Head of School (Civil/Mechanical Engineering)

The Engineering Institute of Technology is seeking a Head of School (HoS), who will serve as the discipline-based academic leader overseeing engineering programs delivered across both higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) streams. The role focuses on academic leadership, teaching quality, curriculum quality and alignment, staff capability, and industry connections within the school.  This role would suit someone who is proactive and drives change and supports the Dean with useful practical initiatives and who can independently troubleshoot and fix issues before they develop. 

The HoS ensures that discipline practices, curriculum, assessment, and teaching teams operate effectively within established institutional frameworks and provide high-quality academic input into accreditation and quality assurance activities. The role exists to ensure that engineering education is academically rigorous, industry-aligned, and delivered consistently across campuses and modes, while maintaining a strong, supportive academic culture within the school. 

Key Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership & Quality 

• Provide academic leadership to discipline staff across HE and VET programs. 

• Maintain academic standards aligned with AQF levels, HESF, VET Quality Framework, and institutional policies. 

• Ensure assessment design, moderation, and validation practices meet academic integrity and regulatory expectations. 

• Monitor student performance, progression, retention, and feedback; initiate improvement actions based on risk and data. 

• Lead discipline-level curriculum coherence, learning outcomes alignment, and teaching quality. 

• The Head of School works collaboratively with the Research Coordinator to support research supervision quality, applied research pathways, and alignment between teaching and research activities. 

Program, Curriculum & Assessment Oversight 

• Oversee discipline-specific curriculum, units, and training products to ensure currency, compliance, and industry relevance. 

• Ensure assessments are academically sound, aligned to learning outcomes, and appropriate to AQF level. 

• Contribute to course development, program review, unit refresh cycles, and transition between VET–HE pathways. 

• Ensure teaching and learning materials are current, accessible, and fit for blended and online delivery. 

• Support innovation in pedagogy, assessment, and learning technologies. 

Accreditation, Compliance & Quality Assurance 

• Provide discipline-level academic input, evidence, and subject-matter expertise for accreditation, reaccreditation, and audit processes. 

• Ensure academic staff understand and meet compliance obligations, record‑keeping, and moderation requirements. 

• Support implementation of accreditation conditions and review recommendations within the school. 

• Ensure discipline staff comply with institutional academic policies, moderation requirements, and documentation expectations 

Staff Capability & Performance (Academic) 

• Mentor and support academic staff development in pedagogy, assessment, and industry engagement. 

• Contribute discipline input into academic workload planning and teaching allocations. 

• Support performance development processes for academic staff, in collaboration with the Digital Learning Manager and Academic Manager. 

• Identify discipline capability gaps and recommend targeted professional development. 

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performance academic culture. 

Student Experience & Academic Issues 

• Monitor student engagement, progression, and outcomes within the school. 

• Support resolution of discipline-level academic matters, including progression concerns and academic integrity issues. 

• Act as the first point of academic escalation within the school, referring formal appeals and high-risk matters in accordance with policy. 

• Work collaboratively with student support teams to enhance student experience and retention. 

Industry Engagement & External Relations 

• Ensure discipline curricula remain current, relevant, and informed by industry practice. 

• Maintain strong industry connections to support curriculum relevance, guest lectures, site visits, industry projects, and work-integrated learning. 

• Provide academic input into new course proposals, unit revisions, and VET–HE pathway design. 

Governance, Reporting & Strategy 

• Contribute to academic committees and curriculum discussions. 

• Provide discipline reports and insights to the Dean as required. 

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aligned with institutional strategy. 

Key Capabilities & Competencies:

• Broad expertise in one or more engineering disciplines relevant to the school. 

• Strong understanding of AQF, HESF, VET Quality Framework, TEQSA and ASQA requirements. 

• Experience with professional accreditation processes (e.g. Engineers Australia). 

• Demonstrated capability in high‑quality tertiary teaching, preferably across blended and online modes. 

• High literacy in assessment design, moderation, validation, and academic integrity. 

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and coordinate academic teams. 

• Experience managing programs, courses, or discipline areas. 

• Strong academic judgement, problem solving, and decision-making skills. 

• Ability to prepare clear academic reports, evidence packs, and audit documentation. 

• Strong industry awareness and networks within the engineering sector. 

• Commitment to applied, industry  aligned education and employability outcomes. 

• Ability to translate industry needs into curriculum and learning experiences. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Relevant postgraduate qualification (PhD) in an engineering discipline aligned with the school’s programs (Civil/Mechanical ; Electrical/Instrumentation/Automation) . 

• Demonstrated academic leadership or course coordination experience. 

• Proven capability in tertiary teaching, assessment design, moderation, and curriculum development. 

• Familiarity with AQF, HESF, VET Quality Framework, TEQSA, ASQA, and relevant professional accreditation requirements. 

• Evidence of maintaining industry experience, industry links and integrating applied, industry-aligned content into teaching or programs. 

• Ability to mentor academic staff and foster a collaborative, high-performance academic culture. 

About EIT:
The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) is one of the only institutes in the world specialising in engineering education and training. We deliver industry driven professional certificates and accredited Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Certificates, Bachelor Degrees, Master Degrees and a Doctor of Engineering to both domestic and international students via our unique online and on-campus delivery methodology.

With offices in Australia, UK, USA, and South Africa and an ever-growing portfolio of courses, we are experiencing a period of strong growth and continued development. Our head office is located in West Perth close to multiple public transport alternatives and at walking distance from great cafes. We also have campuses in Melbourne and Brisbane, with further expansion plans into other exciting locations. 

Selection and Appointment 

• Please note this is a full-time fixed term appointment for 12 months with a review and potential for a further appointment.

• Applicants are invited to submit a written application addressing how they meet each of the eligibility criteria. This document should provide specific examples of experience, achievements, and capabilities relevant to the Head of School role. 

• Following review of written applications, shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview. The interview will explore leadership experience, academic expertise, and alignment with the EIT’s strategic and Learning and Teaching goals. 

• Appointment will be made based on the combined assessment of the written application and panel interview. 

• Selected applicants will participate in a six-month transition and training period, including leadership development, understanding of responsibilities, and mentoring by the Dean.