Professor / Professor of Practice or Associate Professor / Associate Professor of Practice– Health Policy and Systems
Job Description
Help Shape the Future of Health Policy and Systems through world-leading research, policy engagement and real-world impact.
Continuing Full time appointment with attractive renumeration package
The University of Sydney is seeking an outstanding academic or senior industry leader to join the Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data within the School of Public Health as Professor (Level E) or Professor of Practice (Level E), or Associate Professor (Level D) or Associate Professor of Practice (Level D) in Health Policy and Systems.
This appointment follows the retirement of Professor Andrew Wilson, one of Australia's most influential health services researchers, and represents a rare opportunity to build on his legacy and help shape the next generation of health systems scholarship, policy leadership and real-world impact.
The successful candidate will join one of Australia's leading centres for health policy and systems research and will contribute to advancing evidence-informed policy and improving health outcomes at state, national and international levels.
About the Role
You will bring vision, intellectual leadership and a passion for improving health systems through research, education and policy engagement. Working across the research–policy–practice interface, you will collaborate with government, health services and academic partners to address complex health system challenges and drive meaningful change.
Key responsibilities include:
developing and leading a program of research in an area of strategic importance to the Centre and the broader health system
strengthening partnerships with government, health services and international organisations
translating research into policy and practice to influence health systems reform
supervising and mentoring higher degree research students and early and mid-career researchers
contributing to teaching and curriculum leadership in postgraduate public health programs
enhancing the University's reputation as a global leader in health policy and health systems research.
About You (skills, capabilities and experience)
You are motivated by policy impact and improving health outcomes and are committed to leaving a lasting legacy on health systems research and practice.
You will bring:
recognised leadership and a reputation for excellence in health policy or health systems within academia, government or health services
a strong track record of stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration, with the ability to build productive partnerships across government, healthcare providers and research organisations
demonstrated success in securing competitive research funding, consultancy projects and commissioned research
a commitment to mentoring and developing researchers and staff, and building high-performing teams
experience contributing to postgraduate teaching and curriculum leadership in public health or health policy
the ability to operate confidently and credibly in policy-facing environments and to build trusted relationships across government, sector partners and academic peers.
You will hold a PhD or equivalent qualification together with substantial professional experience in areas such as health policy and planning, health systems improvement, health financing, comparative health systems, political science of health or political economy.
Applications are encouraged from candidates with significant leadership experience in health policy practice or health systems, as well as those with distinguished academic records demonstrated through competitive grant funding and high-impact publications.
For appointments at Level E, candidates will bring an international reputation for driving system-level change and deep expertise in policy development, implementation or evaluation. You will play a pivotal role in strengthening the Centre's influence across policy and practice environments and in translating evidence into real-world impact.
Sponsorship / work rights for Australia
Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance will also be provided if required
Term and remuneration
This is a full time, continuing position. The successful candidate will be offered a competitive remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s relevant experience and qualifications.
Pre-employment checks
Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.
EEO statement
At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.
How to apply
Applications (including a CV and cover letter outlining how your skills, capabilities and experience meet the requirements for the role) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Please refer to the candidate information brochure for further details.
Candidate Information Brochure
For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.
For recruitment-related enquiries, or if you require reasonable adjustment or support filling out this application, please contact: Dr Mushtaq Sobhan (Senior Talent Partner, Senior Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Operations, Human Resources) by email at [email protected]
Intending applicants are welcome to seek further information about the position from Professor Kirsten Howard by email [email protected]
© The University of Sydney
The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.
Applications Close
Friday 31 July 2026 11:59 PM