Head of Department, Tourism and Marketing

Company Description

Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why.
Griffith was created to be a different type of university. You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education. But what sets us apart is why those things matter and how you’ll achieve them.

Why? Griffith brings together exceptional minds like yours from across the globe and from all walks of life. Here, we do incredible work, questioning and challenging, always in the pursuit of excellence.

Our Department of Tourism and Marketing combines the expertise of world-renowned academic staff to deliver an unmatched educational experience. Our internationally recognised degrees bring together industry-relevant content, cutting-edge research and strong partnerships.

We are recognized as Australia's top research institution in Marketing as well as Hospitality and Tourism (2026 Australian Research Magazine) and ranked 6th globally and 1st in Australia for Hospitality and Tourism in the ShanghaiRanking (GRAS), 2025.

In addition, scheduled to open in the not-too-distant future, our new location,  our heritage-listed Treasury Building in Brisbane’s CBD, represents an exciting, fresh chapter for the University and our students.

Job Description

As Head of Department, Tourism and Marketing, you will provide strategic leadership to a high-performing academic community renowned for its impact-driven research, industry partnerships and commitment to student success. Reporting to the Dean (Academic), you will shape the direction of the Department, driving excellence across teaching, research, external engagement and people leadership.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of two dynamic and globally connected disciplines. You will foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and academic excellence while leading strategic initiatives that enhance the Department's reputation, performance and contribution to Griffith University's vision.

Working closely with colleagues across the Griffith Business School and the wider University, you will champion high-quality learning experiences, support research growth and translation, strengthen industry and community partnerships, and ensure the effective stewardship of resources to achieve ambitious strategic goals.

About you
As a respected academic leader in a Marketing or Tourism (or related) discipline with a strong track record of fostering excellence in teaching, research and external engagement, you bring the strategic vision, leadership capability and collaborative approach needed to lead a diverse academic department and inspire high performance across people, programs and partnerships.

You are an effective relationship builder, able to engage confidently with colleagues, students, industry partners, professional bodies and the broader community. With experience leading complex teams and managing significant resources, you thrive in a dynamic environment and are passionate about creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.

To be successful in this role, you will possess:

• A doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline, or equivalent accreditation and standing
• Demonstrated leadership experience within higher education or a similarly complex organisation
• A strong record of achievement in learning and teaching, research and/or industry engagement
• Proven experience managing people, budgets and resources to achieve strategic objectives
• The ability to drive innovation, foster collaboration and lead organisational change
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills
• A commitment to academic excellence, integrity, equity, diversity and inclusion

Most importantly, you will be a values-led leader who can inspire others, champion continuous improvement and contribute to Griffith University's reputation as a leading institution for education, research and community impact.

What we can offer
This is a five year fixed-term senior contract primarily based Griffith University Brisbane South (Nathan) or Gold Coast. As Griffith is a multi-site university you may be required to work across other locations.

Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Salary Range
A competitive salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate

Additional Information

At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information, please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page.

Our University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive community for all. In alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (2025), Griffith University includes a declaration as part of the recruitment journey to uphold the values and standards of our community. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy.

Please submit your application online and ensure it includes the following:

• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role (please refer to the qualifications above and the position description)
• Current curriculum vitae/resume including full contact details
• Names and contact details of at least three professional referees (no contact will be made without your permission)

Visa sponsorship may be available to the successful candidate.

For further information specifically about this role, please contact Professor Martin Berka, Dean (Academic), Griffith Business School via [email protected]

For application and recruitment advice, please contact Kate Watson, Talent Acquisition Partner via [email protected]

Closing date: Wednesday 9th September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST. All applications must be submitted online.

Please allow at least 2 – 3 weeks from the closing date to expect an application update.