Head, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

Griffith Health is one of Australia’s largest and most diverse health faculties, recognised for innovation and excellence in health education and research. Comprising five schools, Griffith Health is ranked Australia’s top university for Nursing and Midwifery (2025 Shanghai Global Ranking) and Queensland’s top university for overall student experience in Pharmacy (2026 Good Universities Guide). We have also achieved five stars for graduate employability in the prestigious QS Stars ratings.

Griffith Health advances knowledge and learning through practice-oriented education, high-impact research, and strong partnerships with industry, the professions and the community. Operating across four locations in south-east Queensland, our principal campus is located within the rapidly expanding Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, with close links to Gold Coast University Hospital, supporting more than 2,000 clinical placements annually.

About the opportunity
As Head, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, you will provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for the School, ensuring excellence across teaching and learning, research, clinical engagement and professional practice. Reporting to the Group Pro Vice Chancellor/Group Dean (Academic), you will lead the School’s strategic direction, performance and culture, while ensuring strong governance, effective resource management and continuous improvement.

This role calls for a collegial and influential academic leader who can combine strategic vision with operational discipline, fostering widespread engagement and commitment to the School’s mission, quality and distinctiveness. You will lead and support academic and professional staff to perform at their best, enabling transparent, effective decision-making and inclusive governance.

This is a three-year appointment based at the Gold Coast campus.  As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other campuses. The successful candidate will also be offered an underlying appointment as a Professor.

About you
This is a unique opportunity to build on the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences established strengths in pharmacy education, medical science and clinical engagement, while further strengthening the School’s profile, partnerships and culture of excellence. You will lead innovation across teaching, research and professional practice, support the delivery of high-quality accredited programs, and foster an environment that promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff.

You will bring strong academic standing in pharmacy, medical sciences or a closely related discipline, together with demonstrated leadership experience in a complex higher education or clinical-academic environment. With energy, ambition and sound judgement, you will engage, influence and inspire diverse stakeholders, enhancing the reputation of the School’s programs, research and people, and contributing to Griffith University’s leadership in health education and research.

Learn more about this opportunity here. 

How to Apply
At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Our University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive community for all. In alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (2025), Griffith University includes a declaration as part of the recruitment journey to uphold the values and standards of our community. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy.

If you are seeking an exciting new challenge and a leadership role where you can make an impact, then we would like to hear from you.

Applications should include:

• Full name, mobile phone number and email address
• A covering letter addressing your suitability for the role
• Curriculum vitae

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Professor Analise O’Donovan, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) via email [email protected].

For application and recruitment advice, please contact Jinita Dhall, Talent Acquisition Partner at [email protected]. 

Applications close Tuesday 24 March 2026