Professor of Education

• School of Education and Tertiary Access | UniSC Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs or UniSC Moreton Bay, Petrie
• Academic Level E, $224,480 p.a., plus up to 17% employer superannuation
• Full-time, fixed term appointment until July 2031

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to join a university where your influence will be visible, valued and far-reaching. As Professor of Education, you will play a defining role in shaping the future direction of education at UniSC, contributing to a high-performing and collaborative academic community that is ambitious in its goals and deeply connected to the communities it serves.

Unlike larger institutions, where leadership can be dispersed across extensive structures, UniSC offers the opportunity to work within a close-knit School where relationships matter, decisions are made with agility, and outstanding academics have the ability to directly influence strategy, culture, research performance and educational innovation.

Working closely with the Dean and senior colleagues, you will provide research leadership, strengthen academic capability, mentor the next generation of researchers and educators, and build partnerships that deliver meaningful impact across education, industry and the wider community. Through your leadership, you will help position UniSC at the forefront of contemporary educational research and practice while supporting future-ready graduates who make a difference in the world.

Why UniSC?

At UniSC, you'll join a university that combines the ambition and impact of a rapidly growing institution with the collegiality and accessibility of a smaller academic community. Our size is one of our strengths. It enables genuine collaboration across disciplines, close connections between leaders and academics, and opportunities to see the direct impact of your work on students, colleagues and the broader community.

As part of the School of Education and Tertiary Access, you'll work alongside a passionate, high-performing team that values scholarship, innovation, inclusion and mutual support. It's an environment where talented academics can do their best work while contributing to something bigger than themselves.

In this role you will:

• Provide strategic academic leadership that strengthens the School's research capability, learning and teaching excellence, academic culture and future direction.
• Lead an internationally recognised research program, developing ambitious research agendas, securing competitive external funding, producing high-quality outputs and translating research into meaningful social, cultural, economic and educational impact.
• Build research capability and academic talent, mentoring Early and Mid-Career Researchers, supporting Higher Degree by Research candidates and developing collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams.
• Champion excellence and innovation in learning and teaching, providing scholarly leadership in curriculum and program development, contemporary pedagogy, assessment and student success.
• Build influential partnerships across regional, national and international networks, creating opportunities for research collaboration, educational innovation, professional engagement and broader community impact.
• Contribute to School and University leadership, governance and strategic decision-making, helping build a high-performing, collegial and inclusive academic culture.

This is a rare opportunity to join a university with an ambitious vision for education and research and to make a lasting contribution to students, the profession and the communities UniSC serves.

For more information on the School of Education and Tertiary Access, please visit us online: School of Education and Tertiary Access

Relocation support

We welcome applications from outstanding candidates across Australia and internationally and offer relocation assistance to support a smooth transition.

Choosing UniSC means choosing more than a career opportunity. It means joining a region renowned for its exceptional quality of life. Whether based at our Sunshine Coast campus in Sippy Downs or our Moreton Bay campus in Petrie, you'll enjoy access to world-class beaches, national parks, vibrant local communities, excellent schools, and an enviable outdoor lifestyle, all within easy reach of Brisbane and international travel connections.

Many of our staff are drawn to UniSC by the unique combination of professional opportunity and lifestyle balance, and stay because they become part of a welcoming, connected and collaborative community.

About you

You are a respected and influential academic leader who combines scholarly excellence with a genuine commitment to people, partnerships and purpose. Recognised for your research achievements and thought leadership, you have a track record of building capability in others, fostering collaborative research cultures and creating meaningful impact through education.

You are energised by the opportunity to contribute within a university where your leadership will be highly visible and where you can help shape strategic direction, develop future academic talent and strengthen the University's reputation nationally and internationally.

