POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title Professor in / Discipline Lead

Faculty: Health

Appointment Level: Professor (Level E) - Education & Research

Reporting To: Head of School

Position No: TBC

Employment Type: Continuing Full-Time Opportunity

THE UNIVERSITY OF The is a young University anchored in the national capital. UC works with government, business and industry to serve our communities and nation. UC challenges the status quo always pursuing better ways to teach, learn, research and add value – locally and internationally. Distinctive by Design, UC is the University for the Professions.

Its purpose is to provide education which offers high quality transformative experiences to everyone suitably qualified; to engage in research which makes an early and important difference to the world around us; and to contribute to the building of just, prosperous, healthy and sustainable communities.

Our Shared Plan has five interconnected streams of strategic intent that will drive our quest to shape UC into a globally prominent institution of learning, research and public engagement. This will empower our diverse people to drive our core missions of distinctive teaching and research in an enriched living-learning environment encompassing our Canberra campus and global locations. FACULTY OF HEALTH The Faculty of Health comprises three Schools, made up of a broad range of health and sport disciplines including Nursing, Midwifery, Sport and Exercise Science, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacy, Public Health, Psychology, Counselling, Medical Radiation Science, Occupational Therapy, Optometry and Speech Pathology. It is also home for the Health Research Institute, UC-RISE (the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise) and the Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre – SYNERGY, a partnership between University of Canberra and ACT Health.

The UC Health Precinct includes the Health Hub incorporating Student-led clinics, the University of – a rehabilitation hospital, Canberra Specialist Medical Centre and a future 150 bed aged care facility.

Our educational aspiration is to prepare our students to operate effectively within the health, education, disability and sport sectors. The Faculty has a strong and collegiate focus on collaboration among the disciplines, including several cross-disciplinary courses. Students gain supervised professional experience as part of their academic program and on completion of their degrees our graduates are ready for immediate entry to their profession. We are proud of our work-ready and future ready graduates.

Staff are committed to making significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in their professions, and to contributing to basic, applied and clinical fields of research. The research of the Faculty of Health has grown rapidly in recent years, with ERA rankings of 5 in public health and health services and clinical services research and a 4 in Human Movement, Nursing and Psychology. POSITION PURPOSE The Discipline of Optometry at the University of Canberra is going through a period of exciting growth. We are seeking applicants for a Professor position who would relish the opportunity to establish and lead a research program in vision science and optometry. Current research directions include the study of diabetes, visual function, development of vision in children and myopia. The successful applicant with lead their own program of research as well as mentor and support other researchers. The Professor will establish collaborative research projects in the ACT and nationally and foster international links and projects.

This position will also serve in the role of Discipline Lead for a specified term (initially 3 years). Discipline leaders provide expert disciplinary input into the strategy and operations of the faculty and represent the faculty externally with professional bodies and partners. They lead the staff in their discipline to contribute maximally to the achievement of the University’s strategic plan, enact the University’s values and work collaboratively as a team. Discipline leaders ensure accreditation standards are met and courses are delivered in accordance with university policies and procedures. Discipline leaders are the supervisors for academic staff in their discipline.

A professorial appointment is a senior appointment in the faculty and as such the role will involve engagement in faculty and university strategic planning and implementation, mentoring other staff, senior internal and external representation and contributing to the creation of a positive workplace culture that lives the university values.

This is an exceptional opportunity to pursue scholarly advances in vision and to lead the growth of optometry in one of the Times Higher Education Top 20 Young Universities of the World. Life in Canberra is excellent, with Canberra being ranked “Australia’s best place to live” for the last three years by the REA Group Life in Australia Index.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The occupant of this position will be required to:

1. Provide strategic leadership of the Discipline of Optometry in education and research; 2. Foster excellence in staff performance and a positive organisational culture; 3. Provide mentoring and opportunity to strengthen the scholarship of teaching and learning, develop innovative teaching methodologies and curricula, support the professional development of staff and grow our reputation as a leader in optometry education; 4. Coordinate, monitor workflow and provide informal day-to-day feedback to academic staff and sessional teaching staff according to the University's policies, practices, and standards; 5. Ensure degrees in the discipline are meeting the needs of the current and future workforce; 6. Lead accreditation and reaccreditation processes. Ensure discipline accreditation conditions and standards are met; 7. Attract higher degree candidates and provide high quality supervision;

