$177,279 to $194,908 pa (Level D) OR $227,240 pa (Level E) plus 17% superannuation and a leadership allowance of $22,724 pa
Ongoing, Full-time, Joondalup Campus
Open to candidates with relevant working rights and relocation will be supported
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
JOONDALUP CAMPUS
$177,279 to $194,908 pa (Level D) OR $227,240 pa (Level E) PLUS 17% SUPERANNUATION AND A LEADERSHIP ALLOWANCE OF $22,724 pa
ONGOING, FULL TIME
Edith Cowan University
Are you ready to belong to a dynamic community where courage, creativity, and optimism are essential elements of our DNA? At ECU we’re inspired by the incredible achievements of Edith Cowan, the first woman elected to an Australian parliament and a lifelong champion of education. Empowered by her legacy, we’re united in our vision to lead the sector in educational experience and expand our impact through world-class research.
Embrace an opportunity to become part of something extraordinary.
The School of Arts and Humanities is one of the largest at ECU with over 5,000 individual students ( >3,000 EFTSL) across many diverse disciplines covering the broad sweep of arts, humanities, and social sciences. The school has more than 140 academic and professional staff operating across three campuses (Joondalup, South West, and our new City Campus ), as well as teaching offshore in Sri Lanka, and is a leader in online education. It is home to highly successful research programs including Ethical Digital Futures , Justice Research, Migration, Diversity and Care , and more; it contributes to ECU's Centre for People, Place and Planet with a focus on climate justice; it is a node in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child . The diversity of the school is a strength, enabling interdisciplinary research, a sustainable financial platform with growing student enrolments, and many opportunities for collaborations with industry and community. For more information please explore the Arts and Humanities website and read the School Plan .
About the Opportunity
Currently, the school is arranged in three clusters: Creative Humanities; Psychology, Counselling and Criminology; and Social Sciences, Social Work and Youth Work. From 2027, with the appointment of the successful candidate for this position, Criminology will move into an expanded Social Sciences cluster. The Social Sciences cluster will continue to develop its shared identity with a new inclusive name under your leadership, building on its strong existing programs in Community and Human Services, Criminology and Justice, Social Work, Sociology and Youth Work. The cluster includes the dynamic Social Ageing Futures Lab which leads Australian research into social care for ageing through the life course. Recent changes to the cluster have included a new Master of Social Work degree, an innovative online Master of Mental Health degree, and the introduction of a sociology major within a revised, community-engaged Bachelor of Arts. Many new academics have been appointed in the past two years strengthening the academic workforce as a result. Future plans include introducing postgraduate courses in Community Development and Leadership for Social Change and building stronger interdisciplinary links across the school.
As Associate Dean, you will have significant delegated authority to lead and manage the academic staff working in the Social Sciences cluster. You will succeed by developing a highly talented academic workforce that seeks and achieves excellence in research and teaching and is committed to partnership building beyond the university. You will ensure that the cluster is a thriving collaborative scholarly environment. The most exciting element of this work is your chance to coach and develop the careers of the academics you lead, and through this work shape the future of the disciplines which make up your cluster to make a difference in the world.
You will also focus on building relationships beyond the Social Sciences cluster to generate future success and create new opportunities. This work will include partnerships with other disciplines at ECU and with external stakeholders. As well as your primary disciplinary responsibilities, you will be part of the shared strategic leadership of the school, and make valuable contributions to all aspects of school performance. You will be expected to continue your own research program and, through leadership and direct work, strengthen further the research successes of the cluster.
You will be appointed to a continuing academic position as Professor or Associate Professor depending on your prior level of achievement and serve an initial term of three years as Associate Dean (with the opportunity for a further term subject to performance). The Associate Dean role will involve a commitment of around 3 days a week with the remainder of time devoted to research and scholarship. Upon completion of your role leading the cluster, you will have the opportunity for continued informal leadership within your discipline and across the school and university as well as normal research and teaching duties, with a period of research-focused time provided after the conclusion of your service as Associate Dean.
About you
To be successful in your application, you will be a strategic leader with strong skills in working collegially within a university and beyond. While you will have the capability to succeed as an associate dean within your discipline cluster, we value equally your strategic leadership and wider contribution to scholarly excellence.
You will already be working in higher education as a very experienced Senior Lecturer, with preference to those already at the level of Associate Professor or Professor. You will have a doctoral qualification and a track record of successful teaching and research in the broad field of social sciences (including but not limited to community and human services, criminology, social work, sociology, and youth work). While prior experience in an equivalent management role is desirable it is not essential so long as you can demonstrate expertise in leadership.
You will need to demonstrate, based on past achievement and potential for future development, that you can:
lead within complex university organisations for strategic advantage;
manage people, programs, and processes for operational effectiveness;
design and implement innovations to improve academic work;
build and achieve success through development of high-performing teams;
forge partnerships with organisations external to universities;
sustain effective professional interpersonal relations with colleagues; and
create a strong scholarly culture consistent with ECU's values
All ECU staff are expected to demonstrate personal attributes congruent with the University’s values of Integrity, Respect, Rational Inquiry, Personal Excellence, and Courage.
Benefits of working at ECU
At ECU we’re committed to fostering a positive employment experience and believe this is fundamental to the success and satisfaction of our employees. Growth and development matter here, because we recognise people are at the centre of everything we do. Our thriving work culture is guided by the ECU values and complemented by a range of employee benefits; visit our website to read about flexible working arrangements, generous leave entitlements, our commitment to Wellbeing, exclusive corporate discounts and industry-leading superannuation.
Contact
Potential candidates are strongly encouraged to discuss this opportunity with Professor Matthew Allen, Executive Dean, Arts and Humanities. Please email
[email protected] to arrange a confidential discussion about the role and the application process.
Application Process
Your application is in three parts. The first part is a statement (maximum 3 pages) that clearly demonstrates your suitability for the role of Associate Dean Social Sciences and the positive difference you will make for the school in this role. You should highlight key examples of your experience and expertise, enabling the selection committee to assess your application against the criteria above. The second part is a statement (maximum 1 page) that addresses the ongoing contribution you will make as a senior academic, particularly as it relates to research and research leadership. The third part is a detailed curriculum vitae, including summaries of the key academic leadership roles you have held or hold currently. A covering letter is not needed.
Advert Closure
Applications close Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 11:30pm AWST.
ECU reserves the right to close the advertisement before the stated closing date, and encourage applicants to submit their applications early.
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM CANDIDATES WHO HAVE THE RELEVANT WORKING RIGHTS TO FILL THIS POSITION.
ECU is a diverse and inclusive workplace with specific strategies and initiatives in place to address underrepresentation of specific groups. We strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age and faith. For more information on our commitment to equity and diversity, please visit our Inclusive Workplace website.
At ECU, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively encourage people with disability to apply to ECU. To discuss how we can support adjustment requirements, please contact the person listed above.
