Associate Professor & Head of Program Education

INSPIRED BY CURIOSITY. UNITED BY PURPOSE. COMMITTED TO YOU.

Vacancy Number: #380Position Title: Associate Professor & Head of Program Education Employment Type: Ongoing FTE / Hours: Full-Time – 1.0 (38 hours per week) Department: Arts, Education and Agritech (HE) Location: Preston Award / Agreement: Melbourne Polytechnic Academic and Professional Staff Agreement 2023 (PACCT) Classification Level: PACCT Academic Level D1 Salary Range: $147,173 per annum, plus superannuation Applications Close: Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Job Summary

Provide academic leadership and operational management of the Early Childhood and Primary Education programs, ensuring academic excellence, regulatory compliance and high-quality student outcomes.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Melbourne Polytechnic has delivered hands-on, future-focused education for more than 110 years. Our people play a vital role in supporting students, industries and communities across Victoria.

In This Role, You’ll Enjoy

Meaningful work that supports education, training, innovation and student successA supportive and collaborative team environmentFlexible work arrangements, where applicableExposure to diverse programs, systems and continuous improvement initiativesA values-driven organisation committed to inclusion, wellbeing and quality

About The Role

Reporting to the Manager Arts, Education and Agritech (HE), this role provides overall academic leadership for the Early Childhood and Primary Education disciplines and contributes to the academic leadership of the Higher Education Directorate.

You will provide operational and strategic management of the Education programs within the Department, ensuring ongoing TEQSA, VIT and ACECQA accreditation, compliance with policies, procedures and regulatory standards, quality assurance and efficient resource management. The role also actively participates in teaching and scholarly activity while contributing to institutional leadership and governance.

Reporting to the Manager Arts, Education and Agritech (HE), this position suits an experienced academic leader who is passionate about academic excellence, research, quality education and student success.

What You'll Do

Provide academic leadership in the development and delivery of high-quality lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshopsDrive academic excellence through curriculum design, review and continuous improvement, maintaining rigorous academic standards for the programProvide academic leadership in offshore or partnership program delivery, ensuring academic quality, compliance and strong partnerships where relevantDevelop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance student recruitment, engagement and retention, including contributing to promotional activities and reviewing marketing materialsStrengthen the institute's research profile by securing research funding, publishing in high-impact journals, leading research teams and supporting early career academics in their scholarship outputsEstablish and maintain professional networks and partnerships with industry, government and community organisations to enhance the reputation and impact of the disciplineProvide strategic leadership for the operational management of the Education programs, including academic staffing, student admissions, enrolments, academic progress, scheduling, timetabling, academic advising and academic quality processesChair governance, academic and operational committees and contribute to institutional planning, policy development and Higher Education governanceOversee benchmarking activities and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance academic quality and student outcomesContribute to and support institutional projects and initiatives as required

Essential

What You'll Bring

A PhD (or equivalent scholarly standing) in a relevant disciplineDemonstrated academic leadership, including success in mentoring staff, managing academic teams and driving strategic program developmentAn established record of excellence in teaching, curriculum innovation and fostering a student-centred learning environmentExtensive experience in course and program leadership, including curriculum development, accreditation processes and quality assurance within Higher EducationDemonstrated capacity to establish and lead collaborative research projects, attract external research funding and publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journalsSignificant engagement with industry, professional bodies and external stakeholders to enhance student employability, research impact and institutional reputationProven experience securing and maintaining TEQSA, VIT and ACECQA accreditation and compliance for Higher Education programsDemonstrated commitment to Occupational Health and Safety, Anti-Discrimination, Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

Desirable

Demonstrated experience contributing to institutional governance, strategic planning and policy developmentExperience leading offshore or partnership program delivery

Qualifications & Mandatory Checks

Appointment to this position is subject to meeting the qualification requirements (where applicable) and the successful completion of all mandatory employment checks.

Qualifications

To be considered for this role, applicants must hold relevant qualifications and/or equivalent experience aligned to the requirements of the role, as outlined in the Position Description.

Mandatory Checks

You Must Hold, Or Be Eligible To Obtain

A valid Victorian Working with Children Check (Employee)A National Police CheckAny other role-specific employment, regulatory or safety checks required for the position

How To Apply

Click Apply to submit your application through Melbourne Polytechnic’s careers portal. You will be able to view the full Position Description and upload your documents online.

Please Ensure You

Complete all pre-screening questionsUpload your CV and a brief cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how your skills and experience align with the role

File Requirements

Maximum file size: 2MB per documentPreferred format: PDF (Word .doc or .docx accepted)Avoid special characters in file names (e.g. ! @ # % *)

What Happens Next

Our selection process may include:

An interview (in person or via Microsoft Teams)Reference checksEmployment and qualification verification

We aim to provide a respectful and timely recruitment experience for all applicants.

Questions?

For further information, please contact the Recruitment Team via recruitment@melbournepolytechnic.edu.au

Diversity and Inclusion

Melbourne Polytechnic is an equal opportunity and child-safe employer. We value the knowledge, skills and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and strongly encourage applications from First Nations candidates. We also welcome applications from people with disability, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women in underrepresented areas, and people of all genders, gender identities, sexual orientations and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Recruitment Agencies

Melbourne Polytechnic manages all recruitment directly. We do not accept unsolicited applications from agencies unless engaged through the State Purchasing Contract and with prior written approval.