Position Summary Lead a high-performing School of Media and Communication, shaping its future direction, performance and impact. Drive excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student outcomes across a dynamic and future-focused portfolio. Executive leadership opportunity within RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context, based at Melbourne CBD campus. About the Role Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Design and Social Context, the Dean, School of Media and Communication provides strategic, academic and operational leadership of one of RMIT’s most distinctive and globally recognised Schools. Accountable for the School’s strategic direction and overall performance, the Dean leads excellence across: Teaching and learning Research Student experience Financial sustainability People leadership Industry engagement The School of Media and Communication is recognised for pushing the boundaries of digital knowledge creation and future-focused practice, with deep engagement across industry and community to ensure teaching and research respond creatively, innovatively and responsibly to global conditions. Home to a vibrant interdisciplinary community spanning: Communication Journalism Screen Public Relations Advertising Creative Writing Publishing Culture Music Industry Digital Ethnography New Media The School maintains a strong international focus with programs delivered across Melbourne, Vietnam and Singapore. As a key member of the College Executive, the Dean leads the School Executive to shape and deliver the School’s strategic vision, ensuring alignment with College and University priorities. The role is responsible for: Fostering an innovative, inclusive and high-performing academic environment. Strengthening research and educational impact. Advancing the School’s profile and partnerships locally, nationally and internationally. This is an opportunity to lead a School with strong industry engagement while shaping future-ready education, interdisciplinary research and engagement in a rapidly evolving media and communication landscape. Key Priorities Strategic Leadership Lead the strategic direction, performance and long-term sustainability of the School, ensuring alignment with College and University priorities. Provide strategic oversight of the School’s financial sustainability, resource allocation and operational performance. Academic Excellence Provide academic leadership across teaching, learning and research, strengthening the School’s reputation, quality and impact. Foster an innovative, inclusive and contemporary learning environment that supports student success, retention, employability and student experience. Strengthen research excellence, capability and impact through a collaborative, interdisciplinary and high-performing research culture. Industry and External Engagement Drive industry, community and external engagement, building partnerships that inform curriculum, research and work-integrated learning. Advance the School’s profile locally, nationally and internationally through external engagement and partnerships. Governance and Compliance Lead accreditation and regulatory requirements, ensuring strong governance, quality assurance and compliance across programs and operations. People Leadership Build and lead a high-performing, inclusive and engaged workforce, fostering capability development, collaboration and accountability. Work collaboratively as a member of the College Executive to deliver shared priorities and contribute to University-wide initiatives and transformation. To Be Successful in This Role, You Will Bring Academic and Leadership Experience Proven senior academic leadership experience within a university environment, with demonstrated success in delivering academic excellence and organisational performance. Significant academic and/or professional standing in disciplines relevant to media and communication, with the credibility to lead a high-performing School. A PhD in a relevant discipline, or equivalent, and academic standing consistent with RMIT’s Professorial criteria. Strategic and Operational Capability Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans, balancing academic priorities, financial sustainability and operational performance in complex environments. Teaching and Research Leadership Strong track record of building excellence and relevance in teaching, learning and research, including fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Demonstrated research achievement and the ability to build research impact, partnerships and collaboration across industry, business and government. Industry Knowledge Deep understanding of the media and communication sector, including emerging trends and professional requirements. Stakeholder Engagement Proven success in building strong external relationships and partnerships across industry, community, alumni, government and professional bodies. Outstanding stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to lead collaboratively and make evidence-informed decisions. People Management Strong people leadership capability, with demonstrated success in developing high-performing and engaged teams. Please Note Appointment to this position is subject to passing: Working With Children Check National Police Check How to Apply Please submit: Curriculum Vitae (CV) Cover Letter addressing your interest and suitability for this position Applications should be submitted by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of the position page. For further information about this position, please see the Position Description or contact: Daniela Alvarez Email: daniela.alvarez.arambula@rmit.edu.au A confidential discussion regarding this opportunity can be arranged. Application Deadline Applications Close: 19 July 2026, 11:59 PM Equal Opportunity and Inclusion RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of: Gender identity Ethnicity Sexual orientation Disability Age Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community. Gender-Based Violence Declaration and Background Checks In line with RMIT University’s commitment to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, from 1 January 2026, the University will also consider gender-based violence (GBV) risk factors as part of recruitment processes. All applicants will be required to complete a gender-based violence declaration in accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence. Preferred candidates will also be required to undertake relevant pre-employment background checks, including: Working With Children Checks Other relevant background checks Information provided will be treated confidentially and considered only for its relevance to the role and RMIT’s safety obligations. Accessibility Support At RMIT, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to RMIT, including through alternate formats of application forms. To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact: Dani Email: talentsupport@rmit.edu.au Alternatively, visit the RMIT Careers page for more contact information. Applicant Commitment RMIT is a Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Adminoxy

Position Summary

Lead a high-performing School of Media and Communication, shaping its future direction, performance and impact.
Drive excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student outcomes across a dynamic and future-focused portfolio.
Executive leadership opportunity within RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context, based at Melbourne CBD campus.

