Founded in 1853, the University of Melbourne is Australia’s #1 university and is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement.

About the Melbourne Centre for Cities

Cities are on the frontline of today’s most pressing global challenges. The way we manage and study cities, and how city leadership is thought of in an interconnected but disrupted world, are critical to our collective futures. This is where the University of Melbourne’s new Melbourne Centre for Cities comes in with an explicit focus on urban governance as its main area of research, action and training, and a distinct purpose to foster and foreground cities research in and from Melbourne with a clear cosmopolitan outlook.

About the Faculty of Arts 

The Faculty of Arts is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages people with diverse experiences to apply. This includes First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, Deaf and hard of hearing people, people with a disability, LGBTIQ+, and neurodiverse people. If you have any accessibility requirements for the application or interview, please contact us. We are dedicated to ensuring barrier-free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. A position description is available in alternate formats if required, including USB, Large Print and Plain English.

The Faculty actively seeks to welcome and value the unique contributions of people from all backgrounds and is committed to diversity and inclusion practices to achieve our vision.

About the Role

The Postdoctoral Fellowship offers the opportunity to work across the Melbourne Centre for Cities and the Faculty of Arts on issues to do with cities and urbanism, both nationally and internationally.

Established in September 2021 as a flagship initiative of the University of Melbourne, the Centre brings together staff and students from several faculties, including Architecture, Building and Planning, Science and Arts. The Centre offers a multidisciplinary platform designed to foster individual and collaborative research centred on cities, build link with other Centres nationally and internationally, and to encourage partnerships between academic researchers and key stakeholders currently shaping the development and future of cities.

In a typical week at work, you may:

• Develop, conduct and coordinate a program of research centred on cities and urbanism.
• Engage proactively with the Melbourne Centre for Cities and the Faculty of Arts community, leadership, fellows, associates, doctoral group and visitors.
• Participate in the life of the Centre and the Faculty of Arts through attendance at meetings, research forums, seminars and symposia, and through fostering internal and external collaborative endeavours around cities and urbanism.
• Collaborate with Centre and Faculty colleagues and students in relevant research areas, leading and contributing to high-quality publications and other scholarly outputs in accordance with the research expectations of a Level A academic in the Faculty of Arts.

About You

The successful applicant will have an emerging track record of research on, engagement with, and clear interest in cities and urbanism well aligned to the mission of the Centre and the research strengths of the Faculty of Arts.

Ideally, you will further have:

• PhD in a relevant Humanities and Social Sciences discipline
• A research profile of work in cities and urbanism aligned to the Centre’s mission in one or more of the following areas: urban governance and urban policy; historical aspects of urban development; social dimensions of urbanism and cities; urban space; theories of urbanism; cities as sites of culture
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively
• High-level interpersonal and communication skills
• Interest in building collaborative academic relationships and partnerships in relevant public and private organisations central to the governance of cities

To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.

Benefits of Working with Us

In addition to having the opportunity to grow and be challenged, and to be part of vibrant campus life, our people enjoy a range of rewarding benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements and generous personal, parental and cultural leave options
• Competitive remuneration, 17% super, salary packaging and leave loading
• Free and subsidised health and wellbeing services, and access to fitness and cultural clubs
• Discounts on a wide range of products and services including Myki cards and Qantas Club
• Career development opportunities and 25% off graduate courses for staff and their immediate families

To find out more, please visit https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers.

Be Yourself @ UoM

We recognise that our employees are at the core of all our successes and achievements. We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community, and we encourage and celebrate diversity. We promote inclusive behaviour, and we actively seek to learn from each other. Indigenous Australians are strongly encouraged to apply for our roles.

Join Us!

If you feel this role is for you, please submit your application including a brief cover letter, your resume and your responses against the selection criteria* (found in the Position Description) for the role. 

*For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

Should you require any reasonable adjustments with the recruitment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at hr-talent@unimelb.edu.au. We look forward to receiving your application!

Position Description