Research Partnerships Director (Health)

Position Details

• Continuing I Full Time 
• Higher Education Officer Level 10 | $147,656 - $156,497 pa | 17% Super
• View Position Description
• Location: Bedford Park / Kaurna Country

About the Role:

The Research Partnerships Director (Health) is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving high-impact research partnerships and major funding opportunities across health and medical research.

Working across Flinders University, government, industry, and the not-for-profit sector, you will identify and secure large-scale, competitive funding opportunities (including MRFF and NHMRC) and lead the development of collaborative, high-impact research programs.

You will act as a key connector, bringing together researchers, Colleges, Institutes, and external partners to translate ideas into funded, scalable, and impactful research programs that address complex health challenges.

In this role, you will:

• Develop and support strategic research partnerships across universities, government, industry, and NGOs
• Drive growth in major competitive funding (e.g. MRFF, NHMRC)
• Provide leadership on funding strategy and major research bids
• Build collaborations that strengthen research capability and impact

About You

You are a strategic and influential leader with a strong track record in research funding and partnership development. You excel at building relationships, navigating complex environments, and turning ideas into funded outcomes.

You bring strong commercial and strategic acumen, communicate with impact, and are confident engaging senior stakeholders. You are motivated by delivering research that creates meaningful, real-world health impact.

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience in research or grant development and/or in developing strategic partnerships in a university or research environment
• Proven success securing major funding and/or partnerships
• Strong knowledge of the health research funding landscape (e.g. MRFF, NHMRC) including funder strategy and objectives
• Ability to build and influence high-level stakeholder relationships
• Advanced strategic, analytical, and problem-solving capability
• Excellent communication and proposal development skills

Candidates with Australian Work Rights are welcome to apply. Relocation support is available

Life at Flinders

Flinders University is driven by a bold purpose: to change lives and change the world. Through Agenda 2035 – Impact. With Purpose., we are expanding the scale, reach, and ambition of our research to deliver meaningful outcomes for communities, industry, and global health systems.

Reaching beyond the limits of buildings, borders, and backgrounds, ours is an inclusive culture that believes absolutely in equality and opportunity for all. We don't just accommodate differences; we embrace and celebrate them. So, why work at Flinders?

• 17% Superannuation + salary packaging options
• Flexible working arrangements
• Wide range of professional development activities and services
• We embrace diversity and promote equity and inclusion for all students and staff
• Vibrant campus life and amenities including on campus health care services, gym and childcare centre (Bedford Park, South Australia).
• Support future initiatives like the Flinders HealthCARE Centre

Our Commitment to Reconciliation and Indigenous Employment

Flinders University is proud to be an organisation that is committed to our Reconciliation Action Plan and Indigenous Workforce Strategy. Our vision is to be a preferred employer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  We are committed to progressing Indigenous advancement in education, research, employment, and wellbeing, and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all Flinders vacancies.

• Please see here for our Reconciliation Action Plan
• Please see here for our Indigenous Workforce Strategy

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

• A current Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check which is satisfactory to the University will be required by Flinders University before the successful applicant can commence in this position. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration. Each case will be assessed on its individual merits and relevance to the inherent requirements of the role.

How to Apply and Information

• As well as a CV, you are required to submit a Suitability Statement of no more than 3 pages, addressing the Key Position Capabilities of the position description:
• This position is open to internal candidates only. For more information regarding this position, please contact Karen Burke.

Applications to be submitted before 10:00 pm (ACST) on Monday, 4 May 2026.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

At Flinders we embrace and celebrate diversity and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Certification

Applications to be submitted before 10.00pm:

04 May 2026

At Flinders we embrace and celebrate diversity and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Flinders. Fearless.