Add expected salary to your profile for insightsWestern Alliance Academic Health Science CentreTerm of appointment: 3 years, reappointment by negotiationHours of work: full timeSalary: to be negotiatedPrimary location of work: multiple locations across western VictoriaABOUT WESTERN ALLIANCEWestern 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.auThe 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.auPOSITION PURPOSEThe 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 CONTEXTThe 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 RESPONSIBILITIESProvide strategic advice to the Western Alliance Board and Research Translation CommitteeOversee the effective implementation of the Western Alliance strategic plan, and lead strategic planning efforts for future sustainability and success of the AllianceOversee stakeholder management & partnerships, including with Western Alliance member organisations across western Victoria and non-member partners further afieldProvide supervision/support for other Western Alliance staff: Executive Officer, Capability Building Manager, and Research Translation CoordinatorsRepresent 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 subcommitteeRepresent Western Alliance on the Australian Clinical Trials Education Centre (A-CTEC) steering committee, including acting as chair of this committeeInteract 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 VictoriaProvide strategic direction and oversight for the Western Alliance Research Translation grant funding programEnsure that Western Alliance maintains its accreditation with NHMRC as a Research Translation CentreOversee the Western Alliance short and long term budgeting processesOversee evaluation and subsequent continuous improvement of the AllianceKEY DUTIESProvide strategic leadership for the Western AllianceProvide advice to the Board, Research Translation Committee and partner organisations to improve the quality, quantity and impact of research in western VictoriaDevelop and maintain excellent relationships with member organisations, government and non-government agencies, research institutes, other Research Translation Centres, and stakeholdersOversee implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Board and Research Translation CommitteeOversee efforts to maintain accreditation as a Research Translation Centre with the NHMRCIdentify opportunities for external fundingBuild project partnerships and coordinate applications to funding agencies.Supervise the Executive OfficerOversee the annual research translation funding programs, including review of proposals, support for project development, allocation of funds, monitoring of expenditure and reporting project outcomesProvide 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 VictoriaProvide 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 abstractsOversee communication with stakeholders and the communityPerform other duties as requested by the BoardSELECTION CRITERIA - ESSENTIALTraining/Qualifications:A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline.Experience:Significant leadership or experience in a Research Translation Centre or equivalentLeadership or participation in rural and regional collaborative clinical or health service research and/or research translation initiativesExperience working with key health and research translation stakeholdersAbility 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 programsA 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 VictoriaAn understanding of rural and regional health needs, and the issues impacting delivery of healthcare in rural and regional settings, including western VictoriaCapacity to lead and support the development and delivery of research translation initiativesAn 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 translationAn 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 successCapacity to lead a collaborative team to achieve outcomesAbility to oversee the development and delivery of training programs to improve research and research translation capacityAdvanced 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 audienceHigh order analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to develop innovative solutionsCapacity to oversee the development and monitoring of an organisational budgetSELECTION CRITERIA - DESIRABLETraining/Qualifications:A postgraduate research or health qualificationExperience:Prior experience working in a Western Alliance member organisationExperience of dealing with senior health service, university, industry, research funders, government or political representativesExperience in attracting research fundingExperience in teaching or training in a health service or university settingSPECIAL REQUIREMENTSSome travel will be required within western Victoria and interstateInfrequent work outside business hours will be required (e.g. attendance at evening events and the Annual Symposium)CLOSING DATEClose of business Monday April 7 2025.APPLICATION REQUIREMENTSApplicants 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