Director, Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD)

About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Position Summary

Fixed-term, full-time, available for 5 years
Compensation Grade:
Academic Level D or Academic Level E
Salary Range:
Lev D: $146,028 - $160,854 pa
Lev E: $187,708 pa
Reporting to:
Director, FHMRI and Dean (Research)
The Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD) is a flagship Research Centre of Flinders University with members from the College of Medicine and Public Health and College of Science and Engineering.
The CMBD leads the development of Marine Biotechnology in Australia and is the premier grouping of expertise in the Southern hemisphere. Since its establishment by the founding director, Professor Wei Zhang in 2007, the Centre operates through collaborations, partnerships and networks with like-minded researchers and industry partners to progress regional and global blue bio-economies.
The CMBD is the bid leader of the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MBCRC) with a total of $270 million R&D investment, including $59 million from the Commonwealth Government over 10 years. The MBCRC brings together 68 industry and research partners to enable the wide-ranging, decade-long R&D programs to transform Australia’s emerging third-generation marine bioproducts sector into a sustainable, clean, and globally competitive industry.
The Director will lead the CMBD and the Flinders University node of the MBCRC and set the strategic research directions and goals for the area, expanding the research area through the continued attraction of external grant and contract income and establishing its reputation on an international scale in alignment with the strategic directions of the College and University. The position will be responsible for engaging with industry, government and external organisations, strengthening research collaborations internally and externally and supporting recruitment of international and domestic higher degree research students and research fellowships.
The successful applicant will be able and willing to take a strong leadership role with Early Career Researchers and Middle Career Researchers. The Director will advance the College in its reputation as a centre of excellence in education and research, both nationally and internationally, and advance the development of the discipline.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Director, CMBD is accountable for:

• Leading and taking overall responsibility for the development of the Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development to a world-leading R&D provider for the marine bioproducts industry through an integrated platform for excellence in scientific and industrial research and research collaborations.

• Leading and developing strategic planning and professional activities for the CMBD relevant to promoting research,  increase funding, teaching and research capabilities, facilities, staff and student placements.

• Fostering collaborations with industry and at State, national and international levels, independently and through the MBCRC to increase quality research outputs and publications.

• Developing and lead major collaborative external funding proposals from national and international competitive granting agencies across all funding categories with emphasis on industry-driven research grants , to secure funding for the CMBD growth.

• Providing outstanding teaching using contemporary pedagogy, a range of delivery methods, and innovative delivery methods.

• Promoting an ethos of strong collaborative teamwork within the CMBD by mentoring staff and students and providing guidance and support to all members of the CMBD.

• Undertaking a significant leadership role in the College/University in fostering research excellence and making a significant contribution to research leadership in the field at the national and/or international level.

• Actively promoting and contributing to the Centre’s postgraduate research and industry training program; and developing early and mid-career researchers.

• Supervising to completion Flinders research students including doctoral students and grow the PhD cohort.

• Contributing to the Flinders node of the MBCRC as the main point of contact for the University.

• Contributing to the management and administration of research in the College.

• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

Key Position Capabilities

​Please note: appointment for this role will be made at either Academic Level D or Academic Level E. Please ensure you indicate in your suitability statement, the level for which you wish to be considered.

To be considered for appointment at Level E, you must be able to demonstrate significant contributions to the key position capabilities below.

• Completion of a PhD degree, or equivalent in Biochemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or an Applied Life Science, with at least 10 years postdoctoral experience in applied marine science, marine bioproducts, marine biomaterials and marine biotechnology. 

• Demonstrated experience in leadership of a multidisciplinary research team in Marine Biotechnology, Bioprocessing or Marine Bioproducts, required to maintain a highly functional Research Centre.

•  A distinguished international reputation of outstanding high-quality innovative and independent research and research impact in Marine Biotechnology, Bioprocessing or Marine Bioproducts aligned with the College’s research strengths evidenced by sustained high quality publications as corresponding author and attraction of substantial competitive external grants.

•  Experience in team building and performance and motivating staff and students in the conduct of ethical, high quality and innovative research. 

• Substantial success in obtaining funding from competitive grant schemes and especially from Industry sources both Domestic and International. 

• Evidence of outstanding research impact and proven ability to undertake an active leadership role in research activities especially working with industry to deliver milestones and other deliverables on time and within budget. 

• High level of understanding of intellectual property and the commercialisation process in relation to a research environment.

•  Demonstrated experience in developing, securing and commercialisation of intellectual property. 

• Demonstrated evidence of a distinguished and active track record of teaching expertise at tertiary level, including a leadership role in international delivery and /or collaboration.

• Demonstrated expertise in mentorship to, and development of early and mid-career researchers.

• Hold and maintain a current membership with national or international professional society, relevant to their filed of research.

• Demonstrated excellence in the supervision of higher-degree research students to completion.

•  High level Interpersonal and oral communication skills, including an ability to work effectively with international collaborators and with internal and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated high level leadership skills, including the demonstrated ability to establish and make effective contributions to leadership within the College. 

For application enquiries please contact: P rofessor Peter Eastwood

Please note: Pursuant to Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA) this position has been deemed prescribed.  It is an inherent requirement of the position that the successful candidate maintains a current Working With Children Check which is satisfactory to the University.

