Associate Professor, Strong Parents and Children

3 years full time contract based in DarwinAbout Menzies:Menzies School of Health Research is one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving Indigenous, global and tropical health. Menzies has a history of over 30 years of scientific discovery and public health achievement. Menzies works at the frontline, joining with partners across the Asia-Pacific as well as Indigenous communities across Northern and Central Australia.About the position:The Centre for Child Development and Education (CCDE) is a multi-disciplinary research centre at Menzies which focuses on the social determinants of children’s development, health and learning. CCDE is committed to sensitive engagement and in-depth qualitative research including ethnographic and clinically oriented studies with Aboriginal parents and their children. This includes the evaluation of the effectiveness of parenting programs in reducing risks of self-harm, violence and antisocial behavior, and in supporting children’s development throughout the life course.The Associate Professor, Strong Parents and Children will take a leading role in the continuing development of the program of research into parenting, child health and child development at the CCDE. The Associate Professor is required to have an excellent track record of research and publication in social, psychological or public health sciences and will understand the principles of implementation design to optimize intervention and research outcomes. The incumbent will have the skills and knowledge necessary to establish and lead research teams including community-based staff.  The Associate Professor will develop opportunities for collaboration through the extension of current networks across Australia and through engagement with key agency partners in the Northern Territory.Based in Darwin, the Associate Professor will be responsible for the development of methods and strategies to evaluate the NT Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-Visiting (MECSH) program, including the application of structured tools to audit systems and practices in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS), to design and undertake qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and to interpret and report findings of the evaluation. This five-year evaluation, funded by the Northern Territory Government Department of Health, is undertaken in collaboration with CDU’s College of Indigenous Futures, Arts and Society. It is expected that the candidate will seek to extend the Centre’s capability to undertake evaluation research in parenting and child health through relevant tenders and submissions for contract research.Primary Responsibilities:Research and Research TrainingDesign and deliver research projects with outputs and impacts that aim to enhance the research profile of Menzies.Provide leadership and initiative in building parenting and child development research capacity at the CCDE.Contribute to leadership of the implementation of the NT MECSH evaluation plan, in collaboration with senior researchers and project partners, ensuring that research activities and reporting meet all contractual requirementsManage and supervise community-based research activity, including local research assistants, ensuring at all times that research is culturally appropriate, safe, respectful and reflective of Aboriginal perspectives.Play a leading role in the writing, preparation and publication of research papers, reports and other materials based on MECSH and other research activity, including peer-reviewed publications in highly-ranked journals, such as those ranked as Q1 by Scimago.Work with colleagues to develop, design and deliver outcomes that ensure organisational research achievement, including the development and mentoring of individual researchers and research teams.Contribute to the sustainability and growth of the CCDE through identification of research opportunities and preparation of research funding submissions to external bodies.Leadership ServiceSupport the implementation of Menzies Strategic Plan, Menzies 2021.Promote cross-institutional cooperation and partnerships by engaging with researchers across Menzies, CDU and nationally.Maintain a supportive and enabling environment for post-graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and early career researchers and assist them to apply for external grants and other income.Commit to leadership in research integrity and ethics, and the beneficial application of intellectual property.Sustain a viable, enduring research portfolio through partnerships and collaborative applications for research funding.EngagementEngage with external and internal stakeholders and client groups to achieve impact in the parenting, child development, evaluation and policy research portfolio.Network effectively with relevant national and international research communities in matters relating to the research program.Communicate research findings to the wider international, academic, professional, policy and general communities as appropriate.The successful applicant will have:PhD in the area of social, psychological, developmental or public health sciences.Recognition as a leading or emerging authority with an outstanding reputation in parenting, child health and/or child development research.A distinguished record of research achievements that will enhance Menzies’ institutional research evaluation capability including high quality research outputs, success in attracting competitive research funding and other income, exceptional research collaborations and partnerships, and research with demonstrable high impact.Demonstrated experience in the development, management and leadership of evaluation research involving services for families and children in diverse community settings.Demonstrable achievements in research planning and program implementation, with the ability to prepare reports and other outputs that align strictly with contractual obligations.Demonstrated understanding of mixed qualitative and quantitative research methods in real-world community and service settings involving Aboriginal participants.High level communication, negotiation and advocacy skills, including a demonstrated ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and to work collaboratively with service professionals, project staff and academic colleagues.Experience in successful management of multi-disciplinary teams and multi-institutional stakeholder relationships and demonstrated achievement in recruiting and advising early career and/or graduate research students.The ability to interact effectively with people from diverse cultures, with excellent cross-cultural awareness and skills in community engagement involving Aboriginal communities and families.A Working with Children Clearance (Ochre card) and NT driver’s license.Ability to undertake air or land travel to remote communities for up to four times a year, or as negotiated.Contact: Prof Gary Robinson on 08 8946 8458 or gary.robinson@menzies.edu.au  What we offer:6 weeks annual leaveOption to increase super to 14%Attractive salary package and benefits $168,846 - $183,655 salary package (comprising gross salary $136,328- $149,393, superannuation and salary packaging benefits.Closing date: Sunday, 14 June 2020 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.For information on how to apply for this position and to obtain the Position Description and Selection Criteria please visit www.menzies.edu.au/careers or phone 08 8946 8626.   PD_Associate Professor, Strong Parents and Children AUD Darwin