To excel in this role, you will bring:

• A doctoral qualification in a relevant field, together with extensive experience as an academic leader and a record of significant contribution to the development of your discipline.
• International academic standing, with an established reputation and recognised contribution to education and your discipline at national and international levels.
• A distinguished research profile, demonstrated through sustained high-quality research, significant research outputs, competitive external funding, research impact and a strong record of Higher Degree by Research supervision.
• Research leadership and capability building, with the ability to lead research programs and teams, mentor Early and Mid-Career Researchers, strengthen research culture and develop research capability across the School.
• Excellence and leadership in learning and teaching, including a strong record of innovative curriculum and program development, contemporary teaching practice and demonstrable influence on educational practice and student success.
• Strategic academic leadership, with the ability to contribute to School and University strategy, governance and decision-making, while fostering a high-performing, inclusive and collegial academic culture.
• A strong record of engagement and partnership, with the ability to establish and sustain productive regional, national and international relationships that enhance research, learning and teaching, and deliver meaningful outcomes for the University and wider community.
• Vision for the future of education, with the capacity to translate research, teaching and professional expertise into meaningful impact, strengthen strategic partnerships and help shape future-ready graduates.

Don't meet every requirement? At UniSC, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our position description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at *************@usc.edu.au or call +61 7 5430 2830.

How to apply

All applications must be lodged through our website. To apply please visit our website at: Careers at UniSC

Position description:  494762_Professor in Education.pdf

Applications for this position close midnight, Monday 14 September 2026.

Your completed application must include:

• Resume;

• A cover letter of no more than one page, outlining the skills, knowledge, experience and qualities you would bring to the role and UniSC; and
• A response to the key selection criteria, demonstrating how your experience and achievements align with the requirements of the position (to be responded to within the online application form).

Further information regarding how to prepare your application is available on our website: Join our team

Have questions or want to know more? For a confidential discussion, please contact:

Professor Kate Williams
Dean, School of Education and Tertiary Access 
Phone: 07 5456 3***
Email: ********@usc.edu.au

We would love the opportunity to get to know you better, but we know it works both ways. To get to know a little more about us, visit us at: Welcome to UniSC and LinkedIn Life

UniSC values a diverse and talented workforce and invites applications from candidates who already have legal work rights in Australia.

UniSC does not accept unsolicited applications. For agency inquiries, contact *************@usc.edu.au

Discover UniSC

At UniSC, we're proving that size doesn't define impact. As one of Australia's fastest-growing universities, we've built a reputation for combining academic excellence, meaningful research and strong community connection. Our success is driven by talented people who value collaboration over hierarchy, ambition over bureaucracy, and the opportunity to make a genuine difference.

What sets UniSC apart is the way we work. Here, you'll be part of a connected academic community where relationships matter, ideas are welcomed, and exceptional people have the opportunity to influence outcomes, lead change and see the impact of their contribution.

We are committed to delivering high-quality research and teaching that address major global and regional challenges, with established and emerging strengths in sustainability, environmental systems, biodiversity, aquaculture, preventative health and regional resilience. Our research excellence is internationally recognised through strong performance in global benchmarking, including leading rankings in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for “Zero Hunger,” “Climate Action” and “Life on Land.” UniSC is also recognised for its teaching excellence, with a strong emphasis on student success, innovative and engaging learning experiences, and strong graduate outcomes that equip learners to make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields. As the only university operating within three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, UniSC is uniquely positioned to leverage its natural environment to advance impactful research, teaching and partnerships that support sustainable futures, with sustainability embedded across all aspects of our teaching, research and operations.

We foster a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages continuous professional development and provides the tools and resources to grow your career. We value the contributions of every team member and the role they play in our culture and success. We’re not afraid to do things differently, and we’re looking for people who share our values and want to be part of a team working together to make a meaningful difference to local and global challenges.

Our Culture & Benefits:

• Our collaborative, passionate and welcoming culture is what really sets us apart.
• Modern teaching & research facilities.
• Professional development and career pathway opportunities.
• We are a proud recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze Award, granted as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative.
• Flexible work arrangements & generous leave options.
• Salary packaging options + 17% Super.
• EAP, fitness passport & discounted private health.