GDG on Campus | University of Sydney
Head of School, School of Social and Political Sciences
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Opportunity for a distinguished academic to lead the School of Social and Political Sciences
Be a part of the leadership team of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Fixed-term role for a period of 5 years with an attractive remuneration package
About the opportunity
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney is seeking to appoint a distinguished academic as Head of School, School of Social and Political Sciences who will join the Faculty’s leadership team. The Head of School is responsible for the School’s academic teaching, learning and research performance outcomes that support the Faculty’s strategic goals, maintaining accreditation standards, the student experience, meeting financial targets and workplace culture. The position has formal financial and people delegations and is responsible for effective decision making to ensure financial sustainability. The successful applicant will contribute to the recruitment, appointment, development and retention of talented staff who are able to attract research funding and develop students across the School’s programs. The successful applicant will also help to promote the School’s, the Faculty’s and the University’s reputation for excellence and its national and international academic standing. The successful candidate will also play a role in ensuring that the Faculty meets its goals as set out in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Strategic Plan.
The School of Social and Political Sciences is home to one of the most successful academic groups in the world for research and teaching in the social sciences. Through a suite of undergraduate and postgraduate programs - including Criminology, Social Justice, Sociology, Political Economy, Anthropology, Public Policy, Politics, International Relations and International Security, as well as the new Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics - the School delivers leading edge education in a tailored social science learning environment. The School is also home to a quality PhD cohort that works together with academic staff on some of the most urgent questions and problems facing the world today. These include the future of democracy, multispecies justice, asset-based inequalities and endemic health crises. Through a rich variety of multidisciplinary networks and research centres, our academics maintain significant connections with the international social science community and with our diverse partners. The School also has a number of distinguished alumni and is proud of its connections into the local community. Our academic staff and our students are exceptionally well placed to explore the social, cultural, economic and political foundations of the contemporary world.
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About you (skills, capabilities and experience)
The successful candidate will hold a PhD qualification and will have a recognised international academic and professional standing within a relevant academic field. You will have extensive experience in people leadership and management within the higher education/knowledge worker sector, experience in working with industry, and a track record in managing financial sustainability, infrastructure and the operational needs and practices of an academic unit. Your ability to make strategic decisions, together with a strong business acumen, will support your endeavours in academic leadership, key stakeholder management and industry collaborations. Paramount to success in the role is a leadership style that builds trust across a diverse academic community, together with the judgement to navigate complex stakeholder environments, competing priorities and the consultative processes of a large institution.
The successful applicant must have a wide network of established relationships with key academic, industry and professional institutions, partners and stakeholders, that can be leveraged to enhance the standing of the School, the Faculty and the University.
Sponsorship / work rights for Australia
Visa Sponsorship and relocation assistance will be provided if required.
Term and remuneration
The term of the appointment is 5 years with the possibility of renewal, subject to negotiation. The successful candidate will also be offered a professorial appointment in an appropriate discipline in the School and will retain that position at the conclusion of their headship. An attractive remuneration package will be offered.
Pre-employment checks
Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.
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EEO statement
At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.
How to apply
Applications (including a CV and cover letter outlining how your skills, capabilities and experience meet the requirements for the role) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Please refer to the candidate information brochure/position description for further details.
Brochure: Candidate Information Brochure
Click to view the Position Description for this role.
For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.
For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Sajad Bahram (Senior Talent Partner, Recruitment Operations, Human Resources) by email at sajad.bahram@sydney.edu.au
© The University of Sydney
The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
Click to view the Position Description for this role.
Applications Close
Sunday 11 October 2026 11:59 PM
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