About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Continuing

Position Summary

Continuing, full-time

Compensation Grade:
Higher Education Officer Level 8

Salary Range:
$98,466 - $109,009

Organisational Unit:
Research Development and Support (RDS)

Reporting to:
Director, Research Development and Support

Under broad direction, the Manager, Researcher Training, Development and Communication is responsible for leading the development and day to day management of the Researcher Training, Development and Communications team within RDS.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Providing effective leadership for the development, planning, implementation and continuous improvement of researcher training and development initiatives for researchers at Flinders University, including contributing to the mentoring of early and mid-career researchers and senior leadership programs, their evaluation and reporting to University stakeholders.
• Providing expert advice in relation to the planning and implementation of effective internal research communications for the Flinders’ research community and enabling clear and timely communication of opportunities related to research.

The Manager, Researcher Training, Development and Communication is expected to proactively demonstrate and promote the customer service culture of the team. This will require building and maintaining productive relationships within the RDS team and with a wide range of stakeholders including: the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), College Leadership, management and research support staff from Colleges/Research Institutes/Centres, the Office of Graduate Research, the Office of Communications Marketing and Engagement, Finance, Flinders Library, Digital Research Services, Flinders researchers, external training and development providers and external research prize and award funding agencies.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Manager, Researcher Training, Development and Communication is accountable for:

• Contributing to the development and implementation of the strategy for researcher training, development, and communication at Flinders University with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Overseeing the development of applications from researchers for relevant prizes and awards.
• Coordinating and implementing a long-term strategy for a researcher training and development program including establishing benchmarks and ongoing evaluation in line with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Research Support plan.
• Consulting with the DVCR, RDS and College Leadership as input into the development of the researcher training and development program that supports the strategic research direction and objectives of the Portfolio and University.
• Proactively working with all Portfolios partners in research support at Flinders University, including the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Office of Graduate Research, Flinders Library, Finance, Digital Research Services and the Office of Communication Marketing and Engagement to design and deliver relevant, targeted training, development and communications to the research community.
• Providing effective leadership to and management of members of the Researcher Training, Development and Communication team; proactively fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork, with a focus on value and customer service.
• Actively providing advice in relevant key areas as they pertain to researcher training, development, and communications across the research community.
• Developing and maintaining effective communications channels to promote and inform the research community within the University, consulting with Portfolio partners.
• Participating in strategic and operational planning for RDS to ensure the targeted provision of research services and support that will underpin the strategic research direction for the University.
• Assisting the Director, RDS with the development of staff within RDS.
• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

Key Position Capabilities

• A relevant degree or extensive experience and management expertise in the management of researcher training and development. Post-graduate qualifications will be highly regarded
• Demonstrated capability in leadership and the ability to build a high performing and customer focussed team in a complex environment
• Demonstrated experience in the design and development of a mentoring program, management of a program and the delivery of training aspects associated with the program
• Demonstrated ability to work productively in a managerial team environment and proven experience in translating strategic thinking into operational outcomes for the benefit of the organisation
• An ability to work at a senior level on behalf of an organisation with senior researchers, academic leaders and representatives from government and regulatory bodies
• High level oral and written communication skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and delivering training and researcher induction programs or other forms of researcher development (e.g. grant development or supporting prizes and awards)
• Extensive experience developing written communications, including webpages, brochures and online training materials for training, information sharing and promotion to internal and external audiences
• High-level problem-solving skills, proven capability in influencing for positive outcomes and the ability to achieve positive outcomes where a diverse, and sometimes conflicting, range of results are desired
• Demonstrated ability to recognise and implement improvements to processes and workflows to achieve efficiencies
• An in-depth and current understanding of the Australian research environment, including the relevant Commonwealth and State legislative and regulatory policies/guidelines/frameworks in which university research operates
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing research policies that reflect current regulatory and/or compliance requirements.

For application enquiries please contact: Miss Sally Wheldrake

Pursuant to Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA) this position has been deemed prescribed.  It is an inherent requirement of the position that the successful candidate maintains current Working With Children Check which is satisfactory to the University.

Information for Applicants: You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59pm:

03 Feb 2021