Principal Research Fellow

Principal Research Fellow - Evidence Lead

Join to apply for the Principal Research Fellow - Evidence Lead role at Swinburne University of Technology

Principal Research Fellow - Evidence Lead

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Join to apply for the Principal Research Fellow - Evidence Lead role at Swinburne University of Technology

• Full-time, fixed-term position until 30 June 2028 at our Hawthorn campus. Part-time options may be available.
• Academic Level D salary + 17% super and staff benefits

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced academic leader specialising in disability employment to join the Centre for Inclusive Employment within the School of Business Law and Entrepreneurship. The Principal Research Fellow – Evidence Lead is a senior role and is responsible for ensuring that the Centre builds, synthesises and translates evidence about 'what works' so that people with disability have access to Inclusive employment opportunities.

As the Principal Research Fellow – Evidence Lead, you will play a key role in establishing, implementing and monitoring a workplan to deliver the Centre's 'what works' evidence pillar. You will lead the Centre's key outcomes related to identifying and synthesising disability employment related evidence and designing and commissioning research in disability employment to fill evidence gaps. You will work in collaboration with the Principal Research Fellow – Knowledge Mobilisation Lead ensuring that evidence is translated for use by practitioners and that the Centre's resources are evidence informed. In conjunction with other staff, the role also includes contributing to the evaluation of the impact of evidence strategies and continuously improving their design.

In this role, you will also actively participate in the Centre's broader work, including preparing reports, providing presentations to stakeholders, mentor and support Centre staff. You will be expected to participate in activities that foster and build further on existing links with government, business, communities and professions in Australia and internationally.

About You

You are an experienced applied researcher who is committed to using evidence to drive positive social change. You will have strong collaborative skills and the ability to design and lead a strategy that draws together academic and non-academic evidence on 'what works' to improve employment services for people with disability. You will have experience in inclusive research approaches that meaningfully involve people with disability, such as those using or seeking to use employment services and initiatives of varying kinds.

To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities:

• Demonstrated expertise in disability employment scholarship, with ability to lead and carry out research projects, both independently and within a broader team.
• Demonstrated track record in undertaking research related to disability and employment, including experience in undertaking reviews of evidence and preparation of high-quality written materials for a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of colleagues, both internal to Swinburne and external.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership within a complex operating environment.
• Relevant experience and a proven ability to apply technical expertise to real-world challenges in disability and disability employment.
• Demonstrated ability, or potential, and/or involvement in research through collaborations with other universities, industry and/or government.
• Demonstrated ability, or potential, to attract and manage competitive research grants is preferred.

Qualifications

• A PhD related to disability, employment or a related discipline

A full list of the selection criteria is available within the position description.

About Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne's strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

Swinburne University of Technology is the lead member of a consortium which has been funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS) to deliver the Centre for Inclusive Employment. The Centre's role is to improve employment outcomes for people with disability by providing freely available access to evidence informed resources that drive practice change.

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

To Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and your suitability for this position.

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click 'apply' and you will be redirected to Swinburne's Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

For more information about the role, please contact Interim Director - Dr Jenny Crosbie via email or

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check and undertaking a National Police Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on

Applications Close: Sunday, 17 August 2025 at 11:30pm.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

We welcome and encourage applicants with disabilities and can provide support. Adjustments can be requested at any time during the recruitment process. For Reasonable Adjustment requests, including accessible formats for the PD, application form or any other document, please contact or call

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

Please note the above number and DCR email address are for disability or reasonable adjustments queries only. General enquiries about the role can be sent to (general enquiries will not be answered by phone).

Victoria's Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes.

As a signatory to Victoria's Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant.

Seniority level

• Seniority levelMid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment typeContract

Job function

• Job functionResearch and Education
• IndustriesHigher Education

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