About UTSThe University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is the top-ranked young university in Australia. The UTS 2027 strategy outlines our vision to be a.....
About UTS
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is the top-ranked young university in Australia. The UTS 2027 strategy outlines our vision to be a leading public university of technology recognised for our global impact. We’re known for our innovative teaching. We’re committed to practical innovation and research that benefits industry and society. We believe in social change to create a more just and equal world.
UTS has a culturally diverse campus life and vibrant international exchange study and research programs that prepare graduates for the workplaces of today and the future. Our campus is in the heart of Sydney's creative and digital precinct and alongside Sydney's central business district.
Our purpose is to advance knowledge and learning through research-inspired teaching, research with impact and partnerships with industry, the professions and community. UTS is part of the Australian Technology Network of universities: a group of prominent universities committed to working with industry and government to deliver practical and professional courses. With a total enrolment of over 44,000 students, UTS is one of the largest universities in Australia.
About the Faculty
UTS has recently developed a Creative Industries Strategy to refocus and strengthen its mix of creative disciplines to redefine the future of higher education and research, and achieve the skills and innovation needs of the creative and broader economy. This initiative seeks to empower practitioners and their unique ways of thinking to address current and future challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and university-wide approaches to teaching, research, and engagement.
This increased strategic focus will leverage emerging market opportunities for those disciplines, which are currently situated across the faculties of Design, Architecture and Building (DAB), Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and Engineering and IT (FEIT). This approach will directly support and enhance our interdisciplinary work across the creative and social practice disciplines and includes developing a new faculty to bring these disciplines together.
This strategic initiative aims to leverage UTS’s distinctiveness, and increase our impact by fostering synergistic activities across the university. The focus will be on creative skills and technology, encompassing both traditional and non-traditional creative disciplines, with the goal of transforming the world through a deep understanding of the social and political contexts of creative practice and research.
About the School
The UTS School of Design is committed to societal, industrial and environmental transformation through design practice, education and research. It is a progressive community of academics who have secured UTS Design’s place among the world's top 50 art and design schools. The School has established expertise across programs in Fashion and Textiles, Product Design, and Visual Communications, underpinned by a core foundation in Design Studies.
For more information regarding the School’s education models, research and partnerships, please request a copy of the candidate brochure.
About the Role
With demonstrated academic credentials in a design discipline that is complementary to those within the school, the Head of School will:
• Champion design research, teaching and learning, and practice.
• Advocate strategically for the School within a faculty and the broader university context.
• Engage with colleagues to understand the School’s existing strengths to harness, empower and develop current and future growth opportunities.
• Foster inclusivity, nurturing a culture that respects diverse perspectives and ways of knowing.
• Be responsible for the strategic planning and effective allocation of resources to ensure the successful and sustainable delivery of teaching programs, and other key initiatives.
• Leverage the momentum of UTS’ investment into the creative disciplines to weave them into the fabric of the institution.
• Bring extensive domestic and international networks and networking capabilities to promote and foster engagement with industry across research, teaching and learning priorities.
About You
The successful candidate will continue to develop a vision for the School that is founded on a deep understanding of design as an agent of social and environmental change. We are seeking a creative, intellectually curious, and experienced leader able to balance the ambitions of a transformative agenda with the interpersonal capability to lead change. The Head of School will be a collaborative leader with a passion for advocating, supporting and developing the established and emerging talent in the School.
The Head of School will partner with stakeholders, including university and faculty leadership, and the school’s academic and professional cohort, to foster an environment that is empowered to realise its potential both domestically and internationally.
This rare opportunity will allow you to lead a world-leading school of design through a distinctive period of investment and ambition. You will be instrumental in driving greater cooperation across the UTS community, partnering to infuse the creative practices into all elements of the university in a collaborative and sustainable manner.
How to Apply
For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact Philip Graham and Desiree Riechert of the Orchard Talent Group via email at utshos@orchardtalent.com.au. Please note applicants must have a legal right to work in Australia.
Applications close 13 December 2024
