Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Capability

Why work with us?

At Deakin you will have access to benefits such as a variety of leave options including generous parental leave and the ability to purchase additional leave; flexible working arrangements to help manage your work-life balance; ongoing learning and development opportunities to grow your career; an inclusive and supportive culture and environment to work in, both online and on campus.

At Deakin, we are driven by our strategic ambition to be Australia’s most progressive and responsive university. We are committed to educational excellence, inclusion, digital innovation and a culture that supports our people to thrive.

You will join a dynamic senior leadership team and have the opportunity to shape the future of academic capability at scale.

Lead the future of academic capability at Deakin

Deakin University is seeking an exceptional senior leader to shape and advance academic capability across the institution. As Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Capability, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring Deakin’s educators are equipped to deliver high-quality, contemporary teaching and learning in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

This is a rare opportunity to influence institution-wide practice, lead a signature University initiative, and position Deakin as a sector leader in academic capability, teaching excellence and scholarly engagement.

As a Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Capability, you will:

• Lead a significant academic or strategic portfolio, setting direction that aligns with university priorities and strengthens performance across teaching, research, partnerships or priority domains
• Translate strategic intent into clear priorities, initiatives and outcomes that can be delivered across faculties and functions
• Provide authoritative advice to the Executive on matters of academic strategy, performance and external positioning. Contribute to university-wide decision-making by bringing deep expertise, insight and an understanding of sector trends and opportunities
• Drive performance and impact across the portfolio by establishing clear expectations, monitoring progress and enabling delivery through others. Ensure initiatives and activities contribute to academic quality, reputation and measurable outcomes
• Build alignment and collaboration across faculties, disciplines and professional areas to progress shared priorities. Influence senior stakeholders to work collectively in addressing complex challenges and advancing university-wide goals

To be successful, you’ll have:

• A distinguished record of leadership in teaching and learning, academic development or related domains.
• Deep expertise in contemporary higher education pedagogy, academic capability development and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale initiatives, frameworks or programs that enhance teaching capability and educational quality.
• Experience providing authoritative advice to senior leaders and influencing strategic decision-making.
• A track record of fostering collaborative, innovative and high-performing teams.
• Strong scholarly contributions and sector engagement in learning and teaching.
• Exceptional communication, partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

Here's how to apply:

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Sharna Spittle (Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor, Teaching and Learning).

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

PD - Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Capability.pdf

Applications for this position close on Sunday 3 May 2026.