Lead a team that creates more human solutions
Join us as Dean of UNSW Engineering, Australia's #1 faculty of Engineering.
Dean of Engineering opportunity
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.
We are now seeking to appoint our next Dean of UNSW Engineering.
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.
Message from the Vice-Chancellor and President
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. We are a community of 60,000 students, 7,000 staff and seven faculties who embrace diversity of thought, integrity and innovation while connecting deeply to UNSW's purpose and mission. Our work impacts people’s lives around the world, actively addressing the challenges we face today - from climate change and renewable energies to biomedical engineering and lifesaving drugs. We help pave the way for a better tomorrow.
Renowned for our outstanding record in discovery-driven research and creating the engineering leaders of tomorrow, our Faculty of Engineering comprises eight schools. Our 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 is consistently ranked first in Australia in each of the major subject rankings. The faculty is at the forefront for engineering education and research and uniquely tasked with progressing many of Australia’s key priorities due to its unrivalled expertise. With a large student cohort and a dedicated academic workforce, 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.
Professor Attila Brungs
- Position description
- Terms
- How to apply
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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.
For further information, please download the full position description.
UNSW aspires to be the exemplar Australian university and employer of choice for people from diverse backgrounds. UNSW aims to ensure equality in recruitment, development, retention and promotion of staff, and that no-one is disadvantaged on the basis of their gender, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation or identity.
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- A distinguished record of strategic leadership in pursuit of academic excellenceThe capacity and vision to provide strategic leadership to the Faculty in the development and implementation of its mission, goals and objectives
- An appreciation of the values and roles of a comprehensive Top 50 teaching and research university operating in an international context
- An understanding of the complexities of the relationships between the university sector and the engineering sector and the capacity to interact effectively in this environment
- A commitment to the guiding principles and objectives outlined in UNSW’s 2025 Strategy and the ability to articulate these principles and objectives in a variety of settings
- The capacity to manage and implement successful change which encourages superior teaching, scholarship and innovation
- A demonstrable record of operating in a complex business model and applying sound business and commercial acumen characterised by fact-based decision making
- A demonstrated capacity to represent the University effectively in a variety of external settings through networking, partnership building and influencing skills
- Knowledge of and commitment to the principles and application of Equal Employment Opportunities, Anti-discrimination legislation and Occupational Health and Safety legislation in the workplace.
- 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
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As places of great inspiration and innovation, Australian universities are crucial intellectual environments where knowledge is created, communicated, and challenged. In partnership with government and business, academic research and technologies help to develop vital industries. In addition, Australian universities provide students with the skills to compete in increasingly global workplaces and are ourselves major employers.
Universities are key to Australia’s economic success. In 2018, Australian universities contributed $41 billion to the economy and supported a total of 259,100 full time jobs. In addition, 1,426,594 students studied at Australia’s 39 universities in 2018. Of these, 71 per cent (or 1,014,027) were domestic students and the remaining 29 per cent (or 412,567) were international students. In the same year, 325,171 students completed their degrees.[1]
When it comes to world university rankings, Australia has a strong, proven track record. Across all global ranking systems, criteria and fields of study, Australia ranks highly for quality of education, student satisfaction, and global reputation. The latest ranking shows more than eight Australian universities are ranked in the top 200 universities and almost two-thirds of Australia’s 39 universities are in the top 500.[2] In addition, Australia consistently ranks highly in the Universitas 21 Report – in 2020, it ranked ninth.[3]
Australian university students pursue a wide range of academic disciplines, from health and education to engineering and information technology. While the majority of students study full-time, others balance a part-time load with family or work responsibilities, and, in the current environment, many combine on-campus and online study for maximum flexibility.
