Campus Location: North Sydney, Australia | Brisbane, Australia | Melbourne, Australia
Job No: APTAV101331#081
- Lead a multi-campus faculty at Australia's leading Catholic university preparing the health workforce of the future
- Full-time, fixed-term (5 year) appointment
- Based at ACU's Melbourne, North Sydney or Brisbane campus
About ACU:
As one of the top ten Catholic universities worldwide, ACU is clear about its Catholic identity and mission within the Catholic intellectual tradition. Central to this is ACU's commitment to truly student-centred education; research that is impactful, engaging, and responsive to society's rapidly changing needs; and a strong, vibrant, and sustainable university culture.
ACU is a young university making a significant impact. Ranked in the top 100 young universities globally and a leader in employability with 95 per cent of graduates employed, the university has seven campuses across Australia, with its global reach complemented by ACU Online, more than 200 partner universities, and its campus in Rome, Italy.
About the Position:
The Faculty of Health Sciences teaches and researches across nursing, midwifery, paramedicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, social work, exercise science, nutrition, biomedical science and public health. It is organised into three schools: Allied Health; Behavioural and Health Sciences; and Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine.
The faculty's research is internationally recognised. ACU ranks first worldwide for research quality in psychology (Times Higher Education), in the top 15 for nursing and 17th for sport science (Shanghai Ranking). It also has strengths in cardiovascular disease and metabolism, health services research, recovery and rehabilitation, and mental health.
Reporting to the Provost, the Executive Dean provides academic leadership and operational management and chairs the faculty board. The faculty's leadership team includes a Deputy Dean, an Associate Dean Learning, Teaching and Professional Experiences, and an Associate Dean Research.
Key responsibilities include setting goals in line with the ACU Strategic Plan and Innovation Strategy, course development and review, and academic governance consistent with TEQSA and the Higher Education Standards Framework. The Executive Dean also drives new approaches to professional experience and clinical placements and, working with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), builds on this research record.
Externally, the Executive Dean leads the university's relationships with Catholic hospitals and other health industry partners, and with Catholic universities around the world. Internally, the role manages the faculty budget, develops new revenue sources and builds a caring community among staff and students.
The Successful Candidate:
The successful candidate will bring:
- A PhD in a health sciences discipline and a record of impact in teaching and learning, research, professional practice and community engagement Knowledge of the Catholic health sector and its governance;
- A strong grasp of the Australian tertiary sector, with the ability to interpret policy and academic regulation and to influence policy development;
- Proven ability to lead change in a large, complex organisation;
- Demonstrated success converting opportunities into new research and education outcomes, including course and program design;
- Sound financial management, including budgets and the deployment of people and resources;
- Experience building partnerships and commercial agreements in Australia and internationally.
Most importantly, the new Executive Dean will demonstrate a genuine commitment to ACU's mission and values, and the confidence to connect the faculty's work to them.
Devereaux Consulting is supporting ACU with the search for the university's next Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences. For a confidential conversation or to request further information, please contact Dr Jackie Besley, Managing Partner, Devereaux Consulting on +61 413 633 195 or email ExecDeanHealth@devereauxconsulting.com.
The closing date for applications is: Monday 9 November 2026.
ACU is not accepting applications through this recruitment portal.