Director, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies

The Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS) is one of the world's leading institutes for transport, logistics and supply chain research, education and policy engagement. Ranked #1 in Australia and #8 globally for Transportation Science and Technology (Shanghai Ranking 2025), ITLS has built an international reputation for research excellence, policy influence and industry engagement over almost four decades. With strong partnerships across government, industry and international organisations, and a track record of shaping transport, infrastructure and logistics policy and practice, ITLS offers a rare opportunity to lead a globally recognised institute with significant impact beyond academia.

As Director, ITLS, you will provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for this globally recognised research institute within the University of Sydney Business School.  You will advance research excellence, education, industry and government engagement, and organisational performance, positioning ITLS as a leading source of evidence and expertise across transport, infrastructure, logistics and supply chain management.

In this role, you will:

• provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for ITLS, setting its direction and aligning its priorities with those of the Business School and University

• foster research excellence by supporting high-impact research, external funding, research translation and interdisciplinary collaboration across transport, infrastructure, logistics and supply chain management

• build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government, industry, professional bodies, alumni and international collaborators to extend the Institute’s impact, profile and reputation

• coordinate and contribute to high-quality teaching and learning, including the successful supervision of higher degree research students

• oversee the Institute’s planning, governance, compliance and continuous improvement, ensuring effective resource management, reporting and delivery of strategic priorities

• support the development and delivery of ITLS’s specialist teaching and executive education offerings, research training and workforce capability development

• foster an inclusive culture of innovation, collaboration and academic excellence

• manage the Institute’s financial, human and physical resources to support its sustainability and organisational effectiveness

• represent and promote ITLS across academic, industry, government and community forums, positioning it as a trusted source of impartial, evidence-based research

• champion work addressing emerging challenges in sustainable transport, mobility, infrastructure, logistics and resilient supply chains, with meaningful impact on policy, practice and society.

 You will be an accomplished academic leader with a PhD in a field relevant to ITLS, an established national and international research reputation, and the capacity to lead a high-performing institute.

You will bring:

• deep knowledge of the strategic, policy, industry and academic issues affecting transport, infrastructure, logistics or supply chain management

• a distinguished record of research and teaching, together with the capacity to provide outstanding academic leadership and articulate a clear strategic direction

• experience developing and leading a high-performing academic centre, research group or comparable knowledge-intensive organisation

• established national and international networks across academia, industry, government and the professions

• a strong record of engagement with government, industry and external stakeholders

• an understanding of how research can inform policy, regulation, industry practice and public value

• experience managing operational priorities, governance, budgets, reporting and performance in a complex academic environment

• strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills

• experience supporting interdisciplinary collaboration across academic disciplines, professional teams and external partners

• a commitment to sustainability, equity and public value in transport, logistics, infrastructure and supply chain systems

• demonstrated experience delivering high-quality teaching and learning, including higher degree research supervision.

You must have the right to work in Australia before commencing employment. Visa sponsorship may be available for the successful candidate if required.

The successful candidate will be appointed into a continuing substantive level E (Professorial) role in the School of International Business, Logistics and Supply Chains and seconded for five years to the Director of ITLS role on an FTE basis commensurate with the directorship duties.

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.  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 have 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.

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. 

Applications, including a CV and cover letter of no more than four pages addressing the requirements of the role, should be submitted through the Odgers website. Please refer to the candidate information brochure and position description at the bottom for further details.

The preferred method of application is online at https://www.odgers.com/en-au/opportunities/. All applications will receive an automated response.

Should you be unable to submit your application online, please email it to: Sophie.Malone@odgers.com

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.

The University has engaged executive search firm Odgers to assist with this appointment who will support the Selection Committee to identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates and to assess candidates against the requirements for the role.

For a confidential conversation, please contact:

• Sophie Malone on Sophie.Malone@odgers.com or +61 2 8905 3703