Accompanying Partner Recruitment Protocol

In accordance with the Monash Futures Academic Strengthening agenda, the University is committed to recruiting outstanding academic staff and will endeavour to accommodate requests for employing the accompanying partners of senior academic appointees, where appropriate.

Scope

This protocol applies to the recruitment of senior academic staff where:

the preferred candidate indicates that his/her acceptance of the University’s offer of employment would be contingent on the University finding an acceptable role for his/her accompanying partner; and
the University determines that it is in the best interests of the University to accommodate the candidate’s request.

Definitions

Academic performance standards: are faculty or discipline-specific performance standards for all academic staff against which academic performance will be measured, particularly for the purpose of probation, promotion and performance management. The standards are qualitative, quantitative or a mixture of both across the three key areas of academic activity - research, education and service. They include identified ‘minimum’ performance standards, below which the staff member would be managed for unsatisfactory performance, and ‘faculty expectation’ standards, above which the staff member may be eligible for promotion in accordance with the requirements of the Staff Development Procedure – Academic Promotion for Candidates Levels C – E.

Accompanying partner: is the partner of a senior academic appointee who plans to relocate with the primary candidate and is seeking suitable employment with the University.

Most relevant area: means the faculty or division with which the skills and qualifications of the accompanying partner are most closely aligned. In multi-disciplinary faculties, the most relevant area may be a specific school or department.

Partner: means the person to whom the staff member is legally married or has shared an equivalent relationship. De facto relationships, including interdependent (same sex) relationships are included under this definition.

Primary candidate: is the candidate for a senior academic appointment who has indicated that accepting the University’s offer of employment is contingent on the University finding a suitable role for the appointee’s accompanying partner.

Senior academic appointment: means an academic staff member appointed at E, including to an executive academic position (for example, dean, deputy vice-chancellor or pro vice-chancellor).

Eligibility Criteria

For consideration for a position at the University, an accompanying partner must:

hold the relevant qualifications, experience and reputation normally expected from a successful candidate at that level;
meet the key selection criteria for the position identified; and
for academic staff, meet or exceed the academic performance standards for that academic level.

Process

Step 1: The primary candidate will notify the supervisor of the position or the Chair of the Selection Committee of their accompanying partner

The primary candidate may notify the supervisor of the position or the Chair of the Selection Committee of their request for the University to find a position for the primary candidate’s accompanying partner at any time during the recruitment process. Preferably, this request should be made at the outset of the process to enable the maximum time to identify an appropriate position.

Step 2: The supervisor or Chair will determine whether it is in the best interests of the University to accommodate the request and will notify Senior Academic Appointments in Monash HR accordingly

The primary candidate’s supervisor, in consultation with the Chair of the Selection Committee, will determine whether it is in the best interests of the University to accommodate the request and will advise Senior Academic Appointments in Monash HR of their decision.

If approved, the search for an appropriate position for an accompanying partner will only commence once the primary candidate is shortlisted for interview.

Senior Academic Appointments will encourage the accompanying partner to review any current vacancies on “Jobs at Monash” and apply through the advertised recruitment process. In addition, Senior Academic Appointments will liaise with the accompanying partner and/or the primary candidate to obtain the following:

a statement outlining the accompanying partner’s relevant academic discipline(s), qualifications, level, skills and expertise and a nomination of the most relevant area at the University to accommodate the accompanying partner’s expertise;

the accompanying partner’s Curriculum Vitae;
evidence of qualifications (where required); and
the details of three appropriate referees.

Step 3: Senior Academic Appointments will contact the most relevant area

Senior Academic Appointments will contact the most relevant area nominated by the accompanying partner to:

advise the Dean or Divisional Director that there is an approved accompanying partner of a potential senior academic appointee that has nominated that area as the most relevant area to his/her expertise;
provide the Dean or Divisional Director with the documentation provided by the accompanying partner in Step 2 above; and
advise the Dean or Divisional Director of options on how the area could employ the accompanying partner (eg. by providing a position for the duration of the employment contract for the primary candidate or providing a bridging fixed-term role during which time the accompanying partner may explore other options).

Senior Academic Appointments will also facilitate the provision of advice from Global Mobility in Monash HR on any relevant visa issues.

Step 4: The Dean or Divisional Director of the most relevant area will consider an appropriate role for the accompanying partner

If the primary candidate is identified as the preferred candidate, Senior Academic Appointments will notify the Dean or Divisional Director of most relevant area.

The Dean or Divisional Director:

will review the documentation provided by Senior Academic Appointments to determine whether the accompanying partner meets the eligibility criteria outlined above;
may interview the accompanying partner to determine eligibility and fit;
may contact the referees provided to confirm the accompanying partner’s qualifications and experience;
will determine whether there is an appropriate role within the area; and
will ensure that any potential conflict of interest with the appointment of the primary candidate is identified and managed in accordance with the Conduct and Compliance Procedure – Conflict of Interest.

If the Dean or Divisional Director is satisfied that the accompanying partner meets the eligibility criteria, the area will make a case for the direct appointment of the accompanying partner to an appropriate role within the area. Funding for the position will be negotiated and agreed between the Dean or Divisional Director of the most relevant area and the primary candidate’s supervisor.

If the accompanying partner does not meet the eligibility criteria, Senior Academic Appointments may explore other options with the accompanying partner, for example:

assessing whether there is another area within the University that may be approached; and/or
determining whether there are any other current vacancies at the University that may be of interest to the accompanying partner.

Step 5: Senior Academic Appointments will coordinate the appointment of the accompanying partner

Senior Academic Appointments will liaise with the relevant HR Services Hub to appoint the accompanying partner using the appropriate recruitment mechanism.

For appointments less than 12 months, the exemption to advertise the position would apply in accordance with the Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Procedure – Recruitment of fixed-term and continuing staff.

For appointments greater than 12 months, a direct appointment can be made in accordance with the Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Procedure – Direct Appointments.