Our Opportunity for you
Be a part of our bold new vision to reimagine research and deliver the next major scientific advances that solve the biggest problems for kids and families.
The newly created role Director, Innovation and Impact will be instrumental in overseeing the implementation of our new strategic plan, Research Reimagined 2025 - 2035 , a blueprint for challenge-driven research, with a commitment to partnership and collaboration at its heart. Reporting to the Executive Director, we are looking for a suitably qualified Director, Innovation and Impact to be part of the core team delivering on our ambitious vision. Working closely with others in the Executive Team, and the Board and Committees, this position plays a critical role in supporting the development and delivery of research strategies within as well as across our research themes, and ensuring we have even greater impact on child health and wellbeing.
You will support the development of new ways of working that draw in expertise from across the Institute in agile ways and connect closely with researchers to be able to credibly assist them in building an impact focus to their work.
As a senior executive, you will be instrumental in supporting innovative approaches to deliver complex new initiatives that link expertise within and between our Teams along with others outside the Institute. You will also deliver a structured approach to ensuring our research advances have impact, whether through influence on policy and practice, commercialisation of our intellectual property, or directly delivering services to our community and stakeholders. You will provide business acumen, strong leadership, professional knowledge and personal judgement to a variety of dynamic and complex demands.
Our environment is fast-paced, and we look to our Director, Innovation and Impact and teams to deliver high level services with a strong focus on the initiation of new ideas, research challenges and Theme strategies with a particular focus on working with research teams to translate their findings in all appropriate forms.
Of particular importance to the Director, Innovation and Impact portfolio are:
- Balancing risk and innovation, anticipating future needs and opportunities while ensuring the Institute's sustainability.
- Creating a constructive culture supporting growth and cross functional collaboration to deliver on our strategy.
- Building team and skillsets, as well as develop connections with critical stakeholders internally and externally, to deliver on requirements of Innovation & Impact portfolio.
- Developing a capacity to support new strategies and challenges within teams, including changes in approaches, methods, products, and processes to enhance competitiveness and improve organisational efficiencies.
- Identifying, supporting and accelerating translation of Institute research through commercialisation, and into policy and practice.
- Analysing and interpreting information to deliver valuable and innovative insights, including developing clear tools for evaluating and reporting on our impact.
About You
We are looking for critical thinker and experienced senior executive who thrives in a dynamic environment and has previously held a leadership role developing and driving organisation wide strategy, projects and transformation. The key to your success will be your demonstrated experience in the following:
- A deep understanding of how organisations can improve their ability to deliver impact to their main clients (in our case, children and families).
- Proven senior level experience translating organisational strategy into meaningful long-term plans and objectives to foster growth and deliver organisational goals.
- Excellent skills in developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders.
- Commercial skills in delivering multiple product or service streams.
- Demonstrated ability to look for new opportunities through understanding of social, economic and political trends.
- Ability to identify, strategise, develop, and drive transformative initiatives and champion the role of innovation by aligning overall business strategy with innovative thinking.
About Us
Our aim is to create a workplace where people are respected and encouraged to fulfil their potential. We encourage a workforce that is innovative, eager to acquire knowledge and enhance skills; we embrace employee differences and foster a culture that supports diversity and inclusion.
Culture and benefits include:
- Work life balance through flexible work options.
- Additional annual leave over Christmas and Easter.
- Save on tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging up to $15,899 of Living Expenses and up to $2,650 on Entertainment Benefits each FBT year.
- Extensive health and wellbeing program.
- Modern offices and end of trip facilities, including sit to stand desks.
- Access to Corporate Health Insurance.
How to apply
If you think that this is the right role and an exciting new challenge for you, please click on 'Apply Now' to navigate to our Career Site to view the Job Description and submit your application.
Your cover letter (no more than 2 pages) should specifically address your skills and experience outlined in the "About You" section above highlighting your relevant skills and experience. You do not need to respond to the role requirements individually, but they should be broadly touched on in your response. Please be sure to include your resume/CV.
Applications can only be accepted through our career portal. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with our online portal, please direct your query to .
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, please direct your inquiries to .
Click here for the Job Description
Contact Name: Mitch Hartman or Angela Edwards
Contact Email: /
Closing Date: 04/04/2025 - We reserve the right to hire prior to the closing date.
The Kids Research Institute Australia is committed to being champions of gender equity, diversity, and inclusivity. We actively encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, and cultures, including: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with diverse genders, sexes and sexualities and people living with disability. As such we are a proud Bronze award recipient of the first Australian Athena Swan Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) pilot program.
We acknowledge that when working in environments which contribute to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people, it is imperative that Aboriginal people are at the forefront of this work. We have launched the Aboriginal Employment and Career Development Strategy to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students and researchers employed in the Institute who provide guidance and support in our work in Aboriginal health.