8. Develop and maintain effective relationships with industry, relevant professionals and professional bodies, government departments (ACT and Commonwealth) and community groups relevant to the initiatives of the Faculty and Discipline; 9. Initiate and develop an independent research program that attracts sustainable external funding; 10. Contribute to the leadership of the Faculty of Health and the University of Canberra; 11. Promote and support excellence in disciplinary and interdisciplinary activities/scholarship; and 12. Undertake other activities as determined through consultation with the Head of School.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. PhD in optometry (or a related field) and ideally an optometry qualification (BOptom/MOptom or equivalent); 2. Applicants with an optometry qualification should be eligible to register with AHPRA as an optometrist in Australia (or an ability to work towards this); 3. Endorsement to prescribe ocular therapeutic drugs in Australia (or an ability to work towards this); 4. A track record of internationally recognised research publications, higher degree research student supervision and success in securing competitive grant funding; 5. A demonstrated ability to inspire students with outstanding teaching and learning (essential); 6. Evidence of mentoring and supervising early to mid-career researchers (highly desired); 7. High level interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate and establish effective relationships with staff, students and industry stakeholders; and 8. Clinical experience in Optometry (desired).

KEY CAPABILITIES Key Capabilities Descriptors

1. Curriculum 1.1 Demonstrated experience in high quality teaching and curriculum and Student development. Experience 1.2 Demonstrated understanding of future health workforce needs and its influence on educational offerings and curriculum.

1.3 Understands students’ and Faculty partners’ needs and is able to address these in a reasonable and efficient manner.

1.4 Demonstrated experience with professional body accreditation processes.

1.5 Demonstrated capacity to supervise Honours, Masters, and postgraduate research students to completion.

1.6 Experience in delivering high quality online units and courses

1.7 Demonstrated understanding of contemporary issues and challenges within the health, aged care, and disability and higher education sectors

2. Digital 2.1 Demonstrated ability to use information and communication technologies Literacy to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information to both internal and external stakeholders.

2.2 Demonstrated critical thinking to plan and conduct teaching and/or research, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

2.3 Incorporates digital literacy skills into own learning and the learning of others (e.g., students, peers, supervisees).

3. Effective 3.1 Excellent interpersonal communication skills. Communication 3.2 Listens to others and effectively communicates ideas.

3.3 Influences and negotiates persuasively with internal and external stakeholders.

3.4 Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability and commitment to work in a collegial manner and contribute to the positive culture and aspirations of the Faculty and University, including collaborating with other staff, participating on committees and School activities, and liaison with industry partners.

4. Collaboration 4.1 Ability to demonstrate track record in building successful partnerships, engaging with relevant stakeholders and community groups at both a domestic and international level.

4.2 Works to achieve and align career, team, Faculty and University goals and aspirations.

4.3 Develops relationships with internal and external parties and identifies opportunities to introduce new partners and opportunities to the University.

4.4 Identifies and seeks to improve Faculty and University business processes to ensure the achievement of Faculty and University strategic objectives.

4.5 Initiates and nurtures new collaborations internally, and externally (local, national and international), ensures collaborations are aligned with the University strategic plan and Charter of Conduct and Values.

5. Delivers results 5.1 Delivers on agreed outcomes.

5.2 Identifies opportunities to improve processes and takes opportunities to problem solve to deliver outcomes, including negotiating and influencing internal service providers to do the same.

5.3 Responds effectively to changing circumstances and prioritises effectively.

6. Commercial 6.1 Effective skills and technical knowledge including project, and Acumen and financial management. Financial Delegation 6.2 Manages resources effectively. 6.3 Understands the commercial context of the university and takes every opportunity to use resources more efficiently and to generate new academic activities to provide further resources.

6.4 Manages allocated or acquired finances responsibly to ensure commitments and outcomes are achieved.

7. Leadership 7.1 Proactively addresses challenging issues and takes responsibility for seeing issues through.

7.2 Assists the Faculty and University leadership to overcome barriers.

7.3 Connects the University Strategic Plan with Faculty strategic and operational plans and reinforces connections with other staff.

7.4 Builds and communicates a clear and compelling path for others to choose to be committed and engaged.

7.5 Champions and role models effective change processes while contributing to the ongoing refinement and improvement of Faculty and University strategies and plans.