Add expected salary to your profile for insights Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre Term of appointment: 3 years, reappointment by negotiation Hours of work: full time Salary: to be negotiated Primary location of work: multiple locations across western Victoria ABOUT WESTERN ALLIANCE Western Alliance is a collaborative of 11 member organisations located across the Barwon/Southwest and Grampians regions of western Victoria and is now formally accredited by the NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) as a Research Translation Centre. Members include four regional and subregional public health services (Barwon Health, Grampians Health, South West Healthcare, Portland District Health and Western District Health Service), four rural public hospitals (Colac Area Health, Maryborough District Health Service and East Grampians Health Service), the Western Victoria Primary Health Network and Deakin and Federation Universities. The two regions have a combined population of over 700,000 residents or approximately 44% of rural/regional Victoria’s population. The Alliance is a Company Limited by Guarantee overseen by a Board, which includes representatives of partner organisations and a number of external members appointed on the basis of relevant knowledge and skills. The Western Alliance Research Translation Committee, which reports to the Board, comprises clinical, research and consumer leaders from Western Alliance member organisations. Through a program of education, funding and advocacy guided by a five year strategic plan, Western Alliance’s mission is to support its members to improve the health of their communities through research-based and evidence informed health care. Western Alliance has developed comprehensive systems across western Victoria to support the translation of evidence into healthcare practice and policy. This is underpinned by four rurally based Research Translation Coordinator positions, who have direct responsibility for supporting research and knowledge translation in their regions. To date, Western Alliance has provided direct funding of over $3 million to 76 collaborative, rurally focused research studies and $265,000 for rural research fellowships. Western Alliance has also provided financial contributions to 13 health service research projects funded by the MRFF or NHMRC, a total of over $26 million for translational research in Western Victoria. The Alliance is the lead organisation for the $9 million MRFF funded ‘DELIVER’ program, (Delivering enhanced healthcare at home through optimising virtual tools for older people in rural and regional Australia) www.deliver.westernalliance.org.au The Alliance also delivers an extensive translation focused research capacity building program (STaRR – Supporting Translation of Research in Rural and Regional areas) across western Victoria, which includes a comprehensive mentored research training program. Western Alliance works closely with Commonwealth and State governments, with other Research Translation Centres through the Victorian Research Translation Centre Collaborative (VRTCC) and the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA), and with a range of external stakeholders, including the Australian Clinical Trials Education Centre (A-CTEC), and the Victorian Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organization (VACCHO). More information is available at: www.westernalliance.org.au POSITION PURPOSE The Executive Director works closely with the Board and the Research Translation Committee to oversee activities that promote rural and regional research translation partnerships, build an enabling environment for research translation, build individual and team-based research capability and support, and accelerate research translation in western Victoria. She/he provides strategic leadership to the Alliance to achieve its vision and mission and deliver its strategic objectives, reporting to the Board through the Board Chair. The Executive Director supervises the Alliance’s Executive Officer, who is responsible for day-to-day operations, financial and research management, communications, staffing and the Annual Symposium. POSITION CONTEXT The Executive Director works closely with the Chairs of the Board and Research Translation Committee, and with senior administrative and research staff of Alliance partners. She/he will be in frequent contact with, and will provide direction and supervision to, the Executive Officer. The Executive Director will also have regular contact with external collaborating organisations, State and Federal government agencies and other third parties as required. This includes participation in the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA). There may also be contact with members of parliament and their staff. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES Provide strategic advice to the Western Alliance Board and Research Translation Committee Oversee the effective implementation of the Western Alliance strategic plan, and lead strategic planning efforts for future sustainability and success of the Alliance Oversee stakeholder management & partnerships, including with Western Alliance member organisations across western Victoria and non-member partners further afield Provide supervision/support for other Western Alliance staff: Executive Officer, Capability Building Manager, and Research Translation Coordinators Represent Western Alliance on the Victorian Research Translation Centre Collaborative (VRTCC) Represent Western Alliance on the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) and its Rural, Regional and Remote subcommittee Represent Western Alliance on the Australian Clinical Trials Education Centre (A-CTEC) steering committee, including acting as