Information for Applicants:

You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59pm:

17 Oct 2021

About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Position Summary

Fixed-term, full-time, available for 5 years
Compensation Grade:
Academic Level D or Academic Level E
Salary Range:
Lev D: $146,028 - $160,854 pa
Lev E: $187,708 pa
Reporting to:
Director, FHMRI and Dean (Research)
The Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD) is a flagship Research Centre of Flinders University with members from the College of Medicine and Public Health and College of Science and Engineering.
The CMBD leads the development of Marine Biotechnology in Australia and is the premier grouping of expertise in the Southern hemisphere. Since its establishment by the founding director, Professor Wei Zhang in 2007, the Centre operates through collaborations, partnerships and networks with like-minded researchers and industry partners to progress regional and global blue bio-economies.
The CMBD is the bid leader of the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MBCRC) with a total of $270 million R&D investment, including $59 million from the Commonwealth Government over 10 years. The MBCRC brings together 68 industry and research partners to enable the wide-ranging, decade-long R&D programs to transform Australia’s emerging third-generation marine bioproducts sector into a sustainable, clean, and globally competitive industry.
The Director will lead the CMBD and the Flinders University node of the MBCRC and set the strategic research directions and goals for the area, expanding the research area through the continued attraction of external grant and contract income and establishing its reputation on an international scale in alignment with the strategic directions of the College and University. The position will be responsible for engaging with industry, government and external organisations, strengthening research collaborations internally and externally and supporting recruitment of international and domestic higher degree research students and research fellowships.
The successful applicant will be able and willing to take a strong leadership role with Early Career Researchers and Middle Career Researchers. The Director will advance the College in its reputation as a centre of excellence in education and research, both nationally and internationally, and advance the development of the discipline.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Director, CMBD is accountable for:

• Leading and taking overall responsibility for the development of the Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development to a world-leading R&D provider for the marine bioproducts industry through an integrated platform for excellence in scientific and industrial research and research collaborations.

• Leading and developing strategic planning and professional activities for the CMBD relevant to promoting research,  increase funding, teaching and research capabilities, facilities, staff and student placements.

• Fostering collaborations with industry and at State, national and international levels, independently and through the MBCRC to increase quality research outputs and publications.

• Developing and lead major collaborative external funding proposals from national and international competitive granting agencies across all funding categories with emphasis on industry-driven research grants , to secure funding for the CMBD growth.

• Providing outstanding teaching using contemporary pedagogy, a range of delivery methods, and innovative delivery methods.

• Promoting an ethos of strong collaborative teamwork within the CMBD by mentoring staff and students and providing guidance and support to all members of the CMBD.

• Undertaking a significant leadership role in the College/University in fostering research excellence and making a significant contribution to research leadership in the field at the national and/or international level.

• Actively promoting and contributing to the Centre’s postgraduate research and industry training program; and developing early and mid-career researchers.

• Supervising to completion Flinders research students including doctoral students and grow the PhD cohort.

• Contributing to the Flinders node of the MBCRC as the main point of contact for the University.

• Contributing to the management and administration of research in the College.

• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

Key Position Capabilities

​Please note: appointment for this role will be made at either Academic Level D or Academic Level E. Please ensure you indicate in your suitability statement, the level for which you wish to be considered.

To be considered for appointment at Level E, you must be able to demonstrate significant contributions to the key position capabilities below.

• Completion of a PhD degree, or equivalent in Biochemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or an Applied Life Science, with at least 10 years postdoctoral experience in applied marine science, marine bioproducts, marine biomaterials and marine biotechnology. 

• Demonstrated experience in leadership of a multidisciplinary research team in Marine Biotechnology, Bioprocessing or Marine Bioproducts, required to maintain a highly functional Research Centre.

•  A distinguished international reputation of outstanding high-quality innovative and independent research and research impact in Marine Biotechnology, Bioprocessing or Marine Bioproducts aligned with the College’s research strengths evidenced by sustained high quality publications as corresponding author and attraction of substantial competitive external grants.

•  Experience in team building and performance and motivating staff and students in the conduct of ethical, high quality and innovative research. 

• Substantial success in obtaining funding from competitive grant schemes and especially from Industry sources both Domestic and International. 

• Evidence of outstanding research impact and proven ability to undertake an active leadership role in research activities especially working with industry to deliver milestones and other deliverables on time and within budget. 

• High level of understanding of intellectual property and the commercialisation process in relation to a research environment.

•  Demonstrated experience in developing, securing and commercialisation of intellectual property. 

• Demonstrated evidence of a distinguished and active track record of teaching expertise at tertiary level, including a leadership role in international delivery and /or collaboration.

• Demonstrated expertise in mentorship to, and development of early and mid-career researchers.

• Hold and maintain a current membership with national or international professional society, relevant to their filed of research.

• Demonstrated excellence in the supervision of higher-degree research students to completion.

•  High level Interpersonal and oral communication skills, including an ability to work effectively with international collaborators and with internal and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated high level leadership skills, including the demonstrated ability to establish and make effective contributions to leadership within the College. 

For application enquiries please contact: P rofessor Peter Eastwood

Please note: Pursuant to Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA) this position has been deemed prescribed.  It is an inherent requirement of the position that the successful candidate maintains a current Working With Children Check which is satisfactory to the University.

Information for Applicants:

You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59pm:

17 Oct 2021