"Associate Professor in Geotechnical Engineering"

• Full-time, Continuing position
• Salary Academic Level D ($170,080 - $187,373 p.a.) + 17% Superannuation and Flexible Working Arrangements
• Based at the Melbourne CBD campus, but may be required to work and/or be based at other campuses of the University

About the Role

RMIT University is seeking an Associate Professor in Geotechnical Engineering to provide academic leadership and research excellence within the School of Engineering, with a strong focus on Computational Geomechanics and industry-engaged research translation.

This role is suited to a senior academic who combines deep technical expertise with a passion for applying advanced research to real-world engineering challenges. You will play a leading role in shaping the discipline's teaching, research direction and industry impact, while mentoring staff and HDR candidates and contributing to the School's strategic priorities.

Your research will centre on numerical modelling of soil behaviour, including the development of advanced constitutive models, simulation frameworks and predictive tools that inform geotechnical design. You will be expected to lead high-quality research programs, attract competitive funding, and translate outcomes through strong collaboration with industry and government partners.

As an Associate Professor, you will make original, innovative and distinguished contributions at a national and emerging international level, while also delivering high-quality teaching and contributing to academic governance and leadership across the University.

Key Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership & Teaching

• Lead innovation and continuous improvement in teaching programs, including assessment design, moderation and quality assurance
• Direct award programs and contribute to improved student learning outcomes
• Provide academic leadership and mentoring to colleagues across teaching and scholarship

Research & Impact

• Lead nationally and internationally recognised research programs in geotechnical engineering
• Build, lead and mentor high-performing research teams
• Secure competitive external research funding to support sustained research growth
• Lead publication efforts in high-quality outlets
• Supervise Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates to successful completion
• Translate research outcomes into practice through industry and government collaboration

Service & Governance

• Make a substantial contribution to the strategic planning and governance of the Department, School, College and University
• Contribute to committees and leadership forums within and beyond the University
• Actively support a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing academic culture

About You

You are a respected academic leader with a strong reputation in computational geomechanics and a proven ability to bridge cutting-edge research with industry application.

You will demonstrate:

• A nationally recognised research profile, with emerging international recognition, in areas such as computational geomechanics, offshore geotechnics and soil-structure interaction modelling
• Proven experience leading award programs and implementing innovative, student-centred learning approaches
• Strong industry and government engagement translating research into practice
• Extensive research leadership experience, including building collaborative teams and securing competitive funding
• A strong record of supervising HDR candidates and developing research capacity
• Demonstrated capability in leading, mentoring and managing academic teams
• Sound understanding of governance, financial management and quality systems within a university environment
• High-level interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, including engagement with senior stakeholders and external partners
• A collaborative leadership style and proven contribution to shared strategic goals.

Qualifications

Mandatory: PhD in Civil Engineering.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children and National Police Check.

To Apply

Please click the 'Apply' link below and upload the following documents:

• Your CV
• A cover letter
• A separate document addressing the Key Selection Criteria

For further information about this position, please see the Position Description hyperlinked below or contact Associate Professor Dilan Robert via email at dilan.robert@rmit.edu.au

For further information regarding recruitment processes, please contact Jennifer Pham, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor via email at jennifer.pham2@rmit.edu.au Please do not share your application to this email address.

Position Description - Associate Professor, Geotechnical Engineering (PDF)

Applications close on Tuesday 27 January 2026 at 11.59pm.