chair of this committee Interact with the Victorian Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organization (VACCHO) Provide strategic direction and oversight for key Western Alliance programs, including the Supporting Translation of Research in Rural and Regional Health Settings (STaRR) program, the Research Translation Coordinator Program, research translation funding programs, the Western Alliance Symposium, the Consumer and Community Involvement program, and efforts to advance Aboriginal-led research translation across western Victoria Provide strategic direction and oversight for the Western Alliance Research Translation grant funding program Ensure that Western Alliance maintains its accreditation with NHMRC as a Research Translation Centre Oversee the Western Alliance short and long term budgeting processes Oversee evaluation and subsequent continuous improvement of the Alliance KEY DUTIES Provide strategic leadership for the Western Alliance Provide advice to the Board, Research Translation Committee and partner organisations to improve the quality, quantity and impact of research in western Victoria Develop and maintain excellent relationships with member organisations, government and non-government agencies, research institutes, other Research Translation Centres, and stakeholders Oversee implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Board and Research Translation Committee Oversee efforts to maintain accreditation as a Research Translation Centre with the NHMRC Identify opportunities for external funding Build project partnerships and coordinate applications to funding agencies. Supervise the Executive Officer Oversee the annual research translation funding programs, including review of proposals, support for project development, allocation of funds, monitoring of expenditure and reporting project outcomes Provide advice and support to the Executive Officer and Capability Building Manager on the development and delivery of programs and projects to build and grow research translation capacity in western Victoria Provide advice and support to the Executive Officer on program development and management of the Annual Western Alliance Symposium, including the processes for review of submitted abstracts Oversee communication with stakeholders and the community Perform other duties as requested by the Board SELECTION CRITERIA - ESSENTIAL Training/Qualifications: A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline. Experience: Significant leadership or experience in a Research Translation Centre or equivalent Leadership or participation in rural and regional collaborative clinical or health service research and/or research translation initiatives Experience working with key health and research translation stakeholders Ability to lead strategic planning and policy development, including a capacity to develop, implement and evaluate strategies and initiatives that progress the achievement of organisational goals and deliver complex programs A detailed understanding of health research funding, delivery and governance, and of the challenges of conducting research and implementing research findings in regional and rural settings, including western Victoria An understanding of rural and regional health needs, and the issues impacting delivery of healthcare in rural and regional settings, including western Victoria Capacity to lead and support the development and delivery of research translation initiatives An understanding of First Peoples’ Communities, cultures, histories, and contemporary issues, particularly within the Victorian context, and the significance of these in relation to research and research translation An appreciation of and commitment to the value of First Peoples’ ways of knowing, being and doing, ensuring Indigenous perspectives, methodologies, and self-determination principles are respected and integrated where necessary. Capacity to engage meaningfully with First Peoples’ Communities and stakeholders, fostering a culture of shared value and working together toward common goals and mutual success Capacity to lead a collaborative team to achieve outcomes Ability to oversee the development and delivery of training programs to improve research and research translation capacity Advanced oral and written communication skills, including the ability to represent Western Alliance to funding agencies, stakeholders and internal and external partners through clear, accurate and persuasive oral and written communications that are appropriate for their intended audience High order analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to develop innovative solutions Capacity to oversee the development and monitoring of an organisational budget SELECTION CRITERIA - DESIRABLE Training/Qualifications: A postgraduate research or health qualification Experience: Prior experience working in a Western Alliance member organisation Experience of dealing with senior health service, university, industry, research funders, government or political representatives Experience in attracting research funding Experience in teaching or training in a health service or university setting SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Some travel will be required within western Victoria and interstate Infrequent work outside business hours will be required (e.g. attendance at evening events and the Annual Symposium) CLOSING DATE Close of business Monday April 7 2025. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Applicants are required to submit a C.V. and a letter addressing the selection criteria before the closing date via email to: [emailprotected] Position enquiries should be directed to Professor Brendan Crotty, Chair of the Western Alliance Board, via email at: [emailprotected] J-18808-Ljbffr