Why the School of Design and the Built Environment? 

The School of Design and the Built Environment (DBE) has embarked on a bold transformation of its creative practice scholarship and culture. We are now seeking two visionary leaders to join our School and drive our creative practice-led PhD programs across our global campuses. Based in Perth, but operating on a world stage, these roles offer the authority to shape a new era of multidisciplinary innovation.

DBE is the only school of its kind in Australia, bringing together an exceptional breadth of design, planning, construction, and creative disciplines. This diversity underpins our ability to deliver real-world impact, informed by strong commitments to social justice, ethical practice, and environmental responsibility.

DBE’s teaching, research, and creative practice are grounded in rigorous inquiry, critical experimentation, and meaningful engagement with industry, communities, and global partners. Our staff, students, and alumni are recognised for their work that pushes boundaries, reframes problems, and translates disruption into opportunity; with responsibility to both people and planet at the core.

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Why Perth?

Located on Whadjuk Noongar Country, Perth (Boorloo) is one of the world’s most distinctive urban and environmental contexts: A globally connected city set within an extraordinary natural landscape. Positioned on the Indian Ocean rim, Perth offers direct cultural, intellectual, and creative pipelines to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Global South.

The natural environment and culture are extensions of the studio that enable a rare balance between ambitious professional practice and quality of life. Renowned for its Mediterranean climate and relaxed lifestyle, Perth combines cosmopolitan culture with immediate access to exceptional environments. White sandy beaches, the Swan River, world-class sports venues, the historic port of Fremantle with a bohemian heart for artists and makers, and the internationally celebrated vineyards of Margaret River are all within easy reach.

Perth’s strong indigenous presence, respected cultural institutions, and rapidly expanding creative industries provide a rich community for collaboration, place-based research and impact. For creative practice leaders, Perth offers a rare "space to think and freedom to make" far from the congestion and constraint of other global centres.

Why Curtin University?

Ranked in the top 1% of universities globally (QS 2025), Curtin is recognised for impact-driven research. Situated on Whadjuk Nyungar Country, our Bentley campus is a vibrant hub of industry integration and future-focused education, committed to transforming global disruption into meaningful innovation. Its commitment to innovation, social responsibility, and real-world impact makes it a compelling environment for ambitious academic and creative practice leaders.

The Bentley campus includes an art gallery, gym, childcare and medical centre, bus station, accessible parking and endless food options including a supermarket. Curtin is a welcoming space where integrity, respect for one another, courage, excellence, and impact are essential to everyday life. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. 

For more reasons to work at Curtin, please visit https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/

Two Creative Practice Positions

The School of Design and Built Environment (DBE) at Curtin University invites applications for two senior academic appointments (Professor or Associate Professor) from internationally recognised leaders in creative practice research.

These roles are designed for scholars whose work reshapes disciplines, challenges convention, and delivers meaningful global and societal impact. We are seeking individuals whose creative practice is intellectually rigorous, outward-looking, and future-focused—work that moves fluidly across disciplinary boundaries and opens new pathways for knowledge, innovation, and engagement.

Successful applicants will demonstrate an outstanding international reputation, with a sustained record of peer-reviewed and nationally and internationally recognised creative and design outputs. This may include major exhibitions, award-winning professional work, influential publications, curatorial leadership, or other forms of recognised creative excellence. Candidates should be recognised leaders in their field, actively shaping contemporary debates through both scholarship and practice.

Global Design Practice Leadership

The Creative Practice Professors / Associate Professors will play a pivotal leadership role in developing and delivering DBE’s new Design Practice Research and PhD programs, operating across Curtin’s global campuses in Dubai and Singapore, while being based at the Bentley campus in Perth. They will also contribute to the transformation of undergraduate and postgraduate studio education, with a strong emphasis on transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

These appointments will join a newly established cohort of Creative Practice leaders across DBE’s diverse disciplines, collectively advancing innovative, place-responsive approaches to practice. Drawing on Perth’s distinctive social, cultural, and environmental contexts, the roles will contribute to producing graduates who are critically engaged, globally literate, and professionally agile.

Essential Selection Criteria

1. A doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline.

2. A demonstrated record of achievement in and commitment to excellence in teaching.

3. Demonstrated achievement in the discipline/field through scholarly development and delivery of high-quality educational courses.

4. An established record of highly productive research outputs with regular publication in high-quality refereed academic journals, or outputs in other creative outlets, consistent with an international reputation in the field.

5. A significant record of obtaining research income, including nationally competitive research grants and/or fellowships

6. Demonstrated academic leadership experience in the discipline/profession and in community engagement.

7. Significant experience and record of providing supervision to higher degree research students.

8. Demonstrated high-level communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to foster the development of a collegial and supportive working environment and the ability to interact with students and staff with cross-cultural sensitivity.

9. Demonstrated commitment to applying relevant and applicable policies, procedures and legislation in the day-to-day performance of the functions of this position.

Role Requirements

• As this is a continuing (permanent) role, you will require permanent work rights in Australia. Only in certain circumstances will sponsorship be considered.

• Successful applicants are subject to a National Police Clearance, and background, integrity, and reference checks to Curtin’s satisfaction  .

Join us!

Please first create a brief, private CANDIDATE PROFILE in CAMPUS RADAR (quick and easy):

(i) Tap SIGN-UP in the top right corner of this job page ;

(ii) Complete just the first two sections of your profile (Current role and Personal details);

(iii) Tap APPLY NOW, and upload your Cover Letter, CV and a document addressing the Essential Selection Criteria above (4 pages max.)