Discipline Leader

School

Faculty

Campus / Insert, Location of position
Reports to / Head of School
Special Conditions / Travel and overnight stays
Workplace Agreement / Charles Sturt University Enterprise Agreement 2013 – 2016
Date Last Reviewed / July2015

Faculty/School – Organisational Environment

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Organisational Chart

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Reporting Relationships

This position reports to:Head of School (or nominee)

This position supervises:Nil

Key Working Relationships

  • School Senior Management Team
  • Academic and Professional Course Team Members
  • School Administrative Officers
  • Course Director/s
  • Laboratory Manager
  • Faculty staff

Position Overview

The Discipline Leader provides leadership in facilitating discipline group academic activities and functions (research, Learning and Teaching, professional activity) in consultation with Head of School.

The Discipline Leader leads discipline teams through subjectdesign, quality assurance, delivery and evaluation of subjects in collaboration with the Courses Director and the broader course curriculum renewal process.The Discipline Leader will motivate staff to ensure a high quality learning experience for students that support CSU’s strategic priorities for learning and teaching, including online, practice-based and indigenous.

The Discipline Leaderwill provide advice to the Head of School for work-load allocation within the discipline, to progress the success and succession plans for the discipline group consistent with models of distributed leadership, capacity building and sustainability in consultation with the Head of School.

The Discipline Leader in professional streams requiring formal accreditation will work closely with the Courses Director who will ensure that accreditation requirements are congruent and integral with high quality course design; the Discipline Leader will be the key academic to liaise with the professional and accrediting bodies.

The Discipline Leader will also work closely with the Courses Director to facilitate the reporting requirements and assist in leading the required outcomesfrom the accreditation process.
In addition, the Discipline Leader will communicate progress with the Head of Schoolduring the accreditation process.

The Discipline Leader will be responsible for inculcating a highly professional and collegiate approach of all discipline academic staff, integrating research and creative activity, learningand teaching, community engagement and professional interaction and engagement, building synergies amongst these activities and elevating the impact of the discipline group.

Principal Responsibilities

  1. Lead and maintain a culture of collaboration within and across discipline teams and lead a range of activities and processes related to academic activities across the disciplinefacilitating academic staff entrepreneurialism, creativity and scholarship and an engaging student experience that places excellence in research and quality education at its core.
  2. Build, lead and strengthen discipline teams, nurturing a respectful, trusting and collaborative working environment and creating a sense of purpose and direction for discipline team members that align with School, Faculty and University objectives/goals.
  3. Facilitate the giving and receiving of feedback related to subject design and processes within and across subjects, Faculties, Schools and Divisions of the University.
  4. Work closely with the Courses Director to contribute to ongoing course design and curriculum renewal.
  5. Monitor, analyse, interpret and report subject data to relevant stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner, including relevant School committees, Head of School and other administrators, as appropriate.
  6. Inculcate inclusive communication and practiceamongst School leadership, academic staff and students throughout all functions of the School including student recruitment, orientation, School, Faculty and University events, pastoral care, ceremonies and student advisory and feedback processes.
  7. In close collaboration with the Head of School, actively engage in industry and professional liaison, seeking industry and professional support and endorsement for the Discipline Group, as appropriate, and contribute toSchool promotion and marketing.
  8. In collaboration with relevant University and Faculty leaders, lead the discipline team in applying CSU learning and teaching frameworks, standards, methodologies, processes, technologies and tools.
  9. Collaborate with others across Schools, Faculties (including Course Director/s), and Divisions of the University in building a community of practice for professional learning and sharing of good practice across academic activities.
  10. Represent the University in a positive and professional manner in a range of settings.
  11. Provide advice to the Head of School in relation to, staff engagement, outcomes, development and review.
  12. Contribute to the development of the Discipline through research/creative works or professional activity.
  13. Other duties appropriate to the classification, including teaching, research or professional activities, as determined by the Head of School.

Physical Capabilities

  1. Physically able to sit or stand for extended periods of time to perform reading, writing and computing related activities including keyboard and mouse operations.
  2. On occasion travel by air or drive/ in a University vehicle distances up to 500kms per day within the terms of the University’s Driving Hours Guidelines and Policy available at: and

Selection Criteria

As this is an internal appointment staff have been assessed and are expected to have the Standards, Expectations and Qualifications of Academic Staff as set out in the policy for their current academic appointment.

Additionally, applicants are expected to have the following requirements to be considered for this position:

  1. Demonstratedcapacity for leadership in subject design and evaluation, teaching and learning, leadership in the use of e-learning technologies andproficiency in application of subject data for implementation,and quality assurance;
  2. Demonstrated knowledge and skills in creative activities, scholarship and/or research and/or a significant record of professional leadership;
  3. Knowledge of the tertiary education sector, including the tertiary education landscape, University governance, academic and administrative processes, legislation and registration compliance requirements, equity principles and education for sustainability;
  4. Demonstrated ability to apply collaborative processes in a timely manner to support high impact and rigorous standards of the Discipline Group, and to meet University governance, academic and administrative requirements;
  5. Demonstrated evidence of student centred values and experience in responding to student matters including providing subject advice, pastoral care, and responding to feedback and complaints;
  6. Demonstrated high level written and oral communication skills, including influencing, facilitating, presenting, active listening, providing constructive feedback and capacity to work effectively with others and build strong partnerships with colleagues, academic and administrative units, and the profession;
  7. Demonstrated commitment to applying culturally respectful and inclusive practices, and demonstrating respect and inclusiveness of culturally diverse people in all work practices and communications with staff and students.

Further information is available from
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