Recruitment of Research Staff from Non-Operating Funds Guideline

Document Number	000929
Date Approved	14 January 2011
Date Last Amended	21 February 2012

      

1.      Overview

The following Guideline supports the University’s Recruitment Policy 000924.  It provides information regarding the appointment of a staff member who is recruited solely to work on a research project funded by non-operating funds for a period of 12 months to 3 years.

Research projects have unique criteria attached to funding sources and conditions.  The recruitment process is therefore distinct from the appointment of a staff member funded by operating funds.

Please note that where a researcher is named in the Grant Application, that person can be automatically appointed to a relevant position as outlined in the grant.

Contact the relevant Human Resource Officer in relation to the appointment process

2.      Definitions

In the context of this document:

Chief Investigator refers to the person named as the leading researcher managing the research project.

3.      Potential Staff Member (Identified)

i.   If the Chief Investigator has identified a potential appointee (or pool of potential appointees) for the research project, an appointment committee will consider the appointment comprising:

• The appointment committee is not required to meet in person.
• Where one of the above members is not available a substitute may be nominated by the Convenor.
• Other members of the Faculty may be invited by the Convenor to join the Committee.
• The University’s Conflicts of Interest Policy 000934 applies

The Chief Investigator will request the names of at least two referees from the potential staff member. The Chief Investigator will then obtain referee reports from two of the referees and circulate the curriculum vitae and the referee reports (in the case of phone referees a summary of the report) to the Head of School and Pro Vice-Chancellor.

ii   The Pro Vice-Chancellor will then consider the application and approve / decline the appointment to a fixed-term position in consultation with the other members of the appointment committee.

iii.   Appointments at Professorial (Level E), Associate Professorial (Level D) require additional approval from the Vice-Chancellor. In the case of professional staff appointments, above HEW 9 will require additional approval from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
.

iv.   Examples of situations when a Chief Investigator may be able to identify a potential staff member are:

• The potential staff member may be a recent PhD graduate whose skills / qualifications are a direct match with the Chief Investigator’s specialist research area
• The research is so specialised that there would only be a small number of potential candidates
• The potential staff member is currently employed by the University of Newcastle and they have demonstrated that their skills and experience would complement the research being performed

4.      Potential Staff Member (Not Identified)

If an appointee has not been identified for the research position then the standard recruitment process will be followed. The position will be advertised by Human Resource Services and a selection committee will be formed.

Professional staff positions (up to and including HEW 9) will follow the standard Continuing, Contingent and Fixed-Term Appointments Guideline 000930.

Academic staff positions (up to and including Senior Lecturer) will follow a selection committee process comprising:

• The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty concerned (Convenor)
• The Head of School
• The Chief Investigator
• An additional member to ensure gender equity (if required)

• The short-listing and interview process will follow the standard recruitment process.
• Where one of the above selection committee members is not available a substitute may be nominated by the Convenor.
• The Pro Vice-Chancellor may delegate the role of Convenor to the Deputy Head of Faculty or a member of the Professoriate if he/she is not able to participate in the recruitment process.
• Other members of the Faculty may be invited by the Convenor to join the Committee.

Note: For an appointment above Senior Lecturer / HEW 9 the appropriate committee composition can be found in the Staff Selection Committee Guideline 000928. 

5.      Essential Supporting Documents

Conflicts of Interest Policy 000934

Delegation of Authority Policy 000083

6.      Related Documents

Recruitment Policy 000924

 

 

Approval Authority	Director, Human Resource Services
Date Approved	14 January 2011
Date Last Amended	21 February 2012
Date for Review	14 January 2014
Policy Sponsor	Director, Human Resource Services
Policy Owner	Director, Human Resource Services
Policy Contact	Manager, Human Resource Services Team
Amendment History	Change in terminology from "general" to "professional" staff, approved by Vice-Chancellor 21 February 2012, effective 1 January 2012. 6 July 2011 - Updated list of Essential Supporting Documents due to a number of policies being replaced by the new Conflicts of Interest Policy - 000934 (which was approved by Council 18 March 2011)