"Head of the Melbourne Veterinary School"

Role type: Full time, Fixed-term for 5 years

Faculty: Faculty of Science

School: Melbourne Veterinary School

Salary: Level E, plus a 'Large Department' loading and a Faculty of Science Head of School loading plus 17% super

• Join Australia’s leading university as Head of the Melbourne Veterinary School
• Shape the future of veterinary sciences through visionary and innovative leadership
• Inspire excellence in a thriving, inclusive community

About the University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is a friendly, diverse community of students, academics and staff. We are world-renowned for the excellence of our research and for the warmth of our community. Established in 1853, we are a global leader in higher education and bring together the world’s best minds to solve globally significant problems.

Our vision is to equip our students with a distinctive, future-facing education personalised around their ambitions and needs, enriched by global perspectives and embedded in a richly collaborative research culture.

About the Faculty of Science

A truly comprehensive Faculty of Science, we enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and more than 160 years’ experience in discovery and innovation. We are the highest ranked university in Australia and a leading science faculty.

The Faculty comprises seven Schools: Agriculture, Food & Ecosystem Sciences; BioSciences; Chemistry; Geography, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences; Mathematics & Statistics; Physics; and Veterinary Science. Our strength is our depth and breadth of expertise. We are Australia’s most comprehensive science Faculty, with 900 academics covering 43 research disciplines and teaching 50 courses.

We are guided by our values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, professionalism and inclusion. The Faculty is dedicated to delivering transformative educational outcomes and offers a range of undergraduate, honours, graduate and research degrees, enrolling more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 850 PhD candidates.

About the Melbourne Veterinary School

The Melbourne Veterinary School is a highly ranked veterinary school with a proud tradition of excellence in research, education, and leadership. The Melbourne Veterinary School has research strengths in animal diseases, zoonotic infectious diseases, production animal systems and animal welfare. The Melbourne Veterinary School provides the only professional entry veterinary medicine program in Victoria and covers a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects across veterinary science with Australia’s premiere graduate Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, which is nationally and internationally accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (VSSAAC), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Science, the Head of School will be responsible for:

• Governance and strategic direction of the school, ensuring the delivery of an internationally competitive research and education program
• Leading the development and maintenance of high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate programs
• Ensuring accreditation standards are met across the school
• Fostering a culture of excellence and innovation
• Oversee the management of the school's finances, infrastructure, and human resources, working closely with the Faculty's executive team.

The role offers significant opportunities for impact, including enhancing the school's international reputation, promoting collaboration across the university, and engaging with industry partners. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the Faculty's strategic mission and governance, providing dynamic leadership and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for staff and students.

About You

• Proven academic leadership with experience in driving educational excellence and strategic transformation at faculty or institutional level
• Demonstrated international research reputation in the field of Veterinary Science
• Strong understanding of university education delivery and quality assurance
• Experience in managing staff, financial, and infrastructure resources effectively
• Ability to represent the interests of the discipline, school, and university in the wider community
• Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

For a Confidential conversation, please contact Hoffmann Reed’s Managing Director, Marcus Engeman, at marcus@hoffmannreed.com.au, or call +61 431 804 418.

How to Apply

To apply, please prepare a cover letter outlining your motivations and relevant experience and email with your full CV to confidential@hoffmannreed.com.au.

Applications close: 17 November 2025 11:55 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) / Melbourne time zone.

Position Description: JR-002878 Head of School MVS PD.pdf