AddressJob Title
Centre Head – Colonial Foundation Diagnostics CentreJob Description
Employment Opportunity: Centre Head – Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre
Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre
An excellent opportunity is available for a Centre Head to lead the Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre at Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical research institute.
About the position
The Colonial Foundation Diagnostics Centre (the Centre) has a vision to revolutionise health outcomes by developing new kinds of diagnostic pathology tests, leveraging spatial -omics and multi-omics, to monitor inflammatory diseases and conditions of ageing.
A joint initiative of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) and the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), the Centre benefits from transformative multi-year support from the Colonial Foundation. It builds on the success of the Colonial Foundation Healthy Ageing Centre (CFHAC; 2019-2024), which established a clinical platform for proteomics-led diagnostics. The Centre will bring together leading researchers and clinicians to transform pathology into a 21st century science, bringing advanced discovery tools out of the research space and into the clinic to drive new opportunities to improve patient care.
The Centre will build on significant investment in spatial transcriptomics and proteomics technology at WEHI and RMH, and will leverage internationally leading technological capabilities in genomics, proteomics, imaging and computational biology, including AI/ML. It will benefit from access to outstanding archival tissue and disease cohorts through RMH. With the recently launched Snow Centre for Immune Health, the Centre forms a key element of WEHI and RMH’s strategic focus on translating research on immune and inflammatory disorders into improvements in patient care. The Centre will reside in the internationally esteemed Melbourne Biomedical Precinct (Parkville), benefiting from the century-long relationship between WEHI and the RMH and the rich milieu of collaborating research, clinical and industry organisations.
WEHI is seeking an experienced, thoughtful and highly collaborative Centre Head to lead the Centre. Building on extensive expertise in the application of spatial -omics or other -omic technologies, the Centre Head will be responsible for the establishment of the Centre and for providing strategic, financial and operational leadership and overarching research direction, including close engagement with the Centre’s Governance Committee and Research Translation Advisory Committee and with colleagues and leadership across WEHI and the RMH. Fundamental researchers and clinicians are both encouraged to apply; there is the opportunity for the successful applicant to conduct clinical work at the RMH alongside leadership of the Centre.
Selection Criteria
Specialist expertise and qualifications
PhD or MD-PhD qualification in an aspect of biomedical or clinical research.
Deep expertise and a scientific track record of international standing in at least one of spatial biology, clinical diagnostic pathology, proteomics and/or computational biology, or in an allied field.
(desirable) Experience of development and commercialisation of diagnostic tests or therapies.
(desirable) Clinical or scientific skills in inflammation and/or diseases of ageing.
Personal qualities
Leadership - clearly and convincingly articulates a vision; creates a sense of trust and value; builds team culture and alignment; effectively engages with leadership across organisations.
Cognitive skills - perceptive, intelligent, and quick to understand more conceptually demanding ideas; reasons through problems to introduce improved and innovative ways of doing things.
Persuasion and negotiation – Track record of influencing, negotiation and conflict resolution; assimilates information from others to identify others’ needs; identifies and assesses a range of possible options.
Communication – highly effective interpersonal, communication and listening skills with an open, diplomatic and collegial approach, and the ability to create and foster collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and external organisations; highly developed written communication skills.
Knowledge and skills
Strategic thinking – ability to build effective long-range strategic plans, with equal enthusiasm to drive the day-to-day execution to achieve strategic goals.
Team building – proven ability to build a highly effective and collaborative team and to develop the talent of others; acts as a role model to inspire and motivate others; seeks ways to improve their own contribution and increase the level of responsibility of themselves and others.
Sector awareness - understands and diagnoses trends, obstacles and opportunities in the internal and external environment and capitalises on these insights.
Change and project management - understands and guides the engagement and change required to deliver major projects, including identification of critical project milestones.
Terms of appointment
This position is a fixed term 5 year opportunity, in a full-time capacity. Salary is negotiable and dependent on experience and expertise. Up to 17% superannuation and very attractive salary packaging options are available.
A position description is available
How to apply
Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a document addressing the key selection criteria in pdf format.
Application closing date: 19 July 2024.
WEHI – Brighter together
WEHI is where the world’s brightest minds collaborate and innovate to make discoveries that will help us to live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years. We bring together people with different skills and experience who are committed to long-term discovery. Our teams of researchers are committed to solving the most complex health problems, making transformative discoveries for cancer, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing.
WEHI is a place where people are able to shine. People who are inquisitive, who are committed, who are passionate. People who want to make a difference. And we are committed to ensuring they have the tools to flourish, personally and professionally.
We are a community of researchers, students and professional service staff who work towards achieving discoveries that improve human health. We are driven by collaboration, curiosity and creativity. We are committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people in Australia and around the world. We are WEHI. We are brighter together.
WEHI’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
At WEHI we strive to foster a flexible working environment that encourages individual differences and promotes collaboration and creativity. We recognise that talent does not sit within a single identifiable group in our society and that WEHI’s ability to shape contemporary scientific thinking and deliver leading professional services relies on a diversity of thought within our organisation. Our action to promote gender equality has been recognised with an Athena SWAN Bronze Award from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and we offer a range of support for women researchers. Our commitment to celebrating diversity and addressing inequities is further demonstrated through our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Gender Action Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan and our WE-Pride network for LGBTQIA+ staff and students. We actively encourage applications from, people with a disability, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people and people with diverse genders and sexualities. Should you require support during the recruitment process due to special needs or consideration, please contact the People and Culture team.
WEHI’s commitment to Indigenous employment
WEHI is working to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be engaged at the scientific frontier, making exciting discoveries and decisions about the future of health in this country, and part of a leading professional services workforce supporting the realisation of these discoveries. We are committed to creating a culturally safe workplace and offering career development and leadership opportunities to First Nations staff and students. We strongly encourage any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.