About the Role

Reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Design and Social Context, the Dean, School of Media and Communication provides strategic, academic and operational leadership of one of RMIT’s most distinctive and globally recognised Schools.

Accountable for the School’s strategic direction and overall performance, the Dean leads excellence across:

Teaching and learning
Research
Student experience
Financial sustainability
People leadership
Industry engagement

The School of Media and Communication is recognised for pushing the boundaries of digital knowledge creation and future-focused practice, with deep engagement across industry and community to ensure teaching and research respond creatively, innovatively and responsibly to global conditions.

Home to a vibrant interdisciplinary community spanning:

Communication
Journalism
Screen
Public Relations
Advertising
Creative Writing
Publishing
Culture
Music Industry
Digital Ethnography
New Media

The School maintains a strong international focus with programs delivered across Melbourne, Vietnam and Singapore.

As a key member of the College Executive, the Dean leads the School Executive to shape and deliver the School’s strategic vision, ensuring alignment with College and University priorities.

The role is responsible for:

Fostering an innovative, inclusive and high-performing academic environment.
Strengthening research and educational impact.
Advancing the School’s profile and partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.

This is an opportunity to lead a School with strong industry engagement while shaping future-ready education, interdisciplinary research and engagement in a rapidly evolving media and communication landscape.

Key Priorities

Strategic Leadership

Lead the strategic direction, performance and long-term sustainability of the School, ensuring alignment with College and University priorities.
Provide strategic oversight of the School’s financial sustainability, resource allocation and operational performance.

Academic Excellence

Provide academic leadership across teaching, learning and research, strengthening the School’s reputation, quality and impact.
Foster an innovative, inclusive and contemporary learning environment that supports student success, retention, employability and student experience.
Strengthen research excellence, capability and impact through a collaborative, interdisciplinary and high-performing research culture.

Industry and External Engagement

Drive industry, community and external engagement, building partnerships that inform curriculum, research and work-integrated learning.
Advance the School’s profile locally, nationally and internationally through external engagement and partnerships.

Governance and Compliance

Lead accreditation and regulatory requirements, ensuring strong governance, quality assurance and compliance across programs and operations.

People Leadership

Build and lead a high-performing, inclusive and engaged workforce, fostering capability development, collaboration and accountability.
Work collaboratively as a member of the College Executive to deliver shared priorities and contribute to University-wide initiatives and transformation.

To Be Successful in This Role, You Will Bring

Academic and Leadership Experience

Proven senior academic leadership experience within a university environment, with demonstrated success in delivering academic excellence and organisational performance.
Significant academic and/or professional standing in disciplines relevant to media and communication, with the credibility to lead a high-performing School.
A PhD in a relevant discipline, or equivalent, and academic standing consistent with RMIT’s Professorial criteria.

Strategic and Operational Capability

Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans, balancing academic priorities, financial sustainability and operational performance in complex environments.

Teaching and Research Leadership

Strong track record of building excellence and relevance in teaching, learning and research, including fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
Demonstrated research achievement and the ability to build research impact, partnerships and collaboration across industry, business and government.

Industry Knowledge

Deep understanding of the media and communication sector, including emerging trends and professional requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement

Proven success in building strong external relationships and partnerships across industry, community, alumni, government and professional bodies.
Outstanding stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to lead collaboratively and make evidence-informed decisions.

People Management

Strong people leadership capability, with demonstrated success in developing high-performing and engaged teams.

Please Note

Appointment to this position is subject to passing:

Working With Children Check
National Police Check

How to Apply

Please submit:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Cover Letter addressing your interest and suitability for this position

Applications should be submitted by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of the position page.

For further information about this position, please see the Position Description or contact:

Daniela Alvarez
Email: daniela.alvarez.arambula@rmit.edu.au

A confidential discussion regarding this opportunity can be arranged.

Application Deadline

Applications Close: 19 July 2026, 11:59 PM

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation.

We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of:

Gender identity
Ethnicity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Age

Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Gender-Based Violence Declaration and Background Checks

In line with RMIT University’s commitment to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, from 1 January 2026, the University will also consider gender-based violence (GBV) risk factors as part of recruitment processes.

All applicants will be required to complete a gender-based violence declaration in accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

Preferred candidates will also be required to undertake relevant pre-employment background checks, including: