 students, 7,000 staff and seven faculties. Consistently placed within the top 50 world rankings, UNSW is a leading research and teaching-intensive university, known for its pioneering, innovative, and high-quality education with a global impact. Since its inception in 1947, UNSW has had a strong focus on technology and engineering, a heritage that continues today.

As the #1 engineering Faculty in Australia, and ranked in the top 25 globally, UNSW Engineering has been a major hub for engineering studies and research for more than 70 years. The Faculty offers the most comprehensive range of engineering degrees in the country, and its internationally renowned research programs have seen it become a world leader in quantum computing research.

UNSW Engineering comprises eight schools, as well as the Australian Graduate School of Engineering, covering 165+ specialisations. The Faculty’s academic portfolio covers biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering and telecommunications, mechanical and manufacturing engineering, minerals and energy resources engineering, photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering. UNSW Engineering fosters the highest number of female students of any engineering Faculty in Australia, while its graduates receive the highest starting salaries of any member universities of the Group of Eight Australia. With over 15,000 students and 900 permanent staff and over 1200 higher degree research students, the Faculty is central to UNSW’s identity as an institution, transforming lives through excellence in research, outstanding education, and a commitment to advancing a just society.

Harnessing the power of interdisciplinary thought and global leadership, the Faculty is also a host and participant in a number of world class interdisciplinary research centres and institutes focused on renewable energy, water research and environmental technologies, infrastructure, integrated transport, space engineering, defence capabilities, nanomedicine, advanced solid and liquid based electronics and optics, health engineering, hydrogen engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital grids, materials and manufacturing futures, future food systems, low carbon living, greenhouse gas technologies, advanced photovoltaics, micro and nanofabrication, macromolecular design, interactive cinema and carbon engineering and materials.

Located in Sydney, a global city recognised for its strengths in key industry sectors financial and professional services, information technology, health, education and research, the Faculty has strong connections into the surrounding ecosystem, with opportunities for more engagement in local digital and information communication technology, defence, environment, biomedicine and entertainment industries. The harbour city is where hundreds of multinational companies choose to run their Asia Pacific operations, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft. A home of start-ups and breakthrough innovations, Sydney launched Google Maps, ground-breaking quantum hacks, and the Atlassian Corporation, an Australian software company founded by two UNSW graduates, making them two of the nation’s most wealthy individuals.

UNSW Engineering has more than 300,000 alumni around the world in over 150 countries, and continues to have a very international student cohort. The Faculty delivers high quality education, at scale, through creating new and effective education methods including new technologies, with further room to adapt the education to equip engineering graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The Faculty’s pathway to becoming a world top 25 engineering school involved strategic partnering with industry, and an increase in the number and level of staff and students leading industry research. UNSW uses the term “industry” to include all impact partners, from early stage start-ups through to the world’s largest corporations, both Australian and international, as well as government at all levels, and not-for-profit agencies. Partners and projects range in size and duration, and staff and students are encouraged to commercialise ideas and establish new companies. Over the next five years, across the university and beyond, opportunities for new and continued cross-disciplinary collaborations abound. UNSW areas of current research strength include: biomedical sciences; water, climate, environment and sustainability; next generation materials and technologies; social policy, government and health policy; ICT, robotics and devices; law, business and economics; fundamental and enabling sciences; contemporary humanities and creative arts; and defence and security.

We invite candidates who can build upon the tradition of UNSW Engineering and further improve its position. The Dean is accountable for all aspects of strategic and managerial leadership within a large Faculty. The Dean will drive standards and improvements to student experiences, the Faculty’s research and enterprise and the relationship between these activities. Reporting to the Provost and as one of seven Deans within university’s senior academic community, the Dean works closely with this high performing group, exemplifying cross university collaboration and championing external and industrial engagement.

The Dean serves as a key representative of the university and Faculty community, connecting and articulating its social and economic contributions to local, state, national and global stakeholders, and setting a strategic agenda to build the Faculty as being both innovative and effective in response to the needs of society and industry.

The key to success in this appointment is an understanding of people and what excellent leadership looks like, as well as the importance of modelling exemplar leadership behaviour. Applicants must demonstrate a distinguished academic background in a discipline relevant to those represented in the Faculty, and personal standing that meets the requirements for appointment as full professor at a top research university. Importantly, candidates will bring a track record of leadership at a senior level, where you have established a vision and distinctive position in pursuit of academic excellence, in a context that has some similarities and relevance to the positioning and future of UNSW Engineering. The right candidate will also bring a strong ability to engage externally to the university and have the gravitas commensurate with the leader of Australia’s foremost Faculty of engineering.

Situated on the main UNSW campus at Kensington, seven kilometres from the Sydney CBD, and three kilometres from Sydney’s beaches, UNSW is enriched by the cultural diversity of the dynamic greater Sydney area, as well as the geographic advantages of the region and its proximity to Asia. Sydney was recently ranked in the top 10 best cities in the world in which to live and work, and for students.

One of the world’s outstanding public research universities, UNSW has a tradition of sustained innovation, focusing on areas critical to our future. From tackling the effects of climate change, creating new systems to support society’s most vulnerable, to developing lifesaving medical treatments and breakthrough technologies, UNSW has a strong foundation and the ambition and energy to do great things. We hope you will consider joining.

For further information including the position description, please click here: Dean of Engineering opportunity

To learn more and to apply

UNSW has engaged De Sailly Search to conduct a global search and manage the recruitment process. You are encouraged to register your confidential interest early in the process by contacting Dr Rosalind De Sailly and Jack Andrew-Kabilafkas via email to UNSWEng@desailly.com.au

Full applications should systematically address the skills and experience for the role, include a complete and detailed curriculum vitae and nominated referees, and indicate your motivation for the role. All applications must be submitted via email to UNSWEng@desailly.com.au

Applications close: 11:55 pm (Sydney time) on Tuesday 18 April, 2023

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.