Join Western Australia's largest and most respected School of Education
Seeking experienced Education academic leader to join the Executive Leadership Team
Lead a positive and values-based academic team

Edith Cowan University's School of Education is seeking an experienced, passionate, and innovative Education academic leader to join the Executive Leadership Team as Associate Dean (Primary). This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic and operational leadership for the large team of experienced and committed academics teaching Primary undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The successful candidate will be appointed to both a continuing position as Associate Professor/Professor and will also serve an initial concurrent term of three years as Associate Dean (Primary), with possibility for future renewal.

About ECU's School of Education

The teachers of tomorrow choose ECU's School of Education because we're leaders in teacher education and education research. The School has consistently been recognised as one of the highest-ranking schools of education in Australia for student satisfaction.

Ranked in the Top 250 in the world for Education (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025), ECU's School of Education has been at the forefront of teacher education for over 100 years. We are Western Australia's largest provider of teacher education and are recognised for our innovative approach to preparing the next generation of outstanding educators.

The Good University's Guide ranks ECU as the top WA university for teaching quality and student support in undergraduate education, and the top Australian university for overall experience and student support in postgraduate education.

Our staff bring valuable industry expertise to the classroom, enriching the learning experience for all students. Through extensive partnerships with over 800 schools and early learning centres, we provide unparalleled opportunities for our students to gain real-world experience in diverse settings.

The Position

We are seeking candidates with significant academic leadership experience within the Primary education and university sectors who can effectively lead the Primary program and contribute to the strategic direction of the School. The successful candidate will demonstrate passion for leading innovation in research, teaching and learning, and identifying opportunities to engage in critical local, national, and international research and policy change.

The Associate Dean (Primary) will lead the academic team responsible for delivering high-quality academic programs within the Primary programs. As a key member of the School's Executive Leadership Team, you will:

Lead academic performance, culture, and student progress in the Primary program
Innovate to enhance teaching and the overall student experience
Ensure compliance with external regulatory requirements for teacher education
Support and mentor Course Coordinators in building coherent student course experiences
Contribute to the School's strategic direction, governance, and commitment to continuous improvement
Foster opportunities for teaching, learning and research activities, and cross-discipline collaborations
Lead effective financial management accountability within the discipline
Coach and develop direct reports, aligned with Academic Scholar roles and Workload Models

As a continuing Associate Professor/Professor you will also devote time to research and scholarship within your field of expertise.

About You

You are an experienced academic leader with:

A PhD in a relevant Education discipline
Excellent scholarly record in teaching and research in Education
Capacity to lead change through effective collaboration and consultation
Success in mentoring and coaching staff to achieve goals, aligned with individuals career progression and school priorities
Capacity to develop, operationalise and review teaching and learning programs
Proven experience in leading values-based culture and positive behaviours
Demonstrated knowledge of the external regulatory environment for Initial Teacher Education
In-depth understanding of legislative requirements for teacher education and accreditation
Strong capability in building strategic networks and collaborative relationships

Now is an exciting time to join the School of Education as we prepare to consolidate on one metropolitan campus in 2026, together with the regional South West Bunbury campus, with newly refurbished contemporary facilities including dedicated Primary pedagogy rooms and state-of-the-art specialist teaching areas.