Southern Cross University (SCU) is changing lives through revolutionary learning and research with real impact. Our values – We stive for excellence, We are bold, We care, We own it and We build trust through action - have inspired a culture that is truly distinctive within the context of the Australian higher education sector. Our people have the freedom to think differently. They embrace real opportunity. They are bound together by an ambition to do and be better.

If you are passionate, creative and want to shape and build the future, there are enormous and highly visible opportunities to do so through senior leadership at SCU.

Southern Cross University was born from community. A community that was bold and ambitious. A community which fought for a better future through establishing a university to catalyse the region. These roots have held firm and now SCU is one of the Top 100 Young Universities in the world. Where over 18,000 students are changing their lives for the better through studying online and across campuses in 3 regions (Lismore, Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour) and four major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane). Regional connection, a national footprint and global reach positions SCU distinctively in Australia’s higher education landscape.

We are proud to have one of the highest representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First in Family to university students. Our students are committed to making a difference – for themselves and their communities. We share that fire, dedicating ourselves to their potential through our revolutionary Southern Cross Model curriculum.

Our research efforts are focussed on collective, cross-disciplinary success. We have real impact in a range of areas of vital importance to our regions and the nation, including across natural and physical sciences, social sciences, health and education.

We are not held back by legacy or tradition. Instead, we are defined by our agility, optimism and courage to do things differently. We have a highly engaged and passionate team of academics and professionals committed to collective success. And we live in the most beautiful part of the world…

Welcome to SCU.

As DVC (Academic), you will:

• Shape and deliver SCU’s vision for academic excellence and student experience, ensuring our graduates are confident, capable, and ready to make a difference.

• Oversee academic strategy, curriculum innovation, and the integration of new AI driven technology into teaching and learning.

• Be a visible leader across our campuses and a champion for our unique model of education.

• Bring deep academic leadership experience and a passion for future-focused, student-centered education.

• Be persuasive, resilient, and ready to influence and inspire change at scale.

As DVC (Research), you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of SCU’s research strategy, building on our momentum.

• Foster a culture of quality, integrity, and innovation, supporting researcher development and knowledge transfer.

• Build strong partnerships with industry, government, and community, and international partners ensuring research delivers real-world impact.

• Bring a deeply credentialed research background and a track record of leading change and influencing outcomes across a university environment.

• Be entrepreneurial, strategic, and ready to take calculated risks to accelerate SCU’s research reputation and impact.

A leader energised by the desire to be unshackled and realise their calling. A leader who is visible, intellectually bold, and passionately invested in the success of the university and the region. You will have a pioneering mindset, the confidence to lead through ongoing change and work towards collective, rather than individual success. You’ll be a people leader who brings others with you, values community, and calls Northern NSW home.

For more information and to apply, please contact Dr Courtenay Atwell from Korn Ferry at SCUDVC@kornferry.com.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 27nd October 2025.

Applications should be sent to SCUDVC@kornferry.com and include a brief cover letter (1–2 pages) and a copy of your CV.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.