"Professor or Associate Professor of Education and Director, Research in the School of Education at Curtin University"

Professor or Associate Professor of Education - School of Education

• Faculty of Humanities
• Perth, Western Australia
• Permanent Full Time

Date posted: 12/2/2026

• Permanent Full-Time Position
• $173,635 - $191,099 (ALD) $223,135 (ALE) + 17 % Superannuation
• Based on Bentley Campus

Reference Number: 1422742

Professor or Associate Professor of Education and Director, Research in the School of Education at Curtin University

The Curtin University School of Education invites applications for a teaching and research academic, appointable at either Level D (Associate Professor) or Level E (Professor), depending on experience and expertise. In addition to this ongoing role, the successful applicant will serve as Director, Research for an initial three-year term. The position provides strategic leadership for the School’s research agenda. This includes setting research priorities aligned with School, Faculty and University strategies; fostering a strong, inclusive, and sustainable research culture; supporting research clusters and early/mid-career researchers; and driving performance across research quality, impact, income, and engagement. The Director, Research plays a key role in mentoring academic staff, supporting grant development and success, strengthening external partnerships, and ensuring alignment with institutional research frameworks and expectations.

The individual in this position is expected to demonstrate high levels of performance and leadership. They should have a proven track record of collaborative academic leadership that aligns with School, Faculty and University’s strategic goals, while also making substantial contributions to both teaching and research. Furthermore, they should have a national (Level D) or international (Level E) reputation as an outstanding scholar in one of these areas, each of which is associated with one of the School of Education’s Research Clusters:

• Early Childhood Education
• Artificial Intelligence in Education
• Applied Linguistics and TESOL
• Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
• First Nations and Education Research
• Sociology of Education
• Creativity, Arts and English in Education
• Work Integrated Learning
• STEM Education
• Teacher Education and Curriculum

Applicants should have the capacity to translate scholarly excellence into collective outcomes that enhance the standing, coherence, and impact of the School’s teaching and research profile.

Associate Professor (Level D) / Professor (Level E)

Applicants should indicate if they are applying for the position at Level D or Level E. Both levels provide academic leadership and promote excellence in teaching, research, and service, with the emphasis on each varying according to School and University priorities. As expected of any Level D or Level E teaching and research appointment, the role involves potentially providing leadership in curriculum design and pedagogical development, sustained scholarly contribution to a field of research, and active participation in governance and academic citizenship at School, Faculty, and University levels.

Both Levels are expected to demonstrate high standards of academic performance, collegial leadership, and professional integrity, aligned with the University’s strategic goals and values. Distinction between Level D and Level E lies in the scale of leadership, depth of impact, and level of national and international influence.

Teaching and Learning

Associate Professor (Level D)

• Deliver high-quality, innovative teaching across undergraduate, honours, and postgraduate levels and modes.
• Demonstrate and foster reflective improvement in teaching practice.
• Lead curriculum innovation and pedagogical development within the discipline or course.
• Provide leadership in course design, delivery, and teaching initiatives.
• Promote a strong culture of teaching excellence within teaching teams.
• Supervise honours and postgraduate coursework students.
• Maintain currency with contemporary theory and professional practice.
• Contribute to teaching leadership roles and related administrative responsibilities.

Professor (Level E)

• Provide strategic leadership in teaching across programs and disciplines.
• Lead major curriculum reform and pedagogical initiatives with demonstrable impact.
• Advance evidence-based and scholarly approaches to teaching and learning.
• Shape teaching and learning priorities at School, Faculty, and/or University level.
• Contribute to education policy development at state, national, or international levels.
• Lead professional development for teaching staff.
• Undertake senior administrative responsibilities related to teaching and curriculum leadership.

Research and Scholarship

Associate Professor (Level D)

• Conduct nationally and internationally competitive, high-quality research.
• Provide leadership to research teams, projects, or programs.
• Lead applications for competitive research grants and fellowships as Chief Investigator.
• Produce a sustained record of high-quality research outputs in leading journals or equivalent creative outlets.
• Build and consolidate international research standing through conference presentations and scholarly engagement.
• Edit scholarly journals or significant research outputs.
• Provide principal supervision of honours, masters, and doctoral research students.

Professor (Level E)

• Conduct internationally leading research with substantial and sustained impact.
• Shape research directions and advance disciplinary knowledge at a national and international level.
• Lead major competitive funding initiatives, large-scale programs, and international research consortia.
• Maintain an outstanding and influential record of research outputs in top-tier outlets.
• Edit major international scholarly works or journals.
• Influence public policy, professional practice, or societal outcomes through research.
• Provide senior leadership in HDR supervision and researcher development.

Service, Leadership, and Engagement

Associate Professor (Level D)

• Make a significant contribution to academic service, governance, and collegial life.
• Lead and contribute to external professional, disciplinary, and community engagement activities.
• Provide leadership in School- and Faculty-level initiatives.
• Mentor early-career and less experienced academic staff.
• Foster a collegial, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Model exemplary professional conduct aligned with University values and the Code of Conduct.

Professor (Level E)

• Provide leadership and governance across School, Faculty, and University initiatives.
• Represent the University in senior external, professional, and international contexts.
• Lead significant engagement with government, industry, professions, and communities.
• Shape institutional policy and strategic direction.
• Model and embed a culture of excellence, inclusion, and academic leadership.

Essential Selection Criteria

Associate Professor (Level D)

1. Doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline.
2. Demonstrated excellence and leadership in teaching and research.
3. Established record of highly productive, high-quality research outputs consistent with a national reputation.
4. Success in attracting competitive research income.
5. Demonstrated academic leadership within the discipline and profession.
6. Experience in supervision of higher degree research students.
7. High-level communication and interpersonal skills, including cross-cultural and cross-sectoral capability.
8. Demonstrated commitment to University policies, procedures, and legislative requirements.
9. Knowledge of state and national education contexts

Professor (Level E)

1. Doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline.
2. Demonstrated excellence and leadership in teaching and research.
3. Established record of highly productive, high-quality research outputs consistent with an international reputation.
4. Success in attracting competitive research income.
5. Demonstrated academic leadership within the discipline and profession.
6. Substantial experience in supervision of higher degree research students.
7. High-level communication and interpersonal skills, including cross-cultural and cross-sectoral capability.
8. Demonstrated leadership in relation to implementation of University policies, procedures, and legislative requirements.
9. Knowledge of state and national education contexts

Desirable Selection Criteria

• Evidence of contribution to university governance and policy development.
• Demonstrated experience in strengthening research culture and performance at School or Faculty level, including mentoring researchers and increasing the quality and quantity of outputs.
• Experience leading or coordinating interdisciplinary, cross-institutional, or externally partnered research initiatives, aligned with strategic priorities.
• Proven capacity to support and grow competitive research income across a range of schemes, including national, state, industry, or philanthropic funding.
• Experience in research strategy, evaluation or performance frameworks, such as ERA-related processes, impact development, or strategic research planning.
• Demonstrated contribution to university governance, policy development, or strategic committees related to research, teaching, or engagement.
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally safe research leadership, including support for Indigenous knowledges, diverse methodologies, and inclusive research teams.
• Well-established national and/or international research networks that enhance collaboration, profile, and opportunity for the School.

Role Requirements

1. Permanent work rights in Australia (continuing appointment), only in certain circumstances will sponsorship be considered.
2. Successful completion of National Police Clearance and relevant background checks.

About Curtin University

Curtin University proudly stands among the top one percent of global universities according to the ARWU 2024 rankings. We are an energetic, dedicated team of academics and professionals working together to provide global solutions through quality graduates and innovative research. Curtin is a welcoming space where integrity, respect for one another, courage, excellence, and impact are essential to everyday life. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page - https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-curtin/

What We Offer You:

Situated on Whadjuk Nyungar Country, our vibrant Bentley campus includes an art gallery, gym, childcare and medical centre, bus station, accessible parking and endless food options including a supermarket. Aside from the vibrant campus life, we offer more than just a job. Curtin offers a wide range of generous benefits, including additional leave, salary packaging, health and wellbeing services and an array of discounts for retail, travel and much more.

For more reasons to work at Curtin, please visit https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/

Join Us!

If this sounds like your next role, please click APPLY NOW ensuring to attach the following documents:

• Up to date curriculum vita
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and demonstrating how your background meets the position’s selection criteria (noted above – Please advise if applying for Professor ALE or Associate Professor ALD ) – (3 – 5 Pages Max)

If you have any queries in relation to the application process, please contact our careers team on CurtinCareers@curtin.edu.au or 08 9266 9000 (option 3,1), quoting the reference number.

For specific questions about the role, please contact Head of School Professor Jeffrey S Brooks at jeffrey.brooks@curtin.edu.au Please note applications will not be accepted via either of these email addresses.

Applications close: 8.30pm (AWST), Sunday 14th of March 2026.

Late applications or applications received via email will not be considered, and only successful candidates will be contacted.

Please note we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies at this time.

_Curtin reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw from the recruitment process, not to make an appointment, or to appoint by invitation, at any time. We reserve the right to remove the advert earlier than the date on the advert._