Dean – School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Be at the forefront of Humanities and Social Sciences Education and Research as the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University.
La Trobe University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences features four dynamic departments: Archaeology and History; Languages and Cultures; Politics Media and Philosophy; and Social Inquiry. Collectively, these departments offer a rich array of disciplines and interdisciplinary programs. With a commitment to academic excellence and innovative research, this school fosters an inclusive and stimulating environment for staff and students to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their fields.
Key Responsibilities
The Dean is responsible for overseeing the academic standing, strategic leadership and overall management of the School. This includes effectively managing human, financial and other resources to maintain and enhance the School’s academic standards, teaching, research, industry engagement and community interactions.
Leadership and Strategic Direction
Shape the future of the school in alignment with the University's strategic goals, steering our academic and research endeavours to new heights.
Research and Industry Engagement
Drive sustained and significant School research activity by way of external research revenue and high-quality publications and other research outputs while leading strategic initiatives to explore and capitalise on emerging opportunities, expanding the institution’s academic footprint and impact through innovation, technology and global partnerships.
Learning, Teaching, Course and Subject Portfolio and Student Experience
Drive innovation across teaching, learning, and student support to ensure an outstanding educational experience that meets the needs of students, industry partners and the broader community.
Staff Management
Oversee the management, growth and development of academic staff, providing leadership in performance management, career development and fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment. Lead the development and execution of an academic strategy that aligns with institutional goals and anticipates emerging trends in technology and higher education.
Financial Leadership, Responsibility & Accountability
Ensure financial sustainability within the academic division, managing budgets and resources effectively, while driving academic excellence and operational efficiency.
External Engagement and Alumni
Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including governments,
industry leaders and international academic partners, to enhance the university's reputation and drive collaborative opportunities and revenue streams.
Your profile:
- A dynamic leader with a doctoral qualification in a relevant field, possessing a distinguished record in scholarly activities, teaching and external research funding.
- An adept strategist capable of leading complex operations within a university setting, skilled in financial and people management.
- A champion of culture and change, ready to inspire and drive excellence across all facets of the school’s activities.
Please refer to the Position Description in the booklet for other duties, skills and experience required for this position.
How to apply:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please:
Please submit an online application ONLY and include the following documents:
Submit your resume and a cover letter answering and outlining the following key points:
- Motivation for applying for the role and your alignment to the role.
- Your vision for Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University.
- Describe your leadership style and what success for the School would look like under your leadership.
- Provide example(s) on how you uplifted the student experience and research outcomes in a previous or current role.
- Outline how you contributed to financial responsibility within your department and how you may have increased revenue streams.
The cover letter should be no more than 5 pages
Closing date: Sunday 29th June 11.55pm
Position Enquiries: Peter Andreopoulos E. p.andreopoulos@latrobe.edu.au
Position Description included in the Candidate Booklet:
School Dean Candidate Booklet - SHuSS 2025.pdf
Essential Compliance Requirements
To hold this La Trobe University, position the occupant must:
- hold, or be willing to undertake and pass, a Victorian Working With Children Check; AND
- take personal accountability to comply with all University policies, procedures and legislative or regulatory obligations; including but not limited to TEQSA and the Higher Education Threshold Standards.
Other Information
The position description is indicative of the initial expectation of the role and subject to changes to University goals and priorities, activities or focus of the job.
Position Flexibility
We offer flexible work arrangements that can assist you in balancing your work and other responsibilities.
Why La Trobe:
- Develop your career at an innovative, global university where you’ll collaborate with community and industry to create impact.
- Enjoy working on our inspiring and stunning campuses – the perfect hub for industry, students and academics
- Help transform the lives of students, partners and communities now and in the future
This is more than just a job. Working at La Trobe offers opportunities to demonstrate excellence and transform lives.
Here, you’ll join exceptional people, partners and communities, who power our operations with ambition and purpose.
Our success can be attributed to its strong sense of community. We have a long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and social justice; we are committed to providing a workplace where all staff feel valued, respected and supported to achieve their full potential. We strive to build a workplace where all employees of diverse backgrounds, abilities, experiences, sexuality, gender, religion and age are welcome, valued, respected and one that is representative of our community. We demonstrate our cultural qualities by holding ourselves accountable and creating a culture of trust and innovation while genuinely caring for one another.
La Trobe’s Cultural Qualities:
