POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering

Organisation Unit: School of Civil Engineering
Position Number: 3027377
Type of Employment: Full time, Continuing
Classification: Academic Level B or C


BACKGROUND

Organisational Environment
The Federal Governments 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia exercise confirmed The
University of Queensland as one of the nations top three universities, measured by the quality of its
comprehensive range of specialised research fields. ERA reported that research at UQ is well above
world standard in more specialised fields than at any other Australian university: this reflects UQs
leading global role in many areas of discovery. UQs outstanding critical mass offers researchers
significant interdisciplinary capability.

UQ integrates its research strengths with excellent teaching and learning and has won more national
teaching awards than any other Australian university. International university rankings highlight UQs
excellence: Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong), Times Higher Education,
QS and National Taiwan University Ranking all rank UQ in the top 100. UQ is one of Australias
Group of Eight, and a founding member of Universitas 21, an international consortium of leading
research-intensive universities.

UQs 45,500-strong student community includes more than 10,000 postgraduate scholars and more
than 11,000 international students from 162 countries. The University has more than 7,000 academic
and professional staff and a $1.6 billion annual operating budget. Its major campuses are at St Lucia,
Ipswich, Gatton and Herston, in addition to teaching and research sites around Queensland and
Brisbane city. The University has six faculties and eight institutes. The institutes funded by
government and industry grants, philanthropy and commercialisation activities have built scale and
focus in research areas that UQ regards as strategically important.

The School of Civil of Engineering

The School of Civil Engineering has a long and proud record of academic achievement and
involvement with the profession and industry. It is among the leaders in civil engineering education
and research in Australia and is renowned for teaching and research in water, environmental,
geotechnical, structural and transportation engineering.

The School currently employs 27 academic and 15 research staff who contribute to its teaching and
research programs, and is in a growth phase. The Schools annual operating budget is approximately
$6 million, including annual industry funding of $1.2 million.

The School contributes to teaching in the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) with over 1,000 students
enrolled in years 2, 3 and 4 of Civil Engineering, Civil & Geotechnical Engineering, Mining &
Geotechnical Engineering, and Civil & Environmental Engineering. There are also approximately 80
students enrolled in research higher degrees, including over 20 enrollees in Geotechnical Engineering.
The School has extensive concrete, geotechnical, hydraulics and structures laboratory facilities in the
new Advanced Engineering Building that are used for teaching, research and commercial testing.

Further information and details of the research interests of academic staff may be accessed on the
schools web site at http://www.civil.uq.edu.au/.

The Geotechnical Engineering Centre

The Geotechnical Engineering Centre within the School of Civil Engineering at UQ currently
numbers seven academic and three research staff, plus collaborators in other Schools. The Centre is
co-funded by Golder Associates, Rio Tinto, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton and UQ, with total
funding of $6 million over 5 years. The Director of the Centre is Professor David Williams. The
Centre aims to be recognised as a leader in its field, both nationally and internationally and is seeking
up to two additional academic appointments that will complement the current skills and expertise in
Geotechnical Engineering. The appointees will work closely with existing and future academic and
research staff in the Geotechnical field within the Schools of Civil Engineering, Mechanical and
Mining Engineering, and Earth Sciences at UQ.

The Geotechnical Engineering Centre supports the Civil & Geotechnical Engineering and Mining &
Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major Degree Programs that commenced in 2012, which are unique
in Australia. The Dual Major Degree Programs produce Civil and Mining Engineering graduates with
a strong specialisation in Geotechnical Engineering to meet the ongoing high demand from
Geotechnical and Mining Engineering Consultants, Mining Companies and Civil and Mining
Contractors in Australia and overseas. The Geotechnical Engineering Programs are among the most
sought after in the Faculty, and will graduate 70 to 75 students annually from 2015.

The Centre also promotes research in the Geotechnical Engineering field, providing enhanced applied
and fundamental research opportunities, and facilitating the further growth of Postgraduate Research
Student enrolments (which currently number almost 30 and continue to grow), Continuing
Professional Development courses and Postgraduate courses (Graduate Certificate, Diploma and
Masters). In addition, the Centre offers enhanced capacities for high-level consulting, such as peer
review and expert witness, and enhanced testing facilities for both research and commercial testing.

For further information on the Geotechnical Engineering Centre at UQ, please contact Professor
David Williams on +61 7 3365 3642 or D.Williams@uq.edu.au.
Information for Prospective Staff
Information can be found at https://www.uq.edu.au/uqjobs.

