Director, Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining

• Join a university ranked in the world's top 50
• Seeking our inaugural Director to lead the strategic direction of the Centre
• Initial full-time, 5 year fixed-term position, with possibility of renewal
• Based at our vibrant and conveniently located St Lucia campus

Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI)The University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) is a world-leading research institute committed to developing knowledge-based solutions to meet global sustainability challenges.

The work of SMI is multidisciplinary. It integrates expertise in exploration, mining, mineral processing, workplace health and safety, mine rehabilitation, water and energy, social science, and governance to reduce the minerals industry's impact on communities and the environment and reshape its role in sustainable development. The Institute works collaboratively with industry, governments, civil society and a wide range of other stakeholders and translates research into impact through commercialisation, contract research and consulting.

About the Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining (CERM)
The Centre for Environmental Responsibility in Mining (CERM) is a newly established Centre of Research Excellence, formed through the merger of the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation and the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry. For over two decades, the SMI Environment Centres have been widely regarded as a leading authority in independent scientific research on all facets of environmental performance and responsibility within the minerals sector. The newly unified Centre will continue to drive impactful, real-world research, training, and commercialisation efforts, with a clear focus on achieving positive environmental outcomes across global mineral supply chains.

The Centre's approach will focus on long-term, collaborative partnerships with key external stakeholders, identifying and addressing critical research gaps and aligning them with the expertise and capabilities of the Centre to drive mutual innovation and meaningful real-world impact.

About This Opportunity
As the inaugural Director, you will have the opportunity to set the strategic direction of the Centre, leveraging our strong academic reputation to position it as a global leader in its field. With a foundation of over 100 established partnerships across industry, NGOs, and government agencies, you will play a key role in leveraging new and existing relationships to identify and address critical research gaps, aligning them with the Centre's academic strengths to drive innovation and deliver meaningful, real-world impact.

You will lead the development of a cohesive, multi-disciplinary research strategy, collaborating with faculty, industry partners, and other stakeholders to ensure the Centre's research agenda remains at the forefront of emerging trends and societal needs.

Fostering and expand relationships with key partners across UQ and beyond, guiding the growth of the Centre's external funding through strategic initiatives, your leadership will be instrumental in cultivating a vibrant research environment that engages faculty, students, and external stakeholders in advancing knowledge and addressing global challenges.

About You Our ideal candidate will hold postgraduate qualifications (preferably a PhD) in a relevant field, with extensive experience in academia, industry, or government regulation. They will demonstrate a history of strong industry relationships, a proven track record in securing research funding, and the ability to manage large, complex, multi-partner research projects aligned with industry and stakeholder needs. Experience leading diverse teams, delivering training, and influencing government policy is essential. The candidate should be an expert in environmental aspects of the minerals industry and foster collaborations both internally and externally.

Booklet To view detailed information on the position, including the key requirements and responsibilities, please reach out to [email protected].

We would welcome a confidential discussion in relation to this vacancy. Please contact us via [email protected] and we will ensure to connect with you soon.

Want to Apply? When you're ready to submit an application, we ask that you please create a profile via our careers website and upload the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the 'About You' section in the booklet

Other InformationAt UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected]


Relocating from interstate or overseas? We'll support you with the visa sponsorship process and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia's Sunshine State here.

Applications close Sunday the 15th June at 11.00pm AEST (R-50836).