Director - Nursing Research

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• Lead and shape a high-impact nursing research program, driving innovation, evidence-based practice and excellence in patient care
• Benefit from flexible hybrid working from Austin Hospital and your home
• Permanent part-time role (24 hours per week), with the opportunity to explore a joint appointment arrangement that complements your skills, interests and existing commitments

Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives.

About Chief Nursing Officer Directorate

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Directorate provides professional, clinical and strategic leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality person-centred nursing care across the organisation. The Directorate sets and governs the professional standards of nursing practice, workforce capability and clinical governance that support excellent patient outcomes and staff experience.

The CNO Directorate leads nursing workforce planning, education and professional development, credentialling and scope of practice, ensuring alignment with legislative, regulatory and accreditation requirements. It partners closely with clinical services, executive leadership and multidisciplinary teams to support service delivery, innovation and continuous improvement.

The Directorate is supported by a Nursing Executive team, who are located across all Austin Health campuses, including:

• Director of Nursing, Austin Hospital
• Director of Nursing, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
• Director of Nursing, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre
• Director of Nursing, Mental Health
• Chief Nursing Informatics Officer
• Director, Clinical Education Unit (CEU)
• Director, Nursing Research

The CEU delivers education and training to the hospital's medical, nursing and allied clinical staff and works closely with university partners and external education providers.

About the role

As the Director of Nursing Research, you will provide visionary leadership to develop, implement and sustain a high-impact nursing research program that advances evidence-based practice, improves patient outcomes and drives innovation across Austin Health.

As a key member of the Nursing Executive team, you will:

• Lead the growth of nursing research capability and capacity, fostering strong partnerships with academic institutions, and translating research findings into meaningful improvements in patient care, workforce development and health service delivery.
• Drive the integration of research within clinical practice by embedding the Austin Health Nursing Professional Practice Framework and fostering a culture where inquiry, evidence and improvement are core to nursing practice.
• Partner with Austin Health's Director of Research to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration, expand nursing research beyond traditional health services research, and support the development of research programs across a broad range of clinical specialties.

What you’ll bring to the role

You will be someone who has excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care. You’ll bring energy and drive to your work and have a keen interest in developing your skillset.

To be successful in this role you’ll bring with you:

• PhD in nursing or related health science.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership skills in nursing or health research.
• Experience building research capability and embedding research within clinical practice.
• A strong track record of research funding success and peer-reviewed publications.
• Evidence of established national academic standing through research contributions.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

What we can offer you

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including:

• Unique opportunity to shape the future of nursing research, through influencing patient outcomes, advancing professional practice and creating lasting impact across the organisation and broader health sector.
• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation.
• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program.
• Mentoring and career development opportunities.
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options.

Join us!

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures.

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and phone screening/interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working with Children Check. Austin Health is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with Child Safe Standards. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Kristie Mackenzie, Chief Nursing Officer, at Kristie.Mackenzie@austin.org.au

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details.

Application closing date: Sunday 27 September 2026