Head of Department & Associate Dean, Mathematics and Geospatial Science

Overview:

• An opportunity now exists to join RMITs School of Science and be part of the leadership team contributing to the Schools academic and research performance strategy and growth

• Remuneration for Academic Level E ($219084) or Level D ($170080 - $187373) leadership allowance 17% Super

• This role will be attractive to candidates seeking to develop extend and apply their skills across leadership influencing and management leading an interdisciplinary academic team across Mathematics and Geospatial Science to deliver excellence across research and education activities. The appointee will work in partnership with the Dean of Science and the wider School Executive team and also a team of Deputy Department Heads within the Department

• 3-year Head of Department and Associate Dean appointment is underpinned by an ongoing Professor or Associate Professor role

About You

As Head of Department and Associate Dean Mathematics & Geospatial Science you will provide values-led academic and strategic leadership of research learning and teaching and engagement activities for the Department. The role will lead manage and develop academic staff within the Department and drive a rewarding and impactful experience for our students.

The new Department of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences has been founded from late January 2025. It is one of five departments in the School that collectively contribute to the Schools strategic vision that will deliver excellence in applied research and education engaging in strong impactful industry partnerships and producing skilled industry-ready graduates.

The new Department entails the combination of the former and separate Mathematical Sciences and Geospatial Sciences discipline. Its creation entails an important opportunity to maximise synergies and collaborations across our research education and engagement within the new team and more broadly within the wider School and College. In particular the new Department will benefit from an expanded leadership team including Deputy Heads who will lead on key Departmental activities and also contribute to a shared model of line management enabling effective support development and mentorship for the academic team.

The strategic plans for the School under the Departmental model will see increased devolution of decision-making and including budgetary control transfer into each Department. This is designed to provide Departments with more autonomy and enable them to make local decisions as well as enhance innovation in education research and engagement activities. This will place an emphasis on the leadership teams within each Department and the Head of Department especially in planning and delivery of areas for investment and delivery against agreed priorities and performance measures.

To be successful for this position you will have:

• Strong values-led leadership skills and capabilities; experience in leading and managing academic teams and projects in a collegiate environment to deliver strategic objectives and influence positive change.

• Established nationally- or internationally recognised/excellent research track record in a discipline relevant to the Departments activities with the demonstrated capacity and credibility to lead and promote excellent research in your field.

• Proven record of innovative teaching in a discipline directly relevant to the Departments teaching activities underpinned by a deep understanding of contemporary and applied learning and teaching theory.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of relevant industry and training priorities.

• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically and to act tactically based on organisational priorities and objectives.

• High-level interpersonal communication influencing and negotiating skills including the ability to consult network and build relationships within the organisation and externally.

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a collegiate environment and to develop and achieve shared goals and objectives and to negotiate agreed directions and outcomes.

Qualifications

Mandatory: PhD combined with knowledge and achievements that meet the professorial criteria.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children and National Police Check.

About the Department

The Department of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences is one of five departments in the School of Science (see also more details on the School and wider University within the associated Position Description document). The Departments stands as both the largest academic staff team in the School and of one if its kind in Australia. The School staff team is comprised of over 50 academic and research staff with over 70 students enrolled on associated higher degrees by research. In addition to leading both an undergraduate program in Surveying (BSc) and at postgraduate level (Masters of Analytics) the Department staff teach a portfolio of Majors and Minors across Mathematics Statistics and Geospatial Sciences subject areas within the Schools flagship Bachelor of Science program.

The Department teaching staff also play a critical role in specialist teaching of Mathematics and also Geospatial Science courses to students across the entire STEM undergraduate student body at RMIT and especially for degrees in Engineering. Teaching and learning across the degree programs and courses places strong emphasis on applied learning and practice including via embedding of industry-partnered- and work integrated- learning

Research in the Department extends across multiple disciplinary areas including applied mathematics statistics optimisation information-/cyber-security and data science (and related interdisciplinary fields) geodesy and satellite positioning Earth observation and remote sensing GIS mapping and application space weather and spatial computing. This research capability is applied in addressing many major global challenges and opportunities including across health and biomedicine sustainable development and regeneration in both natural and urban systems climate and environment resilience and adaptation and in information technology and safety as well as in business settings.

With the new Department now formed as part of the wider development within the School of Science the School is looking to appoint a new Head of Department to lead the team in developing and implementing a bold strategic vision for the new Department of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences which will be supported strongly by the School and STEM College as we continue to grow a vital research and educational strength and area within RMIT.

More details about the School of Science may be found at: submit your covering letter and Curriculum Vitae and a two-page (maximum) document addressing the Key Selection Criteria for this position by clicking on the Apply link at the top of this page.

For further information about this position please see the Position Description hyperlinked below or contact Aleks Besia Talent Senior Advisor via email

Position Description - Head of Department and Associate Dean Mathematics and Geospatial Science

Position Description - Associate Professor

Position Description - Professor

Please note if you are viewing this advert from an external site please click apply and you will be redirected to RMITs Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Applications Close: