Dean, School of Engineering

- Lead RMIT's largest School and shape the future of Engineering education and research.
- Drive global impact through industry collaboration and innovation.
- 5-year Fixed Term Executive role with an underlying continuing academic appointment.

About the Role

RMIT University is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as the next Dean, School of Engineering within the STEM College. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Australia's largest and most globally connected engineering schools-home to nearly 10,000 students, 350 staff and research income exceeding $45 million annually.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, STEM College and Vice-President, the Dean provides visionary leadership across teaching and learning, research, industry engagement, and global partnerships. The role will shape the next chapter for a School already recognised internationally for its work-relevant programs, cutting-edge facilities, and research with real-world impact.

Joining at a time of purposeful renewal across the STEM College, the Dean will help drive a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, respect, empowerment, and innovation - embedding digital transformation across learning, research and operations. This includes leading initiatives to enhance global partnerships and student experiences across RMIT's campuses in Melbourne and Vietnam, and research centres in Europe and Asia.

Key Responsibilities include:

- Lead and inspire a world-class academic community across six engineering disciplines, ensuring excellence in education, research and engagement.
- Develop and implement a compelling vision for the School aligned with RMIT's Knowledge with Action strategy and the STEM College's Charter and Values.
- Foster an inclusive and high-performing culture built on collaboration, accountability, respect, and empowerment.
- Drive research excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration in areas such as advanced manufacturing and design; computing technologies; health innovation and nanomaterials and devices.
- Lead academic transformations in the School through digital innovation, including digitally enhanced student-centered learning experiences.
- Build and strengthen local and global partnerships with industry, government, community organisations and academic institutions that translate research into real-world outcomes and expand international education and research opportunities.
- Lead strategic and operational management of the School, ensuring academic quality, financial sustainability, and continuous improvement.

About You

You are an accomplished leader in engineering higher education with the strategic capability, scholarly reputation, and people leadership experience to lead and elevate a School of this scale and influence. You bring credibility in both research and teaching, proven ability to lead large, complex academic environments, and a track record of cultivating innovation and collaboration across diverse teams.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

- A PhD in a relevant Engineering discipline and distinguished standing as a scholar and leader.
- Proven experience leading a School, Faculty or large research unit within a university or equivalent organisation.
- Demonstrated ability to drive transformation across digital learning, research innovation, and culture within a complex setting.
- Success in growing external engagement, research income, and global partnerships, ideally including work with a range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, defence, and/or technology
- A leadership style that is authentically accountable, collaborative, inclusive and empowering, in alignment with RMIT's values and the STEM College's Charter.

About the School of Engineering and the STEM College

Engineering is at the heart of RMIT's identity and global reputation. The School of Engineering is renowned for its work-relevant programs, innovative project-based learning, and industry partnerships that span small enterprises to multinational organisations.

The School comprises six departments: Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical & Environmental, Civil & Infrastructure, Electrical & Electronic, and Mechanical, Manufacturing & Mechatronics Engineering. Its students and researchers are connected across RMIT's campuses in Australia, Vietnam, and Europe, creating a truly international ecosystem of innovation and collaboration.

The STEM College brings together world-leading expertise in the fields of sciences, engineering, computing technologies and health and medical sciences. We are focused on creating innovative and practical solutions to real-life problems, discovering and applying new knowledge and new ways of thinking about the environment and sustainability, health and wellbeing, advanced technologies, and digital transformation through research, education and training in collaboration with a wide range of partners.

Learn more about STEM at RMIT:

https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/engineering

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

To Apply

RMIT is being assisted in this appointment process by the executive search firm Society (www.society-search.com).

Applications should consist of 1. a concise cover letter (ideally no longer than two pages), addressing the criteria in the Person Specification; 2. an up-to-date curriculum vitae; 3. names and contact details of three referees (although referees will only be approached at the final stage of the process, and only with your express permission).

For more information, please refer to the Candidate Prospectus and don't hesitate to get in touch with Evelyn Wills at evelyn.wills@society-search.com to book a confidential conversation.

The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on the 24th of November.

About RMIT University

RMIT is a multi-sector university of technology, design and enterprise with more than 96,000 students and close to 10,000 staff globally. The University's mission is to help shape the world through research, innovation and engagement, and to create transformative experiences for students to prepare them for life and work.

https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/university/rmit-university

Why work at RMIT University

Our people make everything at the University possible. We encourage new approaches to work and learning, stimulating change to drive positive impact. Find out more about working at RMIT University, what we stand for and why we are an Employer of Choice.

We want to attract those who will make a difference. View RMIT's impressive standings in university rankings.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/facts-figures/reputation-and-rankings

Bring Your Whole Self to Work

We are better for our diversity. When we listen to those who are different to us, or challenge us, we grow stronger together. When we feel like we belong, we can achieve so much more. We respect each other, embrace our differences and build a sense of belonging in our team and beyond.

We are proud that our dedication to diversity has been recognised by a broad spectrum of external organisations. Visit our Linkedin Life pages to learn more and see some of our most recent wins.

RMIT has a strong dhumbali (commitment) to the employment, development and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within a culturally safe environment; we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

At RMIT, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to RMIT. To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact Dani (Senior Talent Advisor), via talentsupport@rmit.edu.au or visit our Careers page for more contact information - https://www.rmit.edu.au/careers

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We take our responsibility to protect children and young people seriously and embed child safety into our recruitment, induction and ongoing professional practices. All staff are expected to actively support our child safe culture and uphold RMIT's Child Safe Code of Conduct.

We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer - we commit to respond to every applicant.