Schedule 10 of The University of Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2010 2013 outlines the position
classification standards for Levels A to E.


DUTY STATEMENT LEVELS B / C

Primary Purpose of Position(s)

The primary purpose of the position(s) is to complement and initiate leading research and teaching
across the broad field of Geotechnical Engineering, and to further develop the Geotechnical
Engineering Centre within the School of Civil Engineering at UQ to be a leader both nationally and
internationally. Well qualified and experienced applicants in soil mechanics, and in weak and hard
rock mechanics, are encouraged to apply.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Research
Develop internationally leading research in the field of Geotechnical Engineering.
Make a substantial contribution to research through publication in high quality, high impact
journals and conferences, collaboration with colleagues, supervising research students and
securing research funding.
Work with colleagues in the Geotechnical Engineering Centre, and in cognate Schools and
Institutes within UQ, and postgraduate students, in the development of joint research projects.
Liaise with professional and government agencies to initiate competitively-funded research
and contract research relevant to industry and government.
Mentor early career staff, particularly in relation to seeking external research funding.
Teaching and Learning
Contribute to Geotechnical Engineering curriculum development, developing courses, and
teaching quality assurance in the Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major Programs.
Coordinate and contribute to courses in Geotechnical Engineering at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels.
Take prime responsibility of a split large class in the Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major
Programs, to improve the staff:student ratio.
Add a new elective advanced undergraduate/postgraduate course in a specialisation of
Geotechnical Engineering.
Supervise research students at honours and postgraduate levels.
Consult with undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Provide mentoring in teaching for early career staff, including internally and externally-
funded teaching scholarship projects.
Provide support for other positions during absences.
Engagement
Foster the Schools relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies
and the wider community.
Build on existing links with industry.
Administration
Perform a range of administrative functions within the School.
Contribute to the processes that enable the academic team to manage the work of the School,
including participating in School decision-making and serve on School committees.
Comply with the Universitys Code of Conduct (see the Universitys web site at
http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/?page=24987).
Adopt sustainable practices in all work activities and comply with associated legislation and
related sustainability responsibilities and procedures developed by the University (see the
Universitys web site at http://www.uq.edu.au/sustainability/responsibilities).


Occupational Health and Safety
Comply with requirements of Queensland occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation
and related OH&S responsibilities and procedures developed by the University or School.
(see the Universitys web site at http://www.uq.edu.au/ohs/index.html?page=133956).


SELECTION CRITERIA LEVELS B / C

Qualifications
Essential
A PhD and a reputation for excellence in the field of Geotechnical Engineering.
Desirable
Chartered Engineer or Member of an appropriate professional institution.


Knowledge and Skills
Essential
Demonstrated expert knowledge in the area of Geotechnical Engineering.
Track record of working with industry in a professional capacity.
Potential to strategically lead a Geotechnical Engineering research group.
Potential to develop and implement a long-term vision for Geotechnical Engineering research.
Demonstrated ability to contribute to and potential to develop innovative, multi-disciplinary
research programs.
Evidence of production of research and research publication at an internationally excellent
standard.
Strong record of teaching skills at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including a proven
ability to supervise postgraduate student research.
Demonstrated ability to apply for and secure research and industry funding.
Demonstrated public communication and engagement skills.
Demonstrated industry liaisons and professional contacts.
Desirable
Particular passion for teaching.
Strong industry engagement.

Experience
Essential
Evidence of excellent scholarly achievement and research, including a strong publication
record appropriate to opportunity.
Evidence of strong teaching ability and experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels,
including successful supervision of postgraduate research students.
Evidence of standing in Geotechnical Engineering.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a research group.
Experience in liaising and collaborating with external agencies.
Ability to provide expert knowledge and advice to industry and government.

Desirable
Success in attracting external competitive research grants, appropriate to opportunity.
Established network of contacts and collaborators in industry and government.

Personal Qualities
Essential
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
High level communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to relate to students.
A commitment to engage with the engineering community.
Ability to promote the Schools activities with the University and external community.
Initiative and potential for future leadership.

Reporting Relationships
The position reports to the head of School.

Seminar
Applicants invited for interview will be expected to present a seminar in conjunction with the
selection interview process.

The University of Queensland is an equal opportunity employer.

Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings.