School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering Full-time, 5-year fixed-term position at Academic Level E, with underlying continuing (permanent) Professorial position Based at our beautiful St Lucia Campus About This Opportunity Lead one of the world's most respected engineering schools and help shape the future of engineering education, research and industry impact. The School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering is entering an exciting new chapter. With a strong global reputation, significant student growth, world-leading research capability, and deep industry connections, the School is uniquely positioned to influence the future of mechanical, aerospace, biomedical, materials, mechatronic and mining engineering.

As Head of School, you will inherit a thriving, collaborative and inclusive community and be empowered to drive its next phase of growth. This is a rare opportunity to build on an extraordinary legacy while shaping the ideas, partnerships and people that will solve tomorrow's most complex challenges. The School’s commitment to research excellence and real-world impact is reflected in the outstanding global standing of UQ's Mineral and Mining Engineering discipline, ranked 5th in the world in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

In this role, you will: Shape the strategic direction of one of Australia's leading engineering schools. Lead a community of internationally recognised researchers, educators, qualified staff and industry collaborators. Drive research excellence across areas transforming the future, including advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, robotics, automation, biomedical engineering and mining innovation.

Build bold interdisciplinary partnerships that translate discovery into meaningful impact. Strengthen engagement with industry, government and global partners to create new opportunities for growth, influence and collaboration. Elevate the School's global reputation while protecting the collegial, supportive culture that makes it distinctive.

Guide strategic investment decisions across people, infrastructure, education and research. Leave a lasting legacy through leadership that creates impact well beyond the University. For more information about this opportunity, please view the Appointment Booklet.

About You

We are seeking a respected academic leader with an international reputation for excellence and a passion for shaping the future of research, education and industry impact. Combining intellectual leadership with strategic vision, you will bring the credibility to influence at the highest levels and the ability to unite people around a shared ambition.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate: An internationally recognised reputation for academic excellence, with the credibility, leadership capability and strategic vision to enhance the standing and influence of the School and Faculty. A proven track record of leading and developing high-performing teams, creating a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence, and inspiring others to achieve ambitious goals in research, teaching and engagement.



Exceptional stakeholder engagement, influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to forge productive partnerships across industry, government, professional bodies and the broader community.

Strong strategic, operational and commercial acumen, including experience leading complex organisations and managing financial, human and physical resources to deliver sustainable growth and impact. A commitment to inclusive leadership and organisational stewardship, demonstrated through fostering equity, diversity and inclusion, supporting staff development and wellbeing, and navigating governance, policy and regulatory responsibilities with integrity. Most importantly, you are excited by the opportunity to lead a community with extraordinary potential and help define its next chapter.

About UQ As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged. At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development. Interested? If you'd like to have a confidential discussion, please contact Caylee-Jade Eve, Principal Consultant, Executive Recruitment via [email protected].

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section in the attached position booklet.

Other Information

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, which will include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, and criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements. Relocating from interstate or overseas?

We may support you with obtaining employer-sponsored work rights and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here. We're dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion.

We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ,



and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We're also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [email protected] or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Monday the 26th October at 11.00pm AEST (R-65984). The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country.

At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth.

With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals.

Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way. UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential.

We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work.

For more information about working at UQ and our employee advantages (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.

📌 Head of School, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering (Queensland)
🏢 The University of Queensland
📍 Queensland