International education is Australia’s fourth largest export and the largest services export industry. In 2019, the industry generated $40.3 billion in export income. The higher education sector contributed around 70 per cent (or $27.8 billion) of international education export income in 2019.[4]
The 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) national report, which provides information of the quality of research undertaken by Australian universities, assessed that over 90 per cent of Australian university research was performing at, or above world standards in 2018.[5]
UNSW is a founding member of the Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, and the prestigious Universitas 21 international network. In world rankings Go8 universities are consistently the highest ranked in Australia. Seven of the Go8’s members are in the world’s top 100 universities and all Go8 members are ranked in the world’s top 150 universities: in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Times Higher Education Rankings (THES) and the QS World University Rankings (QS).[6]
[1] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[2] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[3] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[4] 2020, Universities Australia 2020 Higher Education Facts and Figures
[5] 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2018 report, produced by the Australian Research Council (ARC
[6] Group of Eight, Australia -
Sydney was recently ranked the 6th best city in the world to live and work in by Global Finance magazine. With world-famous beaches and a thriving arts, music, and food scene full of cultural communities to immerse yourself in, our coastal city is not just a destination, but a life experience.
Coastal living
It’s easy to see why the sunshine and coastline of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs beaches attract so many visitors, and UNSW’s Kensington campus sits right next door. It’s less than 30 minutes from campus to Bondi by car or bus, or just 10 minutes to Coogee.
If the beach isn’t your thing, we’re 5 minutes from beautiful Centennial Park or a short stroll to Randwick’s buzzing shops, cafés and restaurants.
Expand your network
Sydney’s the financial capital of Australia, and our international city is home to many global firms and offers countless opportunities to gain experience, meet people and build your networks.
A city for students
Sydney was ranked as the 8th best student city in the world in the QS Best Student Cities Index 2022. Our large and inclusive student community benefits from Sydney’s unique blend of outdoor and metropolitan lifestyles. Sydney offers a diverse range of opportunities for employment after graduation.
Something for everyone
There’s always something to do in Sydney, whether you’re flying solo or you’re looking for something the whole family can enjoy. You can find the best swimming, snorkelling and surfing spots or watch a film at the local Randwick cinema – one of the cheapest in Sydney. Ride a bike around Centennial Park, stop for a picnic, or enjoy an Aussie BBQ with new friends.
Sydney is also home to a number of incredible annual events, including Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas, the New Year’s Eve Fireworks (possibly the most famous fireworks display in the world), and Taste of Sydney - an annual festival celebrating food and culture.
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The Dean of Engineering position is a five-year, full-time fixed-term appointment, based in Sydney, Australia.
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We will offer the successful candidate a salary package commensurate with the position responsibilities and the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience.
All of our employees (excluding casuals), are entitled to receive 17% employer superannuation contributions. New employees are entitled to select their preferred Superannuation fund or UniSuper, the industry fund for the Tertiary Education sector.
Our salary sacrificing initiatives allow you to pay some or all of the offering before tax. As a staff member you can enjoy priority access to four high-quality long day care centres - Early Years. This includes discounted fees paid through a salary sacrifice arrangement.
We also offer the option to salary package a fully maintained vehicle under a lease known as a novated lease. Car parking is also available on campus with the ability to pay via fortnightly payroll salary sacrifice deductions.
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Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all required pre-employment or background checks. In addition, your ongoing employment is based upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements.
UNSW requires that all employees have eligible working rights within Australia. As one of Australia’s top employers, we understand that some candidates may benefit from support to relocate and join our University.
If you are offered a position at the University and are not an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, the University may be able to assist with sponsorship arrangements. This includes obtaining the appropriate visa to allow you to work at UNSW.
The type of visa arrangement would depend on the length of your appointment at UNSW. Our external providers, Visa Lawyers Australia, will initially make that assessment of your application on behalf of UNSW and the UNSW Recruitment team will also guide you through this process.
We may also offer financial assistance to successful candidates who are required to move from their current residence in order to take an appointment at UNSW.
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UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. But what makes us different isn’t only what we do, it’s how we do it. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do.
Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s why we come to campus each day.
We make it as easy as possible for our staff to have a rich and balanced life at work and home. As part of our approach to flexible working, we have introduced greater flexibility across location, hours, full-time equivalents, schedules, and job sharing.
In terms of other benefits, we offer various types of leave, lifelong learning, discounts, entitlements, health and wellbeing support. Further information can be found on Jobs@UNSW.
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.
