Lead a team solving the globe's biggest challenges
Join us as Dean of UNSW Science, and shape the future for the greatest good.
Dean of Science opportunity
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.
We are now seeking to appoint our next Dean of UNSW Science.
Renowned for our outstanding record in discovery-driven research and creating the science leaders of tomorrow, our Faculty of Science comprises eight schools. Our academic portfolio covers: Aviation; Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Chemistry; Materials Science and Engineering; Mathematics and Statistics; Physics; and Psychology. With over 15,000 students and 600 academic staff, 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 Provost
From global pandemics and record-breaking climate-change-induced weather phenomena to cybersecurity challenges, mental-health crises and economic instability, our rapidly changing world has highlighted the vital role that science plays in our society.
At UNSW Sydney, we are searching for a new Dean of our globally recognised Faculty of Science - someone exceptional who can guide the world’s best researchers and inspire the world’s future leaders to help answer and respond to these wicked problems.
UNSW Science is home to globally recognised research centres and institutes that deliver outstanding and translational outcomes. UNSW Science students benefit from this broad and deep expertise coupled with a commitment to best practice education methods, delivered in an engaging and stimulating campus environment.
We are looking for a dynamic, committed and innovative leader who will motivate our team of world-leading researchers, award winning educators and talented professional staff within the faculty to re-imagine, shape and enhance our national and international reputation.
As Dean, you will provide strategic leadership to the faculty and drive the development, implementation and monitoring of the academic, research and engagement strategies in line with our Strategy 2025 and enjoy collaborating with a successful team of Deans from our other faculties across a ‘Top 50’ university.
What drives us at UNSW is our desire to make the world a better place by continually demonstrating our social and economic value. We aim to create an engaging place to collaborate and do our best work and we hope you’ll consider joining us.
If you feel you have the passion and drive to lead the faculty and the creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment to contribute to our ongoing success, we would love to hear from you.
Anne Simmons
- Position description
- Terms
- How to apply
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You will be accountable for all aspects of strategic and managerial leadership within your large Faculty. You'll drive standards and improvements to student experiences, our research and enterprise and the relationship between these activities. Reporting to the Provost and as one of seven Deans within our senior academic community, you'll work closely with this high performing group, exemplifying cross university collaboration and championing external and industrial engagement.
We invite candidates from the global higher education community who can demonstrate a distinguished academic background in a discipline relevant to those represented in the Faculty. 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. The Faculty of Science is a large infrastructure operation. The key to success is an understanding of people and what excellent leadership looks like, as well as the importance of modelling exemplar leadership behaviour.
UNSW has engaged Anderson Quigley in the UK to conduct a global search and manage the recruitment process. For contact details and full information on this outstanding academic leadership opportunity, please download the full position description.
Applications now closed.
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 excellence.
- The 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 major teaching and research university operating in an international context.
- An understanding of the complexities of the relationships between the university sector and the legal 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 Science 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.
Anderson Quigley in the UK is acting as an advisor to UNSW. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement. For Anderson Quigley the appointment is being managed by Ed Pritchard, Imogen Wilde and Virginia Livingstone.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence please contact virginia@andersonquigley.com or +44(0)20 3457 0948.
Applications should consist of:
- A full CV.
- A covering letter setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the skills and experience section of the position description.
- Please include the names and addresses of two referees. Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without prior permission from candidates.
Completed applications should be uploaded at https://andersonquigley.com/candidates using the reference AQ1385.
Applications now closed.
Recruitment timeline & process
Following the closing date, all applications will be assessed and reviewed by a university panel Chaired by the Provost. An initial longlist of candidates will be invited to an online preliminary interview conducted by Anderson Quigley during the weeks of 23rd May and 6th June.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial online interview Chaired by the Provost in late June. A final shortlist will be invited to Sydney for interviews the week of the 25th July.
Candidates are asked to note all dates and inform Anderson Quigley of any availability issues.
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2025 StrategyOur 2025 provides the framework for UNSW to advance our contribution to academic excellence, social justice, and global engagement, positioning UNSW as a valuable servant of our society.
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Annual ReportView our achievements, challenges and performance against key indicators in our Annual Report.
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Management BoardBy leveraging the expertise of our Management Board, we are able to improve teaching, learning, research and engagement.
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Faculty Leadership TeamUNSW's Senior leaders guide the University's work towards a set of ambitious goals, and are driven by academic excellence.
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Our campusesExplore our campuses across Sydney, Canberra and rural/regional NSW. Our community thrives on its diversity.
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PrecinctsUNSW Precincts aim to deliver initiatives of significant societal impact through developing collaborative spaces to drive development in healthcare, innovation, education and research.
