Head of School, Education
University of New England | Armidale, NSW | Full-time
- Lead teacher education that shapes national policy and transforms regional communities
- Build a research and teaching culture that is ambitious, innovative and built for the future
- Drive impactful change in how UNE prepares the next generation of educators
Be bold. Be unconventional. Shape the future of teacher education.
UNE has a proud history of doing things differently. Our new Strategic Plan calls us to be unconventional once again, to become an interface institution that connects individual aspirations to community outcomes and nowhere is that mission more alive than in the School of Education.
The School of Education and its Head of School are key to delivering on that transition. This is a pivotal role at the heart of UNE's new strategy, and a genuine opportunity to lead one of Australia's most dynamic and impactful teacher education schools.
About the School
The School of Education is a leading provider of primary, secondary and early childhood teacher education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, delivered on-campus and online. Our academics shape national policy, from ACARA's assessment reporting practices to WHO health literacy frameworks, with research consistently ranked in the top 10–25% of citations worldwide and over $2.5 million in competitive funding secured. We are pioneers in ethical, pedagogically grounded AI integration, and we are deeply committed to addressing the critical teacher workforce needs of rural and regional Australia.
About the role
Drive transformation across teaching, research and community.
Reporting to the Executive Dean, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across teaching, research and community engagement. Key responsibilities include:
- Drive the School's contribution to UNE's strategic transition — shifting the operating model and embedding the institution's identity as an interface between learners, schools and regional communities.
- Champion UNE's 'Live and Work to Learn' model, enabling education students to work in regional schools while they study — addressing student financial pressures and teacher shortages across rural Australia simultaneously.
- Grow place-based teacher education in Armidale and Tamworth, stewarding strong partnerships with NESA, AITSL, ACECQA and state registration authorities.
- Lead a collegial, high-performing academic community, putting people and culture at the centre of strategy.
- Advance a research and teaching culture that is ambitious, innovative and built for the future — including pioneering approaches to ethical AI in education.
About you
A strategic transformation leader who builds what genuinely matters.
- A leader with deep roots in education and the vision to reshape how teacher education happens.
- A PhD in Education (or EdD) or related field, with a teaching qualification in the school or early childhood sector, and scholarly standing that merits appointment at Professorial level.
- Deeply grounded in teacher education and educational scholarship across Australian and international contexts, informed by current policy debates and emerging evidence — and passionate about advocating for what matters in the discipline.
- A demonstrated record of academic achievement and leadership, with proven excellence and innovation in teaching, research and community collaboration aligned to genuine institutional priorities.
- Experienced at leading change within complex academic environments — not just managing but genuinely reshaping how a unit operates, delivers and grows its capability over time.
- Analytically rigorous and creatively resourceful.
- Solid experience in the operational fundamentals including business planning, budget management, course portfolio strategy, workload allocation.
- A skilled relationship-builder with schools, education systems, regulatory partners and professional bodies.
- Genuinely committed to values-based leadership that puts people and culture at the centre of strategy.
- Deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural safety, including upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to, in and through education.
If you are ready to lead meaningful change in teacher education and educational research while building on our proven track record of excellence, we want to hear from you. Help us write the next chapter of UNE's unconventional success story.
Why UNE?
UNE has always delivered impact that belies its size — in teacher education quality, in regional impact, and in its willingness to do things differently. The School of Education is no exception: research that shapes national policy, innovations that are setting the pace on AI in education, and a genuine commitment to solving the teacher shortage in rural and regional Australia.
This is a rare opportunity to help write the next chapter for a School that is ambitious, connected and genuinely impactful, and for a leader who acts with courage, builds partnerships that last, and delivers outcomes that matter.
Additional Information
- Fixed term five-year contract
- Attractive salary package including up to 17% superannuation (salary packaging options are available)
- Relocation assistance provided
- Travel will be required
- Applicants must have or be able to obtain appropriate Australian work rights for the duration of this position
Enquiries and additional information about the role
We have engaged the services of Towardco for this important role. For a confidential discussion, please contact Terri Ward, Principal Towardco on 0447667 439 or email terri@towardco.com
To Apply
Please submit:
- A cover letter telling us why this role excites you and what you bring.
- Your response to the Selection Criteria outlined in the Position Statement,
- Your current curriculum vitae.
Send your application to terri@towardco.com quoting reference UNEHOSE0726 in the subject line.
Please note that only applications received via this email address will be considered.
Applications close Midnight 3 August 2026.