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Recruitment of Research Staff:  Non Operating Funds - 12 months to 3 years

The process to appoint a member of staff who is recruited solely to work on a research project funded by non-operating funds needs to provide for the unique circumstances relating to the funding source, and the funding conditions attached, in order to be able to fill the position in a more streamlined and immediate fashion.  The process to appoint research staff is distinct from the process of appointing a staff member on operating funds.

Where a Researcher is named in the Grant Application the Researcher can be automatically appointed to a relevant position as outlined within the Grant.

1.  Potential staff member has been identified

If the Chief Investigator has identified a potential appointee for their research project, an Appointment Committee will consider the appointment comprising:

(a)  The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty concerned (Convenor)
(b)  The Head of School
(c)  The Chief Investigator

  • 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 policy on Prejudicial Relationships- 000255 applies.

The Chief Investigator will request the Curriculum Vitae and 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.  If requested, Human Resource Services will seek referee reports on behalf of the Appointment Committee.

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

Appointments at Professorial (Level E), Associate Professorial (Level D) or above HEW 9, will require additional approval from the delegated authority.  In the case of Level E appointments, approval must also be gained from the Vice-Chancellor.  In the case of Level D or Hew 10 appointments, approval must also be gained from Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

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.

2. Potential staff member has not been 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.

For General staff positions (up to and including HEW 9) a selection committee will be formed consistent with the standard Staff Recruitment Guidelines.

For Academic staff positions (up to and including Senior Lecturer) a selection committee will be formed comprising:

(a)  The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty concerned (Convenor)
(b)  The Head of School
(c)  The Chief Investigator
(d)  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 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 appointment above Senior Lecturer / HEW 9 the appropriate committee composition can be found at: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/hrs/forms/staff_recruit_req_info.html