Academic Director (Indigenous)

Academic Directors are part of the ARC’s senior leadership team. They bring their inter-disciplinary, sector and research administration and management expertise to provide high-level advice that supports program delivery, policy development and implementation, and other strategic and operational priorities. Academic Directors work collaboratively within the ARC to drive agendas set by the ARC Board and CEO and to ensure the ARC’s approach to research funding, evaluation and policy matters are aligned with the research system.

Their role is to enable strong relationships between the ARC, its university partners and the broader research sector. They facilitate collaboration and understanding between the research community and the ARC. The role provides an opportunity to gain insights into federal government, and the ARC’s operations and its contributions to the research sector.

The Academic Director (Indigenous) role sits within the Australian Public Service and candidate must exhibit impartiality, be committed, accountable, respectful, and ethical. Our ideal candidate will demonstrate well-developed leadership and management skills, as well as an ability to work as a team and deliver on the ARC Board and CEO’s priorities.  

A strong candidate will bring:

• Deep experience in Indigenous research leadership, policy or governance.
• A recognised track record of building and sustaining culturally safe environments in research settings.
• Strong relationships with Indigenous researchers, communities and/or organisations.

A candidate must be able to demonstrate a distinguished history of accomplishment at a national and/or international level, and research leadership and management in their field.

Personal drive and integrity are essential, as is the ability to lead, contribute strategically, achieve outcomes, cultivate effective working relationships, and communicate with influence.

Suitable backgrounds include universities, private sector research leadership, and public sector research leadership.

The ARC is expanding its commitment to Indigenous research excellence, strengthening Indigenous leadership within its programs, and developing new approaches that embed Indigenous knowledges, values and priorities across the Australian research system. The ARC is seeking to recruit an Academic Director (Indigenous) to build strong relationships with the university sector, Indigenous research communities and national stakeholders, and help ensure ARC programs are informed by contemporary research practice and Indigenous perspectives.

The opportunity

The Academic Director (Indigenous) reports to the ARC’s CEO. Their main responsibilities include:

Projects and Priorities

• Work closely with the ARC Indigenous Forum (Forum) and liaise between the Forum and ARC Board to support effective and timely advice, including preparing briefings, reports and recommendations.
• Provide high‑level strategic advice to the CEO, senior leadership and ARC College of Experts on Indigenous research matters, including emerging trends, cross‑disciplinary developments and best practice approaches to Indigenous research governance.
• Lead or contribute to ARC priorities and strategic projects as directed by the CEO, ensuring Indigenous perspectives shape project design and implementation.
• Oversee the design, implementation and continuous improvement of Indigenous research schemes and assessment processes.
• Provide strategic advice on policy, program design, research management systems and communication relating to Indigenous research.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the ARC in external engagements, including consultations, roundtables, peak body engagements and national events ensuring communication is consistent with ARC priorities.
• Strengthen the ARC’s internal capability to engage with Indigenous researchers and communities, including facilitating sector outreach and building staff capability in culturally informed engagement.

Program Delivery

• Work closely with ARC staff on ARC grant programs to:
• Ensure Indigenous knowledges, values and research practices underpin ARC assessment processes, including peer review College of Experts recruitment, and selection advisory processes.
• Provide advice on complex eligibility, assessment and reporting matters, ensuring decisions are culturally informed and consistent with legislation and the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Principles.
• Promote approaches to research assessment and administration that uphold cultural integrity and embed Indigenous research ethics.

Eligibility

• Must be an Australian citizen
• Undergo pre-employment screening
• Must obtain or be able to obtain a Commonwealth Security Clearance Baseline Level
• The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under Section 26 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner's Directions 2016. This vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.