Lecturer, Applied Innovation

About the Role

Drive Contemporary Applied Innovation in a Practice-Led Environment

Swinburne University of Technology is seeking a Lecturer, Applied Innovation (2-year fixed term) to join Design Factory Melbourne (DFM) - a globally connected innovation hub embedded at the intersection of academia, industry and emerging startup ecosystems.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Swinburne’s Ad Astra 2030 ambitions, shaping future-focused, industry-integrated learner experiences while advancing contemporary approaches to applied innovation in both teaching and research.

At DFM, you will work within a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment that draws on real-world innovation practices from industry, startups and broader ecosystems. You’ll bring current applied innovation expertise into the classroom - designing and delivering hands-on, studio-based learning experiences that connect theory with the realities of innovation in practice.

This role offers flexibility across teaching, applied research and innovation services, with opportunities to contribute to DFM’s diverse portfolio of industry projects, co-created innovation initiatives and startup-facing engagements. You’ll play a key role in enabling students to develop future-ready capabilities through immersive, work-integrated learning experiences.

We’re seeking an emerging or established academic with experience in applied innovation, interdisciplinary or design-led learning, and a passion for bridging academic and industry practice.

If you are energised by working across education, industry and innovation ecosystems, and want to contribute to a dynamic environment shaping the next generation of applied innovation talent, we’d love to hear from you.

About You

To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities:

• Demonstrated experience in teaching in a university setting.
• Demonstrated leadership or team coordination experience in higher education, including experience contributing to course teams, fostering a collaborative working environment, and supporting the delivery and enhancement of undergraduate curricula in alignment with institutional goals. (Desirable)
• Demonstrated capability to contribute to teaching a range of undergraduate and postgraduate innovation-based unit offerings.
• Demonstrated commitment to research in the university context including high quality publications (Desirable)

Qualifications

• A PHD tertiary qualification aligned to innovation methodology or equivalent demonstrated experience.