• Outstanding leadership opportunity at a leading university of science, technology and innovation
• Competitive remuneration package including 17% superannuation
• Full-time, 4 years fixed-term position, based at the Hawthorn campus

Swinburne has an international reputation for research excellence, innovation and impact through active research engagement with industry, business and the community. Our commitment to high-quality teaching and research is reflected in our rankings in a number of prestigious world academic rankings.

Commencing in 1 January 2017, the university will host the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav), for a seven-year term.  The Centre is a collaboration between researchers and end-users that aims to use the historic first detections of gravitational waves to understand the extreme physics of black holes and warped space time and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers via this new window on the universe. The Centre will provide experimental validation of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and involve the use of billion-dollar pieces of experimental apparatus such as Advanced LIGO and the Square Kilometre Array.

An opportunity for a Chief Operating Officer – OzGrav has arisen and will be based with the Centre in the Faculty of Science Engineering and Technology, and will coordinate the strategic, operational, financial, logistic and administrative activities of the Centre across all its locations.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role you must have gained substantial experience in research management and administration. Other key requirements will include:

• Highly developed problem solving and analytical skills demonstrated by the ability to establish and implement new policies, procedures and initiatives.
• Demonstrated substantial budget management skills and experience, including the ability to develop and monitor complex budgets, provide financial models and understand and interpret financial reports.
• Demonstrated high level written and oral communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise and negotiate effectively with a diverse range of people, including scientists, university administrators and the general public.

A full list of the selection criteria is available in the position description for this position.

Benefits 

As a Swinburne staff member you will have access to many benefits such as career development opportunities including 50% study reduction and staff and management development programs.  You will receive up to 17% employer contributions (pension) and various voluntary salary packaging options.  Other discounts include annual Myki cards and private health insurance.  We also recognise the need to support the work/life balance and flexible needs of our staff.  As such a range of flexible working arrangements including negotiable removal expenses for Academic staff, paid maternity/partner leave, working from home and part time options are available. 

To find out more about the extensive benefits offered to Swinburne employees please visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/about/jobs/why-work-at-swinburne/

The diverse culture within Swinburne is our strength and our success lies within the inclusive working environment built of employees from a variety of backgrounds. Swinburne celebrates and respects the strength that difference creates. We acknowledge that diversity in the university workforce increases the effectiveness of teams and generally the capacity for innovation.  We welcome applications from Indigenous people; varying age workers; people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTIQ; and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised by the WGEA as the Employer of Choice of Gender Equality 2015, and of key initiatives such as Pride @ Swinburne Strategic Action Plan and Reconciliation Action Plan which are integral components of our 2020 vision – to become Australia’s leading university in Science, Technology and Innovation.

How to apply

To start an application, click on 'begin' at the bottom of the page and submit a resume, cover letter and response to the Key Selection Criteria, as listed in the Position Description.  Please do not email or send paper applications, all applications must be submitted online.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties submitting your application, please contact the Recruitment team on +61 3 9214 8600 (option 2).

For further information, please contact Tania Bezzobs, Executive Director (Research Office), on +61 39214 5268

Refer to position number: 32260.  Applications close: 5pm on 4 November 2016