Director - Who Collaborating Centre For

Director and Associate Professor/Professor – WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Influenza
About Us
is a world renowned institution, providing outstanding care and treatment and improving health outcomes through a comprehensive medical research program and training of future health professionals.
The Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) is Australia’s leading infectious diseases reference laboratory. Located within the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (the Doherty) in the heart of Melbourne’s Biomedical Precinct and funded by the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), VIDRL provides laboratory services across virology and other areas for a range of clinical and governmental bodies domestically and internationally. It was at the forefront of the COVID19 pandemic in Victoria and Australia, being the first laboratory to culture the SARSCoV2 virus outside of China.
The is part of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. The network was established in 1952 to monitor the frequent changes in and reduce the impact of its viruses. Together with the WHO Collaborating Centres in Atlanta, Beijing, London and Tokyo, the Centre is responsible for analysing influenza viruses currently circulating in the human population across the globe. This information is used by the WHO to make recommendations on appropriate viruses to be included in annual seasonal influenza vaccines for the northern and southern hemispheres. The Centre also undertakes research, training and regional capacity building activities related to influenza.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director is responsible to the Commonwealth Department of Health for providing strategic leadership and direction of the Centre in support of its TOR, and through the VIDRL Director and the Chief Executive of the Royal Melbourne Hospital for operational management of the Centre. The Director will also hold a joint appointment as Professor (or Associate Professor) in the University of Melbourne in either the Department of Microbiology and Immunology or the Department of Infectious Diseases, depending on the major focus of their research.
The Director will leverage opportunities for the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza as part of the new Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID), the largest centre of infectious disease expertise in the Southern Hemisphere, as part of the Doherty Institute, one of the three foundation partners together with Burnet Institute and University of Melbourne. The new venture, coinciding with the Australian Government’s creation of the Australian Centre for Disease Control, makes the coming decade an exciting period in the Centre’s history.
The position will be fully accountable to both the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne. The appointment panel and performance management reviews will have representatives from both institutions, with the requirement of both organisations to be met. Emerging leaders, those at Level D, are encouraged to apply
The RMH is proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality for our staff and our community. Our goal is for our people to feel safe, included and supported so that they can be at their best every single day. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply to our vacancies, and will consider adjustments to support such applications.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne at the Doherty Institute will be supported for this appointment by the executive search firm Universe Search. If you wish to discuss this role further in confidence, please contact: Kym Matthews on +61 407 084 785, or by email: kym@universesearch.com.au
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