The Opportunity:
Reporting to the Provost, the Deputy Provost plays a central role in the day-to-day leadership and operational performance of the academic enterprise. The role spans all faculties and academic disciplines and is focused on ensuring the effective delivery of ACU’s academic strategy in a complex and evolving sector environment.
The role includes oversight of key strategic initiatives, including the establishment of new areas, and is a hands on leadership position requiring strong operational oversight, sound judgement, and the ability to lead through influence. The Deputy Provost will work closely with Executive Deans and Heads of School to strengthen academic performance, support workforce planning, and embed a contemporary academic model that integrates teaching and research expectations.
While the role includes oversight of key strategic initiatives, including the establishment of new areas, its core focus is on ensuring consistency, rigour and excellence across the existing academic portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide senior leadership across academic operations and performance
- Lead and oversee academic promotions processes, including driving enhancements to policy, rigour and outcomes
- Partner with Executive Deans to support workforce planning, workload allocation, and performance management
- Strengthen alignment and collaboration across faculties, fostering a collegiate and high-performing academic culture
- Contribute to the ongoing evolution of ACU’s academic model, including expectations across education and research
- Contribute to the success of research institutes and centres located in the faculties
- Support key institutional priorities including digital transformation, online delivery, and system uplift initiatives
- Lead and support targeted strategic initiatives
- Contribute to broader organisational priorities, including revenue diversification and academic innovation.
The Successful Candidate:
ACU is seeking a credible and pragmatic academic leader with a strong track record of delivering outcomes in complex university environments.
You will bring:
- Demonstrated experience in academic line leadership, including managing performance, workload allocation and career conversations
- A strong understanding of academic operations, including promotions, workforce planning and faculty performance
- The ability to lead through influence, building trust and alignment across senior academic stakeholders
- A collegiate and adaptive leadership style, with the capacity to work effectively across diverse portfolios
- A sound understanding of the research landscape, including performance expectations and emerging practices
- A practical, solutions-oriented mindset, with the ability to operate effectively in environments with varying levels of system maturity
- An innovative and forward-looking approach to academic leadership and organisational improvement
- Alignment with ACU’s mission, values, and commitment to social impact.