Associate Dean Rural and Head of Rural Clinical Campuses, Faculty of Medicine & Health

• Employment Type: Part-time (approx. 0.6 FTE), Full - time (35 hours a week) also considered
• Level: Associate Professor – Professor (Level D-E)
• Duration: Associate Dean/Head appointment will be 3 years, plus a continuing substantive appointment
• Remuneration: Competitive salary (level D or E depending on experience) plus 17% superannuation, leave loading and other loadings as applicable).
• Work rights: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must hold full rights to work in Australia to be considered for this position.
• Location: preference for this role to be based on site at one of our major rural campuses (Wagga Wagga or Port Macquarie). The incumbent will be required to travel regularly to all our rural campuses and occasionally to our metropolitan campuses.

UNSW Rural Clinical Campuses

UNSW Rural Clinical Campuses brings world-class medical education to rural and regional Australia, delivering the full 6-year medical course at our rural campuses across several locations. Face-to-face teaching is critical to rural program delivery as students build strong relationships with and benefit from more personal interaction with clinicians and other academics and become a part of the local medical community. UNSW’s program has strongly supported the aims of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program for over 25-years, delivering excellence in rural medical education and student experience.

UNSW rural clinical campuses are located on the unceded territory of the Wiradjuri (Albury, Wagga Wagga & Griffith), Birpai (Port Macquarie), Gumbaynggirr (Coffs Harbour) peoples.

The Opportunity  

This unique leadership role will be responsible for providing senior academic and clinical leadership across the Rural Clinical Campuses (RCC) within the School of Clinical Medicine, providing strategic advice to the Faculty and University regarding Rural Health matters.

The role focuses on delivering excellence and leadership with oversight of operations, stewardship and support of staff, medical education and research, ensuring operational optimisation, quality and developing strong relationships across rural campuses.

The role supports the effective integration of clinical practice, education, research and innovation within the rural environment, and contributes to the University’s objectives in addressing health needs in rural and regional communities. The Head will have an informed understanding of the complexities, opportunities and partnerships within rural health systems, including Local Health Districts, hospitals and diverse clinical settings.

The role works collaboratively with the Manager, Rural, RCC Directors of Medical Education (DoMEs) and other senior clinical / academic and professional staff at rural campuses, Local Health District executives and clinicians, community partners, School and Faculty leadership to support the effective delivery of rural medical education and healthcare research, staff capability and student experience.

Please see our faulty brochure which contain more information about the role and its origins –  Head of School Rural Clinical Campuses brochure May 2026.pdf

Key skills and experience required:

Level D

• Medical qualification with current AHPRA accreditation, a higher degree or equivalent professional standing in a relevant discipline, with credibility in medical education and/or rural health and /or research.
• Clinically active in the rural healthcare environment, with an understanding and appreciation of the values and roles of a major university operating in a rural context and a strong understanding of rural and regional health systems particularly within Local Health Districts, hospitals and other clinical environments including community-based healthcare.
• Demonstrated appropriate leadership experience in clinical, academic and professional settings.
• Ability to work effectively and collegially with Campus DoME’s, School and Faculty leadership, health partners, students, staff and external stakeholders.
• Capacity to provide values-driven leadership focused on continuity, support and delivery during a transition period.
• The ability to manage budgets effectively and according to school and faculty strategic priorities.

Level E (in addition to the above)

• An established profile as a senior academic and clinical leader with sustained impact across education, research and health systems, including leadership at School, Faculty or University level.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic academic leadership at School, Faculty or equivalent level, including accountability for setting direction, resolving complex issues and balancing competing academic, clinical and partner priorities.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing significant and complex budgets, including responsibility for strategic resource allocation, financial sustainability and stewardship aligned with institutional priorities.
• Established capability to lead and develop senior academic and professional leaders, including succession planning, leadership development and fostering high-performance culture at scale.
• Highly developed communication, negotiation and influence skills, with the ability to operate confidently in diverse environments.

Full details can be found in the position description.

UNSW Benefits and Culture: People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include: 

• Flexible Working arrangements (work from home, flexible hours) 
• Additional 3 days leave during Christmas holidays
• Career development opportunities 
• Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses
• Flexible 17% Superannuation contributions, additional leave-loading payments and salary sacrifice.
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness passport)

How to apply:

Please click on Apply now to apply online. Applications should not be sent to the contact listed below. Please provide a resume and a separate cover letter addressing the key skills and experience for the role listed in the Position Description.

Pre-Employment Checks

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for. These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:

• Confirmation of Aboriginality documentation
• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

Enquiries:

Merita O'Connell, Talent Acquisition Partner     E:  merita.oconnell@unsw.edu.au    

Professor Adrienne Torda, Head of School, Clinical Medicine    E: a.torda@unsw.edu.au

Applications close: Sunday 5^th July before 11.30pm Sydney time.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.