Description

• Shape the future of health and medical research in Australia
• Lead Australia’s largest health and medical research funding organisation
• Support the ambition of Australia’s first National Health and Medical Research Strategy
• Set national standards, including for the conduct of research, ethics in health, and providing trusted, evidence-based health advice to improve the health and lives of all Australians

Australia is at a pivotal moment in the development of its health and medical research ecosystem. The recently released National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026–2036, establishes a long-term vision for a stronger, more connected and more impactful research ecosystem. Alongside broader national reform agendas, including the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (Ambitious Australia), research and innovation are increasingly recognised as critical drivers of national productivity, economic diversification and future prosperity. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Australia's most influential research funding organisations during a period of significant opportunity and transformation. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping how research is funded, translated and applied to improve health outcomes and national prosperity, with consideration to the National Strategy.

As Australia's leading agency for health and medical research, NHMRC invests more than $1 billion annually in research, develops nationally significant health advice and guidelines, promotes the highest standards of research ethics and integrity, and provides expert advice to government. Its influence spans the full research continuum; from discovery and innovation through to translation, implementation and impact.

Reporting to the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic leadership across NHMRC's core functions of investment, translation and integrity. The CEO will foster strong collaboration across government, universities, medical research institutes, healthcare providers, industry and consumers, while supporting closer alignment between NHMRC and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

The CEO is also a highly visible national leader and advocate for health and medical research and health system impact, helping build public confidence in science, communicating complex issues to diverse audiences and contributing to national policy discussions.

Requirements

We are seeking a highly respected leader with demonstrated achievement in health and medical research, healthcare, research funding, public policy, innovation, academia or a related field.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Deep credibility and standing within the health and medical research community
• Demonstrated leadership of complex organisations, institutions or major research enterprises
• Experience leading reform, organisational change and collaboration across diverse stakeholders
• The ability to communicate complex scientific and research issues to government, researchers, clinicians, industry, community and consumers, media and the public
• An understanding of the Australian health system and research landscape, peer review, the translation of research into policy, practice, innovation and impact, and NHMRC’s role in developing and supporting high quality guidelines for clinical practice, public health, environmental health and ethics
• Awareness of current and emerging national and global health issues and research funding trends, with experience engaging national and international research networks and agencies, and ability to apply relevant insights in Australia
• Strong governance, judgement and public accountability capabilities
• A commitment to research excellence, integrity, ethics, equity and public trust
• Outstanding relationship-building skills and a collaborative leadership style.

Experience as a senior researcher, clinician, research institute director, university executive, health system leader, government executive or equivalent will be highly regarded. Candidates will be able to demonstrate a track record of leading significant teams, organisations or operationally complex environments and delivering outcomes through others.

The next CEO will have the opportunity to make a material and lasting contribution to Australia's future at a time when research, innovation and productivity are increasingly central to the nation's success.

Location: The preference is for the candidate to work in NHMRC’s primary office in Canberra, ACT. However, there is scope to negotiate a hybrid location, including remote work. Regular attendance in Canberra will be required.

For a copy of the detailed candidate brief, which provides more information about the role and selection criteria, please email search@watermarksearch.com.au
For a confidential discussion, please call Bronwen Kerr on 02 9233 1200.

To express interest, please send your application quoting Ref No A006386 to Watermark Search International via this link. We will reply to the email address used for your application.

Closing date: Thursday 17 September 2026 at 11.59